Who doesn't love the Beatles and what's not to love? "Beatlemania" swept through England and then the United States in the
early 1960s, as four young men from Liverpool changed popular music
forever. For three years, The Beatles honed
their musical skills in the small, sweaty clubs of Liverpool and
Hamburg. Word spread like wildfire of a hot young
band whