the Beatles
/ðə ˈbiːtlz/
/ðə ˈbiːtlz/
- an internationally famous British pop group whose members during their most successful period in the 1960s were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The group, sometimes called the ‘Fab Four’ in the press, all came from Liverpool, England. Most of their songs were written by Lennon and McCartney. After their first great success with Please Please Me in 1963, their records were regularly No 1 hits in Britain and the US. In the late 1960s they became interested in eastern religions and drugs, and these influences appeared in their music. They separated in 1970 to follow individual careers. They have had more influence on the development of pop music than any other group. They also made several successful films.