The Beatles Timeline

The Beatles 34

1957 Lennon meets McCartney Woolton church fête, July 6, 1957 John Lennon met Paul McCartney at a church fête in Woolton, Liverpool on July 6, 1957, where Lennon's skiffle group The Quarrymen were playing. McCartney impressed Lennon by knowing guitar chords he didn't. Paul joined the band shortly after.
1958 George Harrison joins Quarrymen gain their lead guitarist George Harrison, aged 15, joined The Quarrymen in March 1958 as lead guitarist after persistent attempts to audition for Lennon. John initially thought George was too young, but was won over by his guitar playing.
1960 – 1962 Hamburg residencies Over 10,000 hours of live performance The Beatles made five visits to Hamburg between 1960 and 1962, playing brutal multi-hour sets in clubs like the Kaiserkeller and Star-Club. The experience forged them into a formidable live act, accumulating over 10,000 hours of performance that Malcolm Gladwell later cited as the key to their mastery.
1960 The Beatles name adopted First Hamburg residency begins By August 1960 the group had settled on the name The Beatles — a pun on "beat" inspired by Buddy Holly's Crickets. Drummer Pete Best was hired and the five-piece departed Liverpool for their first Hamburg residency, playing eight-hour sets in clubs.
1961 First Cavern Club show Liverpool's most famous venue — February 9, 1961 The Beatles played the first of their 292 performances at the Cavern Club in Liverpool on February 9, 1961. It was here that Brian Epstein first saw them perform in November 1961 and became their manager.
1961 Brian Epstein becomes manager Discovers the Beatles at the Cavern Club Brian Epstein, a local record shop owner, first saw the Beatles perform at the Cavern Club in November 1961 and became their manager in January 1962. He transformed their image — suits instead of leather jackets — and secured their EMI contract.
1962 EMI audition with George Martin Signed to Parlophone, June 6, 1962 The Beatles auditioned at EMI's Abbey Road Studios on June 6, 1962, for producer George Martin. Martin was unimpressed with drummer Pete Best and signed them to Parlophone. Best was replaced by Ringo Starr in August 1962.
1962 Ringo Starr joins the Beatles Pete Best replaced — August 18, 1962 Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best as drummer on August 18, 1962, completing the classic Lennon–McCartney–Harrison–Starr line-up. Best was devastated; Ringo had previously played with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
1962 Love Me Do released Debut single — October 5, 1962 "Love Me Do" was released as the Beatles' debut single on October 5, 1962, reaching number 17 in the UK charts. It was the beginning of one of the most extraordinary runs of success in music history.
1963 Beatlemania erupts in Britain Screaming fans, sold-out tours, national hysteria By the end of 1963, Beatlemania had gripped Britain. The Beatles performed for the Royal Family at the Royal Variety Performance, appeared on TV to tens of millions, and had four songs in the UK Top 20 simultaneously. The press coined the term "Beatlemania".
1963 Please Please Me Debut album recorded in one day — March 22, 1963 The Beatles' debut album Please Please Me was released on March 22, 1963. Most of it was recorded in a single marathon session on February 11, 1963. It reached number 1 in the UK and stayed there for 30 weeks, replaced only by their second album.
1963 With The Beatles Second album — November 22, 1963 With The Beatles was released on November 22, 1963 — the same day as President Kennedy's assassination. It became the second album to sell a million copies in the UK, replacing their own debut at number 1.
1964 Ed Sullivan Show appearance 73 million viewers — February 9, 1964 The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, watched by an estimated 73 million Americans — 34% of the US population. It launched the British Invasion and transformed American pop culture overnight.
1964 A Hard Day's Night Third album and first film — July 10, 1964 A Hard Day's Night was released on July 10, 1964, alongside their debut film of the same name directed by Richard Lester. The album, all original Lennon-McCartney compositions, reached number 1 in both the UK and US.
1964 Beatles For Sale Fourth album — December 4, 1964 Beatles For Sale was released on December 4, 1964. A more introspective album reflecting the pressures of Beatlemania, it reached number 1 in the UK and is notable for early signs of the world-weariness that would characterise their later work.
1965 MBE awards Beatles appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire Queen Elizabeth II appointed all four Beatles Members of the Order of the British Empire on June 12, 1965. The award caused controversy — many previous recipients returned their medals in protest. John Lennon later returned his in 1969.
