They Took Over The World
Apparently, one can be a Beatles fan or a Rolling Stones fan, but not both. One thing is for sure: it is impossible to turn a deaf ear to the phenomenon that was The Beatles. The Fab Four broke countless records, altered fashion and hairstyles, and even instigated the concept of a boy band. But with all their fame, there also came conflict, betrayal, and a bitter end to The Beatles. But it didn’t stop there.
Unimaginable tragedy followed these four lads from Liverpool, and the story’s not even over yet.
1. It All Started In High School
It was John Lennon who got the ball rolling in 1956 on what would later become The Beatles. At 16, Lennon started a band with his high school chums. His high school was Quarry Bank, so the band became the Quarrymen. The following year, when a 15-year-old Paul McCartney joined the band as a rhythm guitar player, they were halfway to becoming The Beatles.
They still needed two more to make the Fab Four.
2. It Was A Fight To Get Him In
It took some persuading by McCartney for Lennon to accept his friend George Harrison into the group. Harrison’s second audition took place on a Liverpool bus—on the top, no less. Lennon finally saw that 15-year-old Harrison was a good fit for lead guitar. Now they had to search for a dynamic name that would take them to superstardom.
3. They Struggled With Their Identity
By 1959, the original members from Quarry High had left, and it was only Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison. They played gigs using whatever drummers they could find. Lennon’s close friend and early band member Stuart Sutcliffe suggested the name Beatals. They disliked this and, in frustration, changed the name to the Silver Beetles. Their last-ditch effort was to drop the Silver and change it from Beetles to Beatles.
They were finally The Beatles, but they were still one member short.
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4. They Had A Shock In Hamburg
In 1960, they signed on with drummer Pete Best, and with Sutcliffe, they were a five-piece band. Their manager got them a residence in Hamburg, Germany. A German contact, Bruno Koschmider, was in the process of converting some very sketchy venues into rock and roll clubs, and this was where they were going to perform.
The Beatles didn’t mind and dove right in. But then they made a fatal error.
United Press International, Wikimedia Commons
5. They Made A Very Bad Decision
Maybe The Beatles didn’t know they had an exclusive contract with Koschmider. Or maybe they just didn't care. They quietly arranged more gigs at one of Koschmider’s competitors’ locations. Koschmider hit the ceiling when he found out and gave them one month’s notice. But he had a more severe punishment in store for The Beatles.
6. He Knew Their Secret
Koschminer knew one of The Beatles’ secrets, and he used it against them. Harrison had lied about his age on his entry into Germany. Koschminer squealed, and the authorities were soon in the process of having him thrown out of the country. Next, the heartless Koschmider told authorities that McCartney and Best had started a fire in the flat they were staying in. They were on their way out as well.
It looked like The Beatles would be saying goodbye to Hamburg forever.
7. They Went To A Dark Pace For Survival
Somehow, The Beatles mended their problems in Hamburg and returned to play there for two more years. During this time, they had such a rigorous schedule that they needed a little help from their friend. This friend was the diet pill Preludin, a stimulant which they used for added energy to keep up their frantic schedule.
But one Beatle was nearing the end of his rope.
8. He Had An Emotional Crisis
Sutcliffe had had it with the lifestyle of the Beatles and decided to quit. Sutcliffe was now in a relationship and wanted to focus on her and his art career. This decision led to an emotional upheaval for Lennon. His friendship with Sutcliffe was deeply complex, and some believe it had even crossed into physical intimacy. A devastated Lennon was losing his musical and emotional partner.
But he wasn’t about to let him go so easily.
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9. He Couldn’t Let Him Go
While Lennon could have calmly asked his buddy to stay in the band, he didn’t. Remember, he was living large in Hamburg and facing countless performances, drug-addled intensity, and may even jealousy of Sutcliffe's girlfriend. One night, he punched Sutcliffe and left him bleeding. This was a sad ending to their years-long friendship.
But it was just going to get sadder.
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10. They Got Some Devastating News
The Beatles then signed on with manager Brian Epstein, but they still had to fulfill one last recording session in Germany. When they arrived in Hamburg, they got some devastating news. The day before their arrival, Sutcliffe had had a brain hemorrhage and passed. This was yet another huge strain on The Beatles and especially on poor Lennon.
