The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960.
The group consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history.
Here are ten fun facts about The Beatles:
1. The Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960 until 1963.
2. Their popularity grew exponentially after their first single, “Love Me Do“, was released on 5 October 1962; it reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart by year’s end despite being available only as a limited edition import at the time due to manufacturing issues with its pressing run.
3. All four members of The Beatles were born within a span of three years: John Lennon (1940), Paul McCartney (1942), George Harrison (1943), Ringo Starr (1940).
4. Although we know them now as THE BEATLES – that wasn’t always their name! Some other names they went under before settling on The Beatles included Johnny & The Moondogs & Long John & Silver Beetles.
5. The Beatles are the best-selling band in history, with estimated sales of over 600 million records worldwide.
6. The Beatles were originally rejected by Decca Records after an audition in 1962.
7. The Beatles’ song “Yesterday” has been covered by over 2,200 artists and is the most covered song in history.
8. The Beatles were the first band to have all their members knighted. Ringo Starr was knighted in 2018, Paul McCartney in 1997, George Harrison in 2000 (posthumously) and John Lennon in 1965 (posthumously).
9. The Beatles hold the record for the longest time between number-one album releases in the UK, with eight years and five months between Please Please Me in 1963 and Abbey Road in 1969.
10. In 1965, the Beatles were nominated for and won eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year (for their album A Hard Day’s Night) and Best New Artist.