1965 Help! Fifth album and second film — July 29, 1965 Help! was released on July 29, 1965, timed with their second feature film. The album marked a growing sophistication in Lennon's writing — the title track is now understood as a genuine cry for help amid the pressures of fame.
1965 Shea Stadium concert First stadium rock concert — 55,600 fans The Beatles performed at Shea Stadium in New York on August 15, 1965, before 55,600 fans — the largest audience for a pop concert at that time. It is considered the birth of stadium rock.
1965 Rubber Soul Sixth album — December 3, 1965 Rubber Soul was released on December 3, 1965, marking a significant artistic leap. With folk, Indian and psychedelic influences, introspective lyrics and innovative production, it heralded the album era. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys called it the album that inspired Pet Sounds.
1966 Revolver Seventh album — August 5, 1966 Revolver was released on August 5, 1966, widely regarded as one of the greatest albums ever made. It pushed recording technology to its limits with backwards guitars, tape loops, orchestral arrangements and Indian classical music, permanently expanding what pop music could be.
1966 Final concert at Candlestick Park Last live performance — San Francisco, August 29, 1966 The Beatles played their final concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco on August 29, 1966. Tired of touring and unable to hear themselves above the screaming, they retired from live performance to focus entirely on studio work.
1967 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Eighth album — June 1, 1967 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released on June 1, 1967 and spent 27 weeks at number 1 in the UK. Considered the pinnacle of the 1960s counterculture, it was the first album to print its lyrics on the sleeve and won four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year.
1967 Brian Epstein dies Manager found dead — August 27, 1967 Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager since 1962, was found dead of an accidental drug overdose on August 27, 1967, aged 32. The Beatles were in Bangor, Wales studying Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Lennon later said "I knew we were in trouble then."
1967 Magical Mystery Tour Ninth album — December 8, 1967 Magical Mystery Tour was released in the UK as a double EP on December 8, 1967 (and as a full album in the US). The accompanying television film, broadcast on BBC on Boxing Day, was critically panned but the music — including Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane — was universally acclaimed.
1968 Apple Corps founded Beatles create their own company The Beatles founded Apple Corps in 1968 as a multimedia corporation to manage their business interests. It included Apple Records, Apple Films and Apple Electronics. The company became a financial disaster, contributing to the band's break-up.
1968 The Beatles (White Album) Tenth album — November 22, 1968 The Beatles — known as the White Album for its plain white cover — was released on November 22, 1968. A sprawling double album of 30 tracks, it showed the four members increasingly working as separate artists. It reached number 1 in both the UK and US.
1969 Yellow Submarine Eleventh album — January 13, 1969 Yellow Submarine was released on January 13, 1969, as the soundtrack to the 1968 animated film. Half the album was orchestral score by George Martin. It was their least successful album but the film became a beloved classic.
1969 Beatles rooftop concert Last public performance The Beatles performed their last ever public concert on the rooftop of the Apple Corps building in London on January 30, 1969.
1969 Rooftop concert Last public performance — Apple HQ, January 30, 1969 The Beatles gave their final public performance on the rooftop of their Apple Corps headquarters at 3 Savile Row, London on January 30, 1969. The impromptu lunchtime concert stopped traffic and was eventually ended by police. It was filmed and later appeared in the Let It Be documentary.
1969 Lennon privately announces departure John tells the band he's leaving — September 20, 1969 John Lennon privately told the other Beatles he was leaving the band on September 20, 1969, shortly after completing Abbey Road. McCartney persuaded him to keep it secret for business reasons. It was not made public until April 1970.
1969 Abbey Road Twelfth album — September 26, 1969 Abbey Road was released on September 26, 1969, and is widely considered the Beatles' finest achievement. Its iconic cover — the four crossing Abbey Road — became one of the most imitated images in history. The medley on Side 2 showed a band at its creative peak even as it fell apart.
1970 Beatles split End of an era Paul McCartney announced his departure from the Beatles in April 1970, formally ending the most influential band in music history.
1970 McCartney announces the break-up April 10, 1970 Paul McCartney publicly announced he was leaving the Beatles on April 10, 1970, via a self-written Q&A promoting his first solo album. The announcement shocked the world, though Lennon had privately left months earlier.
1970 Let It Be Final album — May 8, 1970 Let It Be was released on May 8, 1970, a month after McCartney's announcement. Recorded in early 1969, it had been shelved until producer Phil Spector added controversial orchestration. It was a raw, melancholic finale to the Beatles' studio output.