The Beatles — Biography, Music & Influence

October 1, 1962Brian Epstein signs a contract to manage Beatles through 1977
January 16, 1957Cavern Club opens on Matthews Street in Liverpool, England, home of The Beatles' 1st appearance
June 22, 1961Beatles record Aint She Sweet, Cry for a Shadow, When the Saints Go Marching In, Why, Nobody's Child & My Bonnie, in Hamburg

…and 197 more dates in music history

January 3, 1926George Martin, record producer (The Beatles) was born
September 19, 1934Brian Epstein, rock manager (Beatles) was born
October 10, 1939Eleanor Rigby, a real person whose name may have suggested the title to The Beatles song (b. 1895)
October 9, 1940John Winston Ono Lennon, Liverpool UK, musician and member of The Beatles (Imagine), (d. 1980) was born
June 18, 1942Paul McCartney, Liverpool UK, English musician and member of The Beatles was born
June 24, 1961Beatles record "If You Love Me Baby"
August 2, 1961Beatles 1st gig as house band of Liverpool's Cavern Club
December 18, 1961Britain's EMI Records originally rejects the Beatles
December 21, 1961Beatles record "Sweet Georgia Brown" & "Ready Teddy"
January 1, 1962Beatles' Decca audition is unsuccessful
January 5, 1962Tony Sheridan & Beatles produce "My Bonnie" & "The Saints"
January 24, 1962Brian Epstein signs management contract with the Beatles
March 7, 1962The Beatles made their broadcasting debut on BBC radio
March 8, 1962Beatles, with Pete Best, TV debut (perform "Dream Baby" on BBC)
May 9, 1962Beatles sign their 1st contract with EMI Parlophone
October 5, 1962Beatles release their 1st record "Love Me Do"
November 26, 1962Fab Four have their 1st recording session under name Beatles
December 17, 1962Beatles 1st British TV appearance (People & Places)
February 2, 1963Helen Shapiro begins tour (Beatles are part of undercard)
March 5, 1963Beatles record "From Me to You" & "Thank You Girl"
March 12, 1963The Beatles perform as a trio, John Lennon is ill with a cold
March 22, 1963Beatles release 1st album, "Please Please Me"
April 5, 1963The Beatles receive their 1st silver disc (Please Please Me)
April 12, 1963Beatles "From Me to You" is released in UK
June 20, 1963Beatles form "Beatles Ltd" to handle their income
June 29, 1963Beatles' 1st song "From Me to You" hits UK charts
July 22, 1963Beatles release "Introducing the Beatles"
October 13, 1963"Beatlemania" is coined after Beatles appear at Palladium
October 19, 1963Beatles record "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
October 25, 1963Beatles begin their 1st full foreign tour in Sweden
October 29, 1963"Meet the Beatles" booklet is published
October 31, 1963Ed Sullivan witnesses Beatles & their fans at London Airport
November 28, 1963Beatles "She Loves You" returns to #1 in UK record chart
December 6, 1963Beatles begin a tradition of releasing a Christmas record for fans
December 13, 1963Capital records signs right of 1st refusal agreement with Beatles
January 3, 1964Jack Paar Show, shows a clip of the Beatles singing "She Loves You"
January 11, 1964Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is #80 in US (Cashbox)
January 18, 1964Beatles 1st appear on Billboard Chart (I Want to Hold Your Hand-#35)
January 25, 1964Beatles 1st US #1, "I Want to Hold your Hand" (Cashbox)
January 29, 1964Beatles record in German "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand" & "Sie Liebt Dich"
February 1, 1964Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand," 1st #1 hit, stays #1 for 7 weeks
February 3, 1964"Meet the Beatles" album goes Gold
February 7, 1964Beatles land at NY's JFK airport, for 1st US tour
February 9, 19641st appearance of Beatles on "Ed Sullivan Show" (73.7 million viewers)
February 11, 1964Beatles 1st live appearance in US; Washington DC Coliseum
February 12, 1964Beatles 1st NYC concert (Carnegie Hall)
February 15, 1964Beatles' "Meet the Beatles!," album goes #1 & stays #1 for 11 weeks