It was a sad day, but still, The Beatles had to carry on.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
11. They Faced A Brutal Rejection
Epstein was in hot pursuit of a record label for The Beatles. Decca Records gave them a surprising pass, saying that "Guitar groups are on the way out, Mr Epstein". Boy, did they get that wrong. No matter, EMI’s George Martin signed them on to their Parlophone label. The Beatles were finally ready to record.
But there was an awkward change of personnel needed.
12. They Made A Ruthless Decision
June 6, 1962, marks the day that The Beatles began recording with EMI. The venue was the EMI Recording Studios, which would later become Abbey Road. There was an immediate problem. EMI’s Martin was not a huge fan of Best’s drumming. The thing was, the other three Beatles weren't fans either. Since none of The Beatles had the guts to fire Best, they left the job to Epstein.
Luckily, they found a rising Starr.
13. They Were Under His Control
With the hiring of Ringo Starr, The Beatles were finally The Beatles that we all know today. Well, there was still one more change. Epstein sat the four lads down and had a serious chat. He told them that if they wanted to make it big, they had to grow up. This meant discontinuing their bad habits of eating and swearing on stage, and they had to try to come across as more professional.
With that little speech, it was time to fast-forward to world domination.
badgreeb pictures, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
14. It Hit Number One
The Beatles released their first album on March 22, 1963. Please Please Me went straight to number one and miraculously stayed at number one for 30 weeks. Even more miraculous was the fact that the album that replaced it at number one was also by The Beatles. The single “She Loves You” broke a record for the fastest sales of a single and held on to the record until 1978.
This love of The Beatles was becoming a phenomenon, and it needed a name.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
15. Beatlemania Had Begun
Of course, with these kinds of sales, a tour was inevitable. The Beatles toured the UK three times and then landed on TV on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. The show attracted screaming fans in the audience and an out-of-this-world 15 million viewers at home. The next day in the newspaper, one journalist called it what it was. He said it was “Beatlemania”.
The fans were clearly getting out of control.
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16. They Got Mobbed
After a short tour in Sweden, The Beatles flew back to the UK. They could not have imagined what they’d see at the airport. It was a rainy day, and yet close to 100 journalists had shown up to cover their arrival. But that was nothing compared to the several hundred fans who didn’t hold back on their screaming adoration of The Beatles.
The pressure was on. The Beatles had to make a second album as successful as the first.
17. They Were The Fab Four
When their second album, With The Beatles, did as well as the first, The Beatles knew they were not going to be a one-album wonder. In the liner notes, their press officer called them the “fabulous foursome”. The media, always looking for a shortcut, just called them “the Fab Four”. The momentum of the Fab Four was hurling forward.
Without a moment to take a breath, the lads headed for America.
United Press International, Wikimedia Commons
18. They Crossed the Pond
On February 7, 1964, The Beatles were back at Heathrow airport, saying a frantic goodbye to close to 4,000 fans. When they arrived at JFK Airport, they came face to face with the same thing: thousands of adoring and screaming fans. They were soon whisked off to the stage of one of America’s most popular TV show hosts.
The next morning, a sobering reality set in.
19. Something Didn’t Translate
About 73 million people watched The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. To the band’s horror, a good number of them didn't like what they saw. The lads had to make guesses as to why. Some thought it was their controversial long hair. Whatever the reason, The Beatles were going to have to face a huge coliseum of people that may or may not hate them.
They had no idea what kind of reception to expect.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
20. They Helped With Their Loss
Thankfully, The Beatles’ show at the Washington Coliseum was a huge success. They did more shows at Carnegie Hall in New York City and then did Ed Sullivan again. American citizens at this time were mourning the sudden loss of John F Kennedy. Some believed that The Beatles helped bring young people out of this sadness.
But back at home, they’d face criticism from a British icon.
Vern Barchard, Wikimedia Commons
21. This Spy Didn't Love Them
In 1964, Sean Connery starred in the James Bond film Goldfinger. One line in the film stuck out. Bond compared drinking Dom Perignon at the incorrect temperature to listening to The Beatles without donning a pair of earmuffs. When audiences began booing the line, Connery quickly came out as a Beatles fan.
Next, The Beatles would make their own film—even though most of the drama took place off-screen.
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22. It Seemed Like A Joke
On April 1, 1964, all four of The Beatles were busy filming their first movie, A Hard Day’s Night. Lennon got a message from Epstein that his father had shown up at Epstein's office. Maybe Lennon thought it was an April Fool’s Day gag because he hadn’t seen or spoken to his father in 17 years.
