The Beatles was a rock band from Liverpool, England, with their roots in the late 1950s and their lineup defined in the 1960s. Consisting mainly of Paul McCartney (bass, piano and vocals), John Lennon (guitar and vocals) , George Harrison (solo guitar and vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums and vocals), the group is recognized for having led the "British Invasion" in the United States in the early 1960s.
Although, initially, the group's musical style was influenced by rock and roll and skiffle of the 50s, during the career they explored genres ranging from melodic rock to psychedelic rock. The "boys from Liverpool", or "Fab Four" - "fabulous quartet" -, as they were called, gained fame, popularity and notoriety until now unheard of for a musical band, and became the most successful and most influential band of the 20th century. Their attire, their haircuts, and their growing social awareness influenced the way of being of the young people of that generation. For all this, the term beatlemania was created.
After the band split up in 1970, the four members started successful solo careers. Considered the most successful musical group in history, its members being acclaimed by audiences and critics, with more than 1.5 billion albums sold worldwide, and with 27 songs that reached number one on the charts only in the United States of America, in addition to being able to occupy the top five places in mid-1964 - record numbers until the present day - the Beatles influenced and influence bands around the world. For their inventive creativity and originality in their songs, John Lennon and Paul McCartney created the most celebrated and famous musical duo on the planet.
The Beatles included in their career feats that influenced all the following generations: they were the precursors of Indian music in western pop / rock, they were the first band to make music videos of their songs, and the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was the first in the world to contain an insert with photos and lyrics of his songs. In 2003, the American Rolling Stone magazine classified it as the best album of all time and, in 2004, it included the Beatles in first place in the List of the Hundred Greatest Artists of All Time. According to that same magazine, the Beatles' innovative music and cultural impact helped define the 1960s, and their cultural and pop influence is still alive and strong today.
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