February 19, 1964UK flies ½ ton of The Beatles wigs to the US
February 21, 1964UK flies 24,000 rolls of The Beatles wallpaper to US
February 22, 1964The Beatles arrive back in England after their 1st US visit
March 2, 1964The Beatles begin filming "Hard Days Night," Harrison meets Patti Boyd
March 21, 1964Beatles' "She Loves You," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 2 weeks
April 3, 1964Beatles hold top 6 spots on Sydney Australia record charts
April 4, 1964The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 5 weeks
May 2, 1964Beatles' "Beatles' 2nd Album" goes #1 & stays #1 for for 5 weeks
June 6, 1964Beatles arrive in netherlands
June 7, 1964Beatles travel canals of Amsterdam
June 26, 1964Beatles release "A Hard Day's Night" album
June 27, 1964"Sie Liebt Dich (She Loves You)" by Die Beatles peaks at #97
July 2, 1964Cilla Black records the Beatle's "Its For You," McCartney plays piano
July 6, 1964Beatles' film "Hard Day's Night" premieres in London
July 25, 1964Beatles' "Hard Day's Night, A," album goes #1 & stays #1 for 14 weeks
August 1, 1964Beatles' "Hard Day's Night, A," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 2 weeks
August 18, 1964The Beatles arrive in SF, 2nd US visit
September 15, 1964Beatles play at Public Auditorium in Cleveland
September 17, 1964Beatles are paid a then record $150,000 for a concert (Kansas)
November 23, 1964Beatles release "I Feel Fine" & "She's a Woman"
December 4, 1964Beatles release "Beatles For Sale" album
December 26, 1964Beatles' "I Feel Fine," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 3 weeks
January 9, 1965Beatles' 65 album goes #1 & stays #1 for 9 weeks
January 20, 1965Beatles appear on Shindig (ABC-TV)
February 20, 1965Beatles record "That Means a Lot"
February 24, 1965The Beatles begin filming "Help" in Bahamas
March 17, 1965The Beatles announce their film is named "8 Arms to Hold on to You" (Help)
April 9, 1965The Beatles "Ticket to Ride" is released in UK
April 13, 19657th Grammy Awards: The Girl From Ipanema, The Beatles wins
May 22, 1965Beatles' "Ticket to Ride," single goes #1
June 12, 1965Beatles are awarded MBE
June 14, 1965Beatles release album "Beatles VI"
July 10, 1965Beatles' "Beatles' "VI," album goes #1 & stays #1 for 6 weeks
July 23, 1965Beatles "Help" is released in UK
July 29, 1965Beatles movie "Help" premieres, Queen Elizabeth attends
August 6, 1965Beatles release "Help" album in UK
August 15, 1965Beatles play to 55,000 at Shea Stadium
August 27, 1965The Beatles spend an evening with Elvis Presley
September 4, 1965Beatles' "Help!," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 3 weeks
September 13, 1965Beatles win 1st Grammy, for Best Group of 1964
September 25, 1965The Beatle cartoon show begins in US
October 9, 1965Beatles' "Yesterday," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 4 weeks
October 20, 1965Beatles receive a gold record for "Yesterday"
October 26, 1965Beatles receive MBEs at Buckingham Palace
December 3, 1965Beatles begin final UK concert tour in Glasgow
December 12, 1965Beatles' last concert in Great Britain (Capitol Theatre in Cardiff, Wales)
January 8, 1966Beatles' "We Can Work It Out," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 3 weeks
February 28, 1966Cavern Club (Beatles hangout) in Liverpool closes
March 4, 1966John Lennon, says "We (Beatles) are more popular than Jesus"
March 25, 1966Beatles pose with mutilated dolls & butchered meat for the cover of the "Yesterday & Today" album, It is later pulled
May 1, 1966Last British concert by Beatles (Empire Pool in Wembley)
June 10, 1966Beatles record "Rain," 1st to use reverse tapes
June 30, 1966Beatles land in Tokyo for a concert tour
July 4, 1966Beatles attacked in Philippines after insulting Imelda Marcos
August 3, 1966South African government bans Beatle records
August 5, 1966Beatles release "Yellow Submarine" & "Eleanor Rigby" in UK