It was no joke. Dad was waiting for his son—and he had a reporter with him.
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
23. This Reunion Overflowed With Anger
Lennon arrived at the office to see his father for the first time in years. His first words were, “What do you want?” After 20 minutes, Lennon was furious, and all he wanted was for his dad to leave. To keep Lennon’s family dysfunction a secret, Epstein had to offer the journalist hush- hush stories about his other bands.
A Hard Day’s Night was a surprise hit, but The Beatles really just wanted to focus on their music.
Vern Barchard, Wikimedia Commons
24. They Made A Sobering Announcement
In 1966, The Beatles were facing a dilemma. They really wanted to focus on their work in the studio, but they really didn't have the time to put into it. Their goal was to make their musical output more refined. Sadly, they could only find the time by making a heart-breaking decision. They would end all live performances—effective immediately.
The Beatles were taking a huge chance and hoped for a huge payoff.
Eric Koch, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
25. They Got Complicated
With all this extra time to spend on recordings, The Beatles became more complex. For example, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band took 129 days to record, and they were in the studio for a staggering 400 hours. In comparison, when it came to their first album, The Beatles recorded 10 tracks in just over 10 hours.
Of course, the big question was out there. Did Beatles fans want something so complex from the Fab Four?
26. They Played It Nonstop
When The Beatles released Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, some American radio stations decided to drop everything and play it almost nonstop. As far as sales went, music lovers took home 2.5 million copies in the first few months of the release. This complex album was a runaway hit.
But just when they needed him most, they lost their biggest support.
Henry Grossman, Wikimedia Commons
27. They Lost Their Leader
In 1967, The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein passed on due to his out-of-control substance use. In addition to managing them, Epstein had stepped in between the guys when their inflated egos led to furious arguments. Epstein was the mediator, and now he was gone. The Beatles were going to have to somehow carry on without him.
Without Epstein, The Beatles started doing stupid things.
Joop van Bilsen / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons
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28. They Threw Their Money Away
In 1968, Lennon and McCartney launched Apple Corps, which McCartney said was like “Western Communism”. The idea was to do record distribution, education, and work for peace. The reality was a huge money loss for The Beatles, because they hired friends who had no talent or experience to do their jobs.
The guys were feeling stressed. To combat this, they turned eastward.
29. India Was A Bust
To ground themselves, The Beatles took a trip to a meditation course in India. This 1968 journey marked a heightened creative period for the band. But many don’t know about what happened behind the scenes. Starr had to leave early because the local curries were too much for him. McCartney grew bored and followed Starr back to England. That left Lennon and Harrison.
The obstacle they faced was much more serious.
30. They Put Their Trust In The Wrong Guy
Leading The Beatles in their meditation was Transcendental Meditation creator Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It came out that Yogi had allegedly made unwanted romantic advances on some of the women there. Lennon and Harrison left in disgust, and Lennon later apologized for their association with Yogi.
Back at home, there would be a new challenge facing The Beatles.
Keystone Features, Getty Images
31. She Was An Outsider
Around this time, Lennon brought his girlfriend, Yoko Ono, into the world of The Beatles. The guys had never brought girlfriends into rehearsals, and here she was. Making matters more complex was the fact that Harrison and Lennon had gotten close, and Harrison saw her as a threat to their friendship.
Without Epstein to smooth things over, Ono’s presence led to more and more fighting amongst The Beatles.
32. They Didn’t See Eye-To-Eye
Ono’s presence complicated things with the song writing partnership of Lennon and McCartney. Lennon was doing experimental work with Ono, and McCartney was staying with the light hearted stuff. They saw things from completely different angles, and this caused even more friction in the group.
And then there was the Ringo Starr problem.
33. He Faced A Fact
Few people ever believed that Starr was the greatest drummer ever, but he’d managed to avoid taking it personally. But then McCartney started reminding Starr of this fact. As disagreements continued to circulate amongst the band members, Starr had to face a depressing fact. Maybe he really didn’t measure up. Starr decided to take a long and abrupt vacation from The Beatles.
And Harrison had some serious issues of his own.
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34. He Walked Away
What Harrison saw around him in The Beatles was a patronizing attitude from McCartney, and in Lennon, a man who was disappearing into drug use and his relationship outside the band. When McCartney started a project for a live recording, called Get Back, Harrison callously walked away after just eight days of rehearsal.
