Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
the Beatles
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
The Beatles Brian Epstein Meeting Ed Sullivan The night America caught Beatlemania Transcendental Beatles Publicity still from the film Let It Be (1970) Paul McCartney Ringo Starr Abbey Road Studios On This Day: August 12
For Students
Beatles summary
Quizzes
Graphic of "60's" with flowers and peace sign. 1960's, decades
That Swinging ’60s Quiz
Publicity still of Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock in 1957. (cinema, movies, motion pictures, film)
Rock Music and Rock ’n’ Roll
Yellow Submarine (1968) The Beatles portrayed in the animated film directed by George Dunning. L to R, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison. Animated movie
Beatlemania!
the Beatles. Rock and film. Publicity still from A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. rock music movie
Phenomenon From Across the Pond
the Beatles. Rock and film. Publicity still from A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. rock music movie
Come Together
Related Questions
Read Next
Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)
All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained
iPod. The iPod nano released to the public Sept. 2010 completely redesigned with Multi-Touch. Half the size and even easier to play. Choose from seven electric colors. iPod portable media player developed by Apple Inc., first released in 2001.
10 Musical Acts That Scored 10 #1 Hits
British rock group The Beatles, waving to screaming fans en route to Boston, Massachusetts airport (from l to r) George Harrison, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, on August 12, 1966.
Did the Beatles Really Say They Were More Popular than Jesus?
Giant portrait of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong hung over the Forbidden City. Imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing (Peking), China. Palace Museum, north of Tiananmen Square. UNESCO World Heritage site.
Behind the Scenes: 7 Historical Figures in Beatles Lyrics
the Beatles. Rock and film. Publicity still from A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. rock music movie
The Birth of Beatlemania: Observing a Fifty-Year (1963–2013) Milestone
Discover
Artist interpretation of a Space meteoroid impact. Meteor impact. Asteroid, End of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Planet Earth, Doomsday Predictions, comet
10 Failed Doomsday Predictions
All Saints Day. All Souls Day. Candles in cemetery in Poland on All Saints Day, November 1. All Souls Day, November 2. Christian church, All Hallows, Solemnity of All Saints, Feast of All Saints, purgatory, Roman Catholic church
7 Unique Burial Rituals Across the World
Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics
10 Best Hockey Players of All Time
Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.
7 Deadliest Weapons in History
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy. Giant amphitheatre built in Rome under the Flavian emperors. (ancient architecture; architectural ruins)
New Seven Wonders of the World
Candles Burning On Table In Church
What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?
Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)
All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

the Beatles: Facts & Related Content

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/the-Beatles
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Help! Ringo Starr fan mail plea from Tynemouth envelope buyer • Apr. 20, 2025, 9:26 PM ET (BBC)
The Beatles Make ‘Abbey Road’ A Bestseller Again • Apr. 13, 2025, 5:27 AM ET (Forbes)
Yoko Ono details pain of post-Beatles life with John Lennon in new documentary • Apr. 11, 2025, 5:22 AM ET (CNN)
Former Beatles drummer Pete Best announces his retirement • Apr. 9, 2025, 5:54 AM ET (The Guardian)
The delicate dance to preserve the magic of Abbey Road's legendary Studio One • Apr. 3, 2025, 11:56 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Fab Four • the Silver Beetles
Awards And Honors Grammy Award for best new artist • Academy Award • Grammy Award (2025) • Grammy Award (2024) • Grammy Award (1996) • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1988) • Grammy Award (1967) • Grammy Award (1964)
Notable Works “Abbey Road” • “Beatles for Sale” • “Let It Be” • “Please Please Me” • “Revolver” • “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” • “The Beatles”
Role In British Invasion
Date 1960 - 1970
Related People Paul McCartney • John Lennon • Phil Spector • Ringo Starr • George Harrison • George Martin • Brian Epstein • Pete Best

Photos

The Beatles
Brian Epstein
Meeting Ed Sullivan
The night America caught Beatlemania
Transcendental Beatles
Publicity still from the film Let It Be (1970)
Paul McCartney
Ringo Starr
Abbey Road Studios
The Beatles (from left): Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison
See All Images and Podcasts →

Related Topics and References

Topics

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
the Beatles. George Harrison. Publicity still from Let It Be (1970) directed by Michael Lindsay Hogg starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. film documentary rock music movie
Spotlight on Musical Groups
Publicity still of Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock in 1957. (cinema, movies, motion pictures, film)
Rock Music and Rock ’n’ Roll
Graphic of "60's" with flowers and peace sign. 1960's, decades
That Swinging ’60s Quiz
Yellow Submarine (1968) The Beatles portrayed in the animated film directed by George Dunning. L to R, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison. Animated movie
Beatlemania!
the Beatles. Rock and film. Publicity still from A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. rock music movie
Phenomenon From Across the Pond
the Beatles. Rock and film. Publicity still from A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. rock music movie
Come Together
List
Giant portrait of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong hung over the Forbidden City. Imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing (Peking), China. Palace Museum, north of Tiananmen Square. UNESCO World Heritage site.
Behind the Scenes: 7 Historical Figures in Beatles Lyrics
Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)
All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained
iPod. The iPod nano released to the public Sept. 2010 completely redesigned with Multi-Touch. Half the size and even easier to play. Choose from seven electric colors. iPod portable media player developed by Apple Inc., first released in 2001.
10 Musical Acts That Scored 10 #1 Hits