The noise of the crowd was tremendous as the four young lads from Liverpool, a port city in northwestern England, stepped out of their plane. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were all members of the radical new pop band the Beatles, and this was their first trip to the United States. More than three thousand girls had lined up at Kennedy International Airport in New York City to greet the handsome quartet. They were screaming, shouting, and crying with excitement. Many held up signs with messages to the young men, such as "I love you, please stay!" and "Welcome to America." The frenzy was incredible. Even the members of the band, who had toured all over Europe, felt overwhelmed by the reaction of the American fans. It was February 7, 1964, a day that would change the face of popular culture forever.
By the time the Beatles arrived in America, they had already earned quite a reputation for themselves in Europe. They were well-known musicians by 1962, when they signed a contract with a record label, EMI Records, and recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios for the first time. Despite their popularity in Europe, the band was surprised at the extraordinary welcome they received in the United States and the success that would follow.
Their song "Love Me Do" had peaked at only number 17 on the British pop charts. But the Beatles quickly put together a second single, "Please Please Me," and this time, the song reached number two in the United Kingdom. When their first album, also titled Please Please Me, was released in the UK in 1963, it was an instant hit, making the members of the band international celebrities.
It was obvious from the very beginning that the Beatles were not just an average pop band; they were charismatic, talented, and most importantly, willing to experiment with a rock-and-roll sound. In 1960s Europe, many American rock-and-roll musicians had become quite popular, but the Beatles brought a unique quality to the genre. Their tunes incorporated aspects of Celtic folk music, giving them a livelier, more rebellious flavor. Even though the lyrics and melodies were quite simple, their songs spoke directly to the dreams and desires of their fans. Teenage girls, in particular, were crazy about them, while young boys and audiophiles appreciated their musical skills. Frenzied fans appeared whenever and wherever they performed. The media called this "Beatlemania."
The Beatles attracted the attention of Ed Sullivan, a famous American personality, who invited them to perform on his variety show on national television. On February 10, their performance was broadcast into the living rooms of millions of viewers across the continent. This was the first time that most North Americans had ever seen the British group and their distinctive sense of fashion: they wore black suits with ties and had collar-length, straight hair falling over their eyes and growing over their ears, a radical departure from the typical hairstyles of the day. Within days, young men were requesting these "mop-top" haircuts from their barbers and wearing clothes that were similar in style to those of the band. Meanwhile, "Please Please Me" was topping the charts, and their record company released a new version of their album for the American market. On the cover, the Beatles wore black turtlenecks; days later, these also became hot items, as did the style of leather cap worn by John during their tour. Companies even began selling Beatle wigs and costumes to eager customers. Anything and everything British was considered cool, hip, and desirable.
Not only did the Beatles revolutionize fashion in the United States, but they also changed the way that the general public appreciated music. Fondness for the Beatles encouraged enthusiasts to explore other British musicians, such as the Rolling Stones and the Who. Many journalists called the success of so many UK musicians the "British Invasion" and commented on the reversal of an earlier trend, when American groups had achieved stardom in the UK. For two years, from 1964 to 1966, British musicians dominated global music charts.
The Beatles, however, decided that it was time to grow up and produce more mature and diverse albums. They stopped touring in 1966 in order to focus on studio work. George, who had learned to play the sitar, used the instrument on several songs. Before long, everyone was interested in Indian music, and many young people were learning to play the sitar. Some rock historians even credit the Beatles with starting the world music trend.
In 1967, the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, an album now widely accepted as one of the greatest albums ever recorded. The album sold like hotcakes, but some critics were hesitant to embrace it, believing that the band had become too experimental and strayed too far from its roots. Others heralded the album as a welcome transformation that signaled a step forward for the band. The impact of the new style on the industry, however, was indisputable.
Unfortunately, conflict was erupting within the band: John and Paul had different opinions about the direction the Beatles should take. Paul wanted his wife’s father, the tycoon Lee Eastman, to take over the business affairs of the band; John was preoccupied with the creative side and was skeptical that Eastman could manage a musical group. The disagreements intensified, and in 1970, Paul officially quit the band—the Beatles were splitting up.
This, however, was only the beginning of new chapters for the "Fab Four," as they were known. George went on to record numerous solo albums and work on projects with other musicians. Ringo performed with a number of successful groups. Paul played with a new band, Wings, until 1981, and released many solo albums in a variety of styles as well. John and his wife, Yoko Ono, recorded several new albums together and became involved with the antiwar movement building in response to the Vietnam War. One of John’s songs, "Imagine," whose lyrics celebrate the possibility of a world at peace, is regarded by many as the most influential pop song of the twentieth century.
Sadly, John was shot and killed outside his New York apartment on December 8, 1980, by a crazed admirer. Instead of a funeral, Yoko asked that all of his fans take ten minutes of silence to pause and remember their hero, his music, and the music of the Beatles. The following Sunday, in a planned vigil, millions of people around the world, including thirty thousand in his hometown and one hundred thousand in New York, bowed their heads in silence to reflect on John Lennon and the Beatles. With their sublime songs, unique style, and rare creativity, they had changed the world.