The morale of The Beatles could not have been lower. But somehow they continued on.
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
35. The Performed One Last Time
McCartney did manage to lure Harrison back, but it was only for a pared-down version of Get Back. They made the album and then did a small public performance on Apple’s headquarters rooftop. Sadly, this would be The Beatles' final public performance. What followed was a long and winding road to a painful end for The Beatles.
Evening Standard, Getty Images
36. He Made A Shocking Announcement
On November 25, the NME had a shocking headline: "The Beatles on the Brink of Splitting". But this wasn’t some quote from a random person; they got their info straight from Lennon. He’d spoken to a radio station about the demise of The Beatles. This news left the other members in a panicked lurch. They really didn’t know what it meant.
McCartney couldn't handle the uncertainty and vanished into thin air.
37. This News Made The Fans Crazy
In 1969, some tragic news came out—or did it? A University of Michigan newspaper claimed that Paul McCartney had been in a fatal car accident. They explained that an imposter had been filling in for the no-longer-with-us McCartney during Beatles recordings and performances. Then someone noticed that on “Strawberry Fields Forever”, Lennon sang the words “I buried Paul”. Also fueling the fire was the fact that only McCartney was barefoot on the cover of the Abbey Road album.
Fans didn’t know whether to mourn or to die deeper into the conspiracy.
William Lovelace, Getty Images
38. The Truth Came Out
As it turned out, the lyric on “Strawberry Fields Forever” wasn't “I buried Paul” but “cranberry sauce". And the truth was, McCartney didn't wear shoes for the Abbey Road cover because it was a hot day and being barefoot was more comfortable. When McCartney finally left his home for a Life magazine interview, the rumor dissipated—but didn’t disappear. Generation after generation afterward speculated on the “clues”.
Yes, McCartney was alive, but it looked like the Beatles were not going to survive.
39. He Worked In Secret
Lennon had announced that The Beatles were splitting, and now it was McCartney’s turn. His sound bite was, "the Beatle thing is over”. This proved to be as vague as Lennon’s quote. A depressed McCartney began working on his own. He then secretly arranged a release for a solo album.
He was pushing The Beatles closer to an end.
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40. He Couldn’t Let It Be
There was a flurry of confusion over many things at the same time. McCartney’s release date of his solo album was a huge issue. And then there was his song “Let it Be”. McCartney couldn’t let it be when they brought in Phil Spector to produce the song. McCartney was in a state, and in this state, he made an announcement. He would cut ties with The Beatles.
Now, it really was the end.
Tony Evans/Timelapse Library Ltd, Getty Images
41. They All Went Solo
Of course, after the demise of The Beatles, the individual members would go on to amazing solo careers. Think about songs like Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord”, Starr’s “It Don’t Come Easy”, Lennon’s “Imagine”, and McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed". As a band, their relationships had been close, complex, and sometimes full of antagonism. Now they were finally free of each other.
But in 1980, a tragedy would bring back all the pain.
MJ Kim/MPL Communications Ltd, Getty Images
42. They Faced A Tragic Loss
On December 8, 1980, an out-of-control fan heartlessly ended the life of John Lennon. The three remaining and devastated Beatles had to face up to two things. The heartbreaking loss of a friend and colleague, and also an uncertain and fearful future. They had to wonder if any other crazed fans out there would be coming for them. And Harrison's reaction to the whole nightmare was unexpected.
43. He Had Bad Blood
The loss of Lennon wasn’t just a tragedy—it was the nail in the coffin for any hope of a Beatles reunion. And even though he was gone, the wounds still lingered. In one of his final interviews, Lennon dismissed his old bandmate Harrison as a bitter “young follower” who “bears resentment for me being the daddy who left home”. Yikes.
Zen warrior that he was, Harrison didn’t lash out—he wrote a tribute. “All Those Years Ago” honored Lennon, but one lyric stood out: “I always looked up to you”. Sweet farewell or a subtle clapback? Just like George to keep us guessing, even to the very end.
Eric Koch / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons
44. He Had Regrets
McCartney responded to John Lennon’s passing with a flippant remark that stunned everyone: "Drag, isn’t it”? Later on, he deeply regretted this response, boiling it down to the overwhelming shock of the situation. He just didn’t know how to put it into words. To this day, McCartney remains saddened by the nonsensical passing of Lennon.
