Home Biography How they met Their music Links Resources Contact

How They Met

August 1956
John Lennon forms The Quarry Men.

July 6, 1957
John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet and the pair find out that they have similar pop idol interests.

February 6, 1958
The Quarry Men play at the Wilson Hall in Liverpool, whereupon George Harrison decides to join the Quarry Men.

July 6, 1961
John Lennon gave an interview on how the name "Beatles" came about: "Many people ask what are Beatles? Why Beatles? Ugh, Beatles? How did the name arrive? So we will tell you. It came in a vision - a man appeared on a flaming pie and said unto them, 'From this day on you are Beatles with an "A"'. 'Thank you Mister Man', they said, thanking him. And so they were Beatles."

November 1961
Brian Epstein, a Liverpool music shop owner, heard the Beatles at the Cavern and became their manager.

June 4, 1962
Epstein secured the group a recording contract with Parlophone.

June 6, 1962
The Beatles audition their music with music producer George Martin at Abbey Road Studios.

August 18, 1962
Ringo Starr takes over Pete Best as the bands drummer.

October 17, 1962
THE BEATLES FIRST TELEVISION APPEARANCE ON "People and Places".

March 22, 1963
PLEASE PLEASE ME - their first album, is released in England, on Parlophone Records.

February 1, 1964
"I Want To Hold Your Hand" reaches No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard music charts, selling 2,000,000 units.

February 9, 1964
Beatles debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in New York; 50,000 apply for 728 available seats. An estimated 73 million viewers watch that night.

August 27, 1967
Brian Epstein passed away

April 10, 1970
Paul McCartney publicly announces he has left the Beatles because of "..personal, business and musical differences"

April 17, 1970
John Lennon blamed Paul McCartney's hatred of his wife Yoko Ono for the break up of The Beatles then John announces that The Beatles are done.

December 30, 1970
Paul McCartney begins legal procedures to end the Beatles partnership. The band is estimated to be worth about $100 million at the end of the year.

January 9, 1975
Judge rules in McCartney's favor and the Beatles are "officially dissolved."