August 8, 1966South Arican Broadcasting bans Beatles (Lennon's anti-Jesus remark)
August 14, 1966Cleveland Stadium's 1st rock concert is held, featuring Beatles
August 20, 1966Beatles pelted with rotten fruit during Memphis concert
August 29, 1966Beatles last public concert (Candlestick Park, SF)
November 24, 1966The Beatles began recording sessions for "Sgt Pepper"
December 16, 1966Beatles release "Everywhere it's Christmas" in UK
January 27, 1967Beatles sign a 9 year worldwide contract with EMI records
February 17, 1967Beatles release "Penny Lane" & "Strawberry Fields"
March 18, 1967Beatles' "Penny Lane," single goes #1
March 30, 1967Cover picture of Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's" is photographed
April 19, 1967Beatles sign a contract to stay together for 10 years (they don't)
June 1, 1967Beatles release Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in US & goes gold
June 25, 1967400 million watch Beatles "Our World" TV special
July 1, 1967Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," goes #1 for 15 weeks
July 7, 1967Beatles' "All You Need is Love" is released
July 24, 1967Beatles sign a petition in Times to legalize marijuana
August 19, 1967Beatles' "All You Need is Love," single goes #1
August 25, 1967Beatles go to Wales to study TM with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
August 27, 1967Brian Epstein, rock manager (Beatles), dies of drug overdose at 32
September 11, 1967Beatles' Magical Mystery Bus driven around England
October 7, 1967Beatles turn down $1 million NY concert offer by Sid Berstein
November 17, 1967Beatles Ltd & Apple Music Ltd swap names
November 27, 1967Beatles release "Magical Mystery Tour"
December 5, 1967Beatles clothing store "Apple" on 94 Baker Street, London, opens
December 8, 1967Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" album is released in UK
December 11, 1967Beatles' Apple Music signs its 1st group-Grapefruit
December 15, 1967Beatles release "Christmas Time is Here Again"
January 6, 1968Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour," album goes #1 & stays #1 for 8 weeks
January 12, 1968Beatles Film Production Ltd changes name to Apple Film Production Ltd
February 16, 1968Beatles George Harrison & John Lennon & wives fly to India for transcendental meditation study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
March 9, 196810th Grammy Awards: Up Up & Away, Sgt Pepper's wins 4
March 13, 1968Beatles release "Lady Madonna" in the UK
April 2, 1968Beatles form Python Music Ltd
May 14, 1968Beatles announce formation of Apple Corp
May 23, 1968Beatles open 2nd Apple Boutique at 161 New Kings Road, London
May 30, 1968Beatles begin work on their only double album "Beatles"
July 17, 1968The Beatle's animated film "Yellow Submarine" premieres in London
July 30, 1968Beatles' Apple Boutique closes, entire inventory is given away
July 31, 1968Beatles close Apple Boutique, giving clothes away for free
August 11, 1968Beatles launch "Apple Records" label
August 23, 1968Ringo quits Beatles over a disagreement, temporarily
August 30, 19681st record under Apple label (Beatle's Hey Jude)
September 28, 1968Beatles "Hey Jude," single goes #1 and stays #1 for 9 weeks
October 14, 1968Beatles "White Album" completed
November 22, 1968Beatles release "Beatles," (White Album) their only double album
December 28, 1968Beatles' "Beatles-White Album," goes #1 & stays #1 for 9 weeks
January 13, 1969Beatles release "Yellow Submarine" album
January 17, 1969Beatles release Yellow Submarine album in UK
January 30, 1969Beatles perform last live gig, a 42-min concert on roof of Apple HQ, London
February 4, 1969Beatles appoint Eastman & Eastman, as general cousel to Apple
February 25, 1969Beatles begin recording Abbey Road album
May 24, 1969Beatles' "Get Back," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 5 weeks
June 4, 1969Beatles release Ballad Of John & Yoko/Old Brown Shoe, in US
