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The Beatles were a band that seemed to just stick out from the rest of the English mod scene. It seemed as though that John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr were definetly the biggest part of the U.K.'s "British Invasion". Why are the fab four, as they became known as, so celebrated and regarded as one of the, if not the most influential band to ever hit the music scene? Well there is no direct answer, but it may have something to do with the special connection they always had with their audience. As times changed and the mod, clean-shaven, mop-top, well-dressed, innocent looks seemed to dissapear from the mainstream and was replaced with outgrown hair, songs of revolution and peace, free love, and challenging tradition came into culture, The band seemed to change also. The Beatles' songs became the soundtrack to the 60's "Hippie era" with songs like "All You Need is Love", "Revolution", etc. People began to not only listen but to go as far as to worship the band in a way that has never been previoulsy seen in the history of music. The Beatles began growing longer hair, growing facial hair, wearing casual clothing, and playing much more psychedelic and heavier music. Their most heaviest influences, may have been through George's heavy interest and belief in Eastern and Indian spirituality led by people such as Ravi Shankar. Although some of their songs were rather odd and now looked upon by many as nonsensical, in the time they were created people would claim to know their true meaning and hold onto all their songs as precious and fantastic. but as people worshipped them, their was much array and dissagreement between the band members themselves. Their seperate personalities began to show as they were given more freedom to write songs. George's interest in the Indian religions had turned into a lifelong quest and the influence in his music showed now more than ever, John's innovation to influence peace, love, and anti-war messages came out through many songs too, Paul, although he had changed, still wrote many old-fashioned, cute love songs and was regarded as the "cute Beatle", while Ringo had always preferred more softer and easier listening music. They dissagreed a lot and agreed to finally break up. The band that had influenced and provided a whole generation had now broken up, but still their music lives on, perhaps more than any other artist from the time. Their music still holds the SAME messages, although they may not SEEM as relevant, they certainly were to people back then, and people are people and love is love.

Honestly, I wish I could have been a teen in the 60s so I could fully get the beatles experience. Now, I get so giddy when I see a mention of the beatles as a whole or any of the members in a newspaper or on tv or such. I just wish I could have been there to get all the merchandise, to see them live, to actually be able to talk to someone in person that is able to mirror my own excitement. 'Round here people have become annoyed with my beatlemania. My mom's the only one who encouraged it but now she realizes it's like pouring gas on a fire and she's told me to talk/enjoy other things D:

oy and I love George Harrison. He's influenced me in many different ways that aren't important enough to go into detail. His songs are lovely. Sure, you guys could be paul/ringo/john fans but I just don't think george gets enough of the credit he deserves.

Some of his songs that are overlooked are really spectacular. Not to say the others are any less so :]

I heart the beatles. They caused the rebirth of rock music in the US of A - Elvis was drafted, three huge rock musicians died, and one was discredited. Then Beatles records arrived from Liverpool. John Lennon's aunt Mimi, who he lived with from the age of five on, had bought her nephew a guitar. His incessant playing prompted her to remark, “The guitar’s all very well as a hobby, John, but you’ll never make a living out of it.” That same year, Lennon formed his first group, the Quarrymen, which evolved into the Beatles. American Beatles fans later had her words etched on steel and sent them to her. The Beatles shaped music, and the simple fact that they are still beloved nearly half a century after Beatlemania shows their genius and - and - well, perfection, basically. The Beatles rock our world!

I get the same thing told to me all the time, "You were born in the wrong era." Which I think, is true.

The Beatles were/are the best band ever. And I wish I was there to see them in their prime era. You can see their influence in everything nowadays but nothing comes close. Simply fab.

I agree. i wish i could have been there to just witness it all, to be caught up in that beatlemania.

my uncle has told my mom that i am the family's hippie. my mom once, when she was driving somewhere and I was with her just out of the blue said you were born in the wrong time period XD im glad im not the only one who can see it

most of us here prolly feel that way. ah to have seen the beatles in person D: i envy those who have cos I never can. i can see paul and ringo MAYBE, but never the beatles. thats sadly gone.

The Beatles have litterally brought from my death bed. ((metimorphically speaking))

Before I had the sensation of The Beatles experience I was such a depressed person. I completely hated my life. But one day I picked up my Beatles greatest hits album and started to play it. Ever since then The Beatles came into my life I have been more creative, my imagination has expanded, and so much more. Plus I learned that George and I are amasingly alike.

I think I'm glad that I was not born yet when John died, or that I was ignorant of Georges death because I was so young. It probably would have broken my heart for all my life. I honestly don't know what would happen if Ringo or Paul were to pass.

Still I dream of the day that I would come face to face with George. Just some day...

My first memory of The Beatles is from when I was very young. We were sitting in our old car that mum had to get rid of before I turned three, and the radio was talking about four beetles, and one of them had died. I immediately thought of the bugs; my first image of John Lennon was that of a squashed bug. Oh man...but then, when they started talking about their music, I imagined them as the only other singing beetle I knew of:



That's right. The beetle from the Thumbelina cartoon.
Unfortunately, I hated him, so I decided to dislike The Beatles because they were greedy cartoon insects from a dumb movie.

My only memory of George's death is when I was watching PBS, curled up on the couch waiting in the late afternoon, and there was a special about them. Mum cried, and I cried, too, because I'd never seen her shed tears before, so I thought he and John must have been really great men for my mother to cry for.

Another 'early' memory is fairly recent, from the week I first got into The Beatles after my dad bought the white album at a garage sale on our way to Michigan to see friends. I was flipping through the inside packet thing, saw Paul's picture, and thought 'Doode, he looks like Lancelot! *love!*'
I didn't turn the page and see John until mum pointed out that Lennon was the political one (I was very political for a spotty preteen pimple). I thought, hell, this guy looks...cool. And then I read his lyrics, and fell in love. x3
It was later that night, after listening to both cds on end as well as a borrowed copy of Abbey Road, did my parents start talking about their reactions to news of John's death. Mum was changing a tire (she's kickass). Dad was living in a hut in Virginia and talking to his friend Rick when they heard it over the radio. Me? I was sitting in a car more than a decade later, shocked and horrified and crying all the way home, where I locked myself in the bathroom and sobbed all over an article in Time that had a picture of Old Paul.

surprised I'm a bit melodramatic, no? I'm really sorry. I should find another career goal than writing, something I won't butcher.