The Beatles formed in Liverpool in 1960, comprising John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals), and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). All four grew up in working-class Liverpool during the post-war years, absorbing American rock and roll, skiffle, and rhythm and blues. Their early years were spent honing their craft in the clubs of Hamburg, Germany, where they played marathon sets that forged their tight musicianship and stage presence. Returning to Liverpool, they became the house band at the Cavern Club, where manager Brian Epstein discovered them in 1961.
The Beatles' arrival in America in February 1964 — "the British Invasion" — was a cultural earthquake. Their first US single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand," sold over a million copies in ten days. Over the next decade, they released 13 studio albums, from Please Please Me (1963) to Let It Be (1970), each pushing musical boundaries. They pioneered studio techniques like multitrack recording, tape loops, and reverse recording on albums such as Revolver (1966) and the revolutionary Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), which won four Grammy Awards and is the best-selling album of the 1960s.
The Beatles remain the best-selling music act of all time, with estimated sales of over 600 million records worldwide. They have more number-one albums on the UK charts (15) and more number-one singles in the US (20) than any other act. Their influence extends far beyond music — they shaped fashion, film, and social attitudes of the 1960s counterculture. After the band's breakup in 1970, all four members enjoyed successful solo careers. The Beatles continue to be celebrated globally, with Liverpool's Beatles Story museum and their childhood homes drawing fans from every corner of the world.