August 22, 1969Beatles record a video for "Long & Winding Road"
September 26, 1969Beatles release "Abbey Road" album
November 1, 1969Beatles' "Abbey Road," album goes #1 in US & stays #1 for 11 weeks
November 11, 1969Beatles with Billy Preston release "Get Back" in UK
November 29, 1969The Beatles' "Come Together/Something" reaches #1
December 19, 1969The Beatles' 7th Christmas album is released
January 4, 1970Beatles last recording session at EMI studios
March 6, 1970Beatles release "Let it Be" in UK
April 10, 1970Paul McCartney officially announces the split of The Beatles
April 11, 1970The Beatles' "Let It Be," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 2 weeks
May 7, 1970"Long & Winding Road" becomes Beatles' last American release
May 8, 1970Beatles release "Let it Be" album
May 13, 1970Beatles movie "Let it Be" premieres
May 18, 1970The Beatles' last released LP, "Let It Be" released in US
May 20, 1970Beatles' "Let it Be" movie premieres in UK
June 13, 1970Beatles' "Long & Winding Road," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 2 weeks
January 19, 1971Beatles' "Helter Skelter" is played at Charles Manson trial
March 3, 1971South African Broadcasting Corp lifts its ban on the Beatles
March 31, 1972Official Beatles Fan Club, closes down
May 26, 1973Beatles' "Beatles 1967-1970," album goes #1
December 30, 1974Beatles are legally disbanded (4 years after suit was brought)
January 3, 1976Mal Evans, Beatles' roadie, dies
June 11, 1976Beatles "Rock & Roll Music" LP is released in USA
September 20, 1976Sid Berstein offers $230 million charity concert for Beatle reunion
April 6, 1977Judge rules that The Beatles 1962 Hamburg album can be released
May 6, 1977"Beatles at Hollywood Bowl," released in UK
May 25, 1977"Beatles Live! At Star-Club in Hamburg Germany" released
May 31, 1977"Beatlemania" opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 920 performances
June 16, 1977"Beatlemania" opens on Broadway
September 9, 1979Sid Bernstein offers $½ billion for a Beatle reunion
October 17, 1979"Beatlemania" closes at Winter Garden Theater NYC after 920 perfs
October 18, 1979"Beatlemania" opens in London
March 24, 1980Capitol Records releases some rare Beatles tracks
September 10, 1982Decca releases Beatle audition "Complete Silver Beatles" album
February 1, 1986Dick James, Beatles' music publisher (1962-70), dies in London at 58
March 29, 1986Beatle records officially go on sale in Russia
February 26, 19871st release of Beatles compact discs
November 30, 1994Beatles' 1st album in 25 years, "Live at BBC" is released in Britain
March 20, 1995The Beatles song, "Baby It's You," with late John Lennon as lead singer, is released, 1st Fab Four single in more than 30 years
November 20, 1995"Beatles' Anthology, Vol 1" released
November 21, 1995New double The Beatles CD released with new song "Free as a Bird"

The Beatles were a British rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of music, primarily known for their innovative contributions to rock and pop genres.

Their notable works include iconic albums such as "Please Please Me" (1963), "Revolver" (1966), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967), and "The White Album" (1968). Hits like "Hey Jude," "Let It Be," and "A Hard Day's Night" showcased their exceptional songwriting and vocal harmonies.

The Beatles revolutionized music with their experimentation in studio techniques, diverse musical styles, and the incorporation of elements from classical and Indian music. Their impact extended beyond music, influencing culture, fashion, and social movements in the 1960s and beyond. They played a pivotal role in the British Invasion of the American music scene and inspired countless artists across various genres. The band's legacy endures, making them timeless icons in the world of popular music.

Also on October 1 in music history

Everything on October 1 →