the Beatles

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References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Meeting Ed Sullivan

The night America caught Beatlemania

Transcendental Beatles

Publicity still from the film Let It Be (1970)

Abbey Road Studios

On This Day: August 12

For Students

Beatles summary

Read Next

iPod. The iPod nano released to the public Sept. 2010 completely redesigned with Multi-Touch. Half the size and even easier to play. Choose from seven electric colors. iPod portable media player developed by Apple Inc., first released in 2001.

10 Musical Acts That Scored 10 #1 Hits

the Beatles. Rock and film. Publicity still from A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. rock music movie

The Birth of Beatlemania: Observing a Fifty-Year (1963–2013) Milestone

British rock group The Beatles, waving to screaming fans en route to Boston, Massachusetts airport (from l to r) George Harrison, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, on August 12, 1966.

Did the Beatles Really Say They Were More Popular than Jesus?

Giant portrait of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong hung over the Forbidden City. Imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing (Peking), China. Palace Museum, north of Tiananmen Square. UNESCO World Heritage site.

Behind the Scenes: 7 Historical Figures in Beatles Lyrics

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Discover

Aurochs. Bos primigenius. Skeleton. Extinct animal. Skeleton of an Aurochs, an extinct wild ox.

6 Animals We Ate Into Extinction

Aspirin pills.

7 Drugs that Changed the World

Gutzon Borglum. Presidents. Sculpture. National park. George Washington. Thomas Jefferson. Theodore Roosevelt. Abraham Lincoln. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota.

9 Memorials and Monuments in the United States

Amendments 1-10 to the Constitution of the United States constitute what is known as the Bill of Rights on an American flag.

What Is the Emoluments Clause?

Happy, smiling, flying pig

7 Everyday English Idioms and Where They Come From

Ethel Rosenberg arrested in August 1950. Photograph dated Aug. 8, 1950. American civilians executed for espionage. Spies, communists, Julius Rosenberg

Spies Like Us: 10 Famous Names in the Espionage Game

Poker game. Card game. Royal Flush in poker. Hearts suit gambling

Poker Hands Ranked

the Beatles: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Music from South America, Spain and ... Mars? : Alt.Latino • May 7, 2025, 9:52 AM ET (NPR)

Beatles pictures rediscovered by Paul McCartney in lockdown on sale for more than £60k • May 5, 2025, 8:04 AM ET (The Telegraph)

Help! Ringo Starr fan mail plea from Tynemouth envelope buyer • Apr. 20, 2025, 9:26 PM ET (BBC)

Facts

Also Known As	Fab Four • the Silver Beetles
Awards And Honors	Grammy Award for best new artist • Academy Award • Grammy Award (2025) • Grammy Award (2024) • Grammy Award (1996) • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1988) • Grammy Award (1967) • Grammy Award (1964)
Notable Works	“Abbey Road” • “Beatles for Sale” • “Let It Be” • “Please Please Me” • “Revolver” • “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” • “The Beatles”
Role In	British Invasion
Date	1960 - 1970
Related People	George Martin • Paul McCartney • John Lennon • Brian Epstein • Pete Best • Ringo Starr • Phil Spector • George Harrison

Photos

Meeting Ed Sullivan

The night America caught Beatlemania

Transcendental Beatles

Publicity still from the film Let It Be (1970)

Abbey Road Studios

The Beatles (from left): Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison

See All Images and Podcasts →

Topics

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Quiz

Yellow Submarine (1968) The Beatles portrayed in the animated film directed by George Dunning. L to R, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison. Animated movie

Beatlemania!

the Beatles. George Harrison. Publicity still from Let It Be (1970) directed by Michael Lindsay Hogg starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. film documentary rock music movie

Spotlight on Musical Groups

Publicity still of Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock in 1957. (cinema, movies, motion pictures, film)

Rock Music and Rock ’n’ Roll

the Beatles. Rock and film. Publicity still from A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. rock music movie

Come Together

the Beatles. Rock and film. Publicity still from A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) a British musical quartet. rock music movie

Phenomenon From Across the Pond

Graphic of "60's" with flowers and peace sign. 1960's, decades

That Swinging ’60s Quiz

List

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Giant portrait of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong hung over the Forbidden City. Imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing (Peking), China. Palace Museum, north of Tiananmen Square. UNESCO World Heritage site.

Behind the Scenes: 7 Historical Figures in Beatles Lyrics

iPod. The iPod nano released to the public Sept. 2010 completely redesigned with Multi-Touch. Half the size and even easier to play. Choose from seven electric colors. iPod portable media player developed by Apple Inc., first released in 2001.

10 Musical Acts That Scored 10 #1 Hits