subject: The Beatles History - The Band That Started A Revolution [print this page] Not every group sticks out from the annals of history the way The Beatles do. To be more exact, this group doesn't just stand out. They are part of what defines the story of the evolution of modern music. If the group never came to be, popular music as we know it would not be the same.
Before they became the popular four man band, the group's story started with an all too different band called The Quarrymen. The reason why this group is mentioned in the story of The Beatles' origins is because this was John Lennon's original band. Lennon first played with friends Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe and they were soon joined by Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Sutcliffe left and eventually passed away in 1962 while Best was edged out and replaced by Ringo Starr.
It was not clear to Best why he was dismissed and the only explanation given was that the others did not want him in the group anymore. Apparently though, the drummer did not fit in with the group, being the only one who did not adopt the uniform band member appearance and who did not hang out after gigs. He was also deemed musically limited despite being hugely popular among fans. There is no telling for sure if the group would be the legend that it is now if Best was not pushed out.
With Starr on drums, The Beatles, as immortalized in history and collective memory was born in 1962. From the very start, Lennon and McCartney took the roles of songwriters and composers. Clearly though, the two composers differed significantly in style and form, a point of disparity that would later become more pronounced as relations among band members became strained. McCartney's music has been cited to be the more positive and extroverted of the two while Lennon's work is said to be more mature and grounded in reality.
Regardless of the differences between the composers though, they found common ground in merging a myriad of genres and influences. The revolutionary and inclusive approach of The Beatles is perhaps the main reason why their appeal has stretched across five decades. They are primarily labeled a rock and roll band but they have been known to integrate elements of folk, blues, pop, country, psychedelic and even classical and Celtic music.
What made the group's music entirely appealing is that the mixture of genres did not come out as evolutionary. There was no shift of genres just because the band had matured or changed. The mix was simply just a mix. What made their songs even better is the fact that the varying elements did not clash or create discordant sounds. They were able to meld so many different parts into outstanding pieces that touched base with the common people. People came to love their music so much that by 1964, they had unknowingly been able to launch the British music invasion.
It would be superfluous to give a longer exposition of the work and story of The Beatles. There are already quite a lot of experts who have given their scholarly perspectives. For a true fan, the revolution that the band started simply needs to be enjoyed.
