The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in music history. Rooted in skiffle, beat, and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways, also exploring folk, Indian music, psychedelia, and hard rock. Managed by Brian Epstein and produced by George Martin, the band achieved their first hit, "Love Me Do," in late 1962 after signing with EMI.
Fueled by the songwriting partnership of Lennon and McCartney, the Beatles rose to international stardom, sparking "Beatlemania" and leading the British Invasion of the United States pop market. The band made their film debut with "A Hard Day's Night" in 1964. The Beatles are the best-selling music act of all time, with estimated sales of 600 million units worldwide. They hold the record for the most number-one singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart (20) and the most number-one albums on the UK Albums Chart (15). The Beatles received numerous accolades, including eight Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, and an Academy Award. The band broke up in 1970, and though partial reunions occurred, the four members never reunited. Lennon was murdered in 1980, and Harrison died in 2001. McCartney and Starr remain musically active. In 2028, a four-part Beatles biopic series is slated to hit theaters, with each Beatle getting their own solo film that will tell the story of the band from their perspective.
