Members of The Beatles

About The Beatles

When the Beatles emerged in the early 60s, perhaps no one realized what a cultural force they would become. They heralded the "British Invasion" in the U.S., released 13 albums, and starred in five movies. With songs ranging from cheery pop numbers to heartfelt love songs to psychedelic mind trips, they enjoyed number one singles and record-breaking album sales. Their music continues to find new listeners in each successive generation, and fans new and old readily buy compilations and live recordings released decades after the break up of the band. In recognition of their musical impact, The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

An Introduction to the Members of The Beatles

John Lennon

John Lennon created The Quarrymen, the band that would become The Beatles, in 1957. By 1960, the band had picked up Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and a soon-to-be-famous new name. Along with McCartney, Lennon was responsible for most of The Beatles' songwriting. His relationship with his second wife, Yoko Ono, was a source of creative inspiration and controversy. Lennon enjoyed a successful career after The Beatles, creating iconic songs like "Imagine" and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his solo work in 1994. Lennon was shot and killed by a disturbed fan, Mark David Chapman, in 1980.

Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney was the second member of the band in the early days and quickly joined Lennon in creating their sound. As the band rose to fame, he was the subject of a bizarre rumor claiming he was dead, finding clues to support the claim throughout The Beatles' work. Despite the conspiracy theories, McCartney remains alive and well. After The Beatles, McCartney founded the band Wings and also enjoyed success as a solo artist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1999.

George Harrison

George Harrison was the lead guitarist of The Beatles, with occasional songwriting and singing duties. After his time with The Beatles, Harrison was involved in two big musical projects in addition to solo work. In 1971, he planned The Concert for Bangladesh, a large-scale benefit effort featuring performers as diverse as Ravi Shankar and Eric Clapton. He also formed the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys with other famous artists like Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. George Harrison died in 2001 after an extended fight against cancer. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his solo career in 2004.

Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr was the last member to join The Beatles, becoming their drummer in 1962 after the dismissal of Pete Best. His drumming style was considered a unique component of the band's sound. After the break up of The Beatles, he maintained a working relationship with other members in the band, drumming on albums for George Harrison and John Lennon. His solo work included the hit song, "It Don't Come Easy" and a series of successful concerts under the name Ringo Starr All-Starr Band. In non-musical work, Starr spent a season playing Mr. Conductor on the PBS children's program Shining Time Station.

Pete Best - The Fifth Beatle

Pete Best, the band's original drummer, is sometimes referred to as "The Fifth Beatle." The Beatles had been playing with a series of drummers, changing from gig to gig and knew Best from one of the clubs at which they regularly played. In 1960, Best was asked to join the band for a tour of Hamburg. However, after returning from Germany in 1962, he was fired from the band. Some stories say he was too popular with fans, causing friction with the other band members. Other sources point to a record executive questioning his skill as a drummer. Whatever the reason, Best is one of the great "what could have been" stories of music history.

Online Resources

Visit the official sites of the members of The Beatles to learn more about their past and future work:

• John Lennon
• Paul McCartney
• George Harrison
• Ringo Starr
• Pete Best