45. They Didn’t Feel Safe
The man who had ended Lennon’s life had gained notoriety, and this led the remaining Beatles to wonder about their own futures. McCartney had a huge scare when authorities revealed that a group was planning to abduct his wife in return for a ransom. To prepare for this new, unstable future, Harrison quickly built up security around his mansion, which included razor wire and CCTV.
Sadly, this security could not keep him safe.
David Hume Kennerly, Wikimedia Commons
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46. A Stranger Entered His House
On 30 December 1999, a 34-year-old man entered the house that Harrison shared with his wife, Olivia. This man was Michael Abram, and he quickly went at Harrison with a blade. Harrison later remembered a “deliberate thrust” to his chest. He even said that he heard his “lung exhaling”. Worse still, his mouth was also full of blood.
It looked like a shocking end to another Beatle.
Koen Suyk / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons
47. She Found Strength
Harrison’s wife, Olivia, found a strength she didn't know she had when she saw her husband in a near-fatal situation. She grabbed a fireplace poker and went at Abram. To finish the job, she hit him with a lamp. Olivia had done enough damage, and the ordeal was over. Abram entered a psychiatric institution and later apologized for what he’d done.
Sadly, Harrison’s problems were far from over.
Gaura, Public ,Wikimedia Commons
48. He Faced A Devastating Time
Starting in 1997, George Harrison faced a series of horrible health issues. It started with throat cancer, which he dealt with radiotherapy. He then had to deal with lung cancer, which some attributed to his home invasion. The final straw was a brain tumor. When Starr came to visit, Harrison showed that he somehow maintained a sense of humor.
Richard J. Cole (aka Radha Mohan Das), CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons
49. He Was Funny Til The End
Starr was visiting Harrison while he dealt with his brain tumor, but he had to leave for a devastating reason. Starr’s daughter was suddenly in need of emergency brain surgery. Harrison was weak but still managed to joke, "Do you want me to come with you?” On November 29, 2001, Harrison passed surrounded by his wife, friends, and a handful of Hare Krishna devotees.
But McCartney had been dealing with his own issues.
50. He Battled For the Rights
Back in 1985, pop icon Michael Jackson purchased The Beatles’ publishing catalog for $47.5 million. Strangely, he outbid McCartney, who had been the one to encourage Jackson to involve himself with the publishing of music in the first place. Needless to say, the friendship suffered. Well, it suffered even more when Jackson turned around and sold the catalog for a staggering profit.
But let’s not feel too sorry for McCartney.
Robert R. McElroy, Getty Images
51. He’s The Richest
If you look at each Beatle purely on a monetary level, it’s McCartney who lives at the top of the bunch. Paul McCartney's net worth sits at $1.2 billion. That’s $850 million more than last place, Ringo Starr. Of course, it’s not really all about money.
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52. He Partied Way Too Hard
Sure, the Beatles broke up because of creative differences—but behind those creative differences were strong personalities. And perhaps none was more explosive than John Lennon. During McCartney's 21st birthday party in Liverpool, it came out in its most terrifying form. The Beatles were on the rise, and the party was packed with stars, suits, and scenesters. But one guest was a walking Molotov cocktail: John Lennon, who later admitted he was “out of me mind with drink”.
When Bob Wooller, a popular DJ, made the mistake of joking about Lennon missing the birth of his son and jetting off to Spain with Brian Epstein, Lennon snapped.
53. He Lost It
It certainly hit a nerve, because when Lennon snapped, he turned the party into a horror show, beating the DJ with a stick in a brutal, bloody frenzy. He later confessed, “It was the first time I thought ‘I could [end] this guy’. I just saw it, like on a screen—that if I hit him once more, that was going to be it”. His girlfriend at the time, Cynthia Powell, claimed he swore he’d never lose control like that again.
The DJ was never quite the same—and yet, somehow, people always forgave Lennon.
54. All He Needs Is Love
Of all The Beatles, Ringo Starr was the one who had the most troubles as a child. He went through more than one life-threatening illness. Well, he’s a survivor. Now in his 80s, he’s healthy, and he and his wife, actor Barbara Bach, share their time between lovely homes in Los Angeles and London. To maintain his health, Starr meditates every day—and like his former bandmate McCartney, he doesn’t eat meat.
He also has a motto for life. It’s simple: "peace and love”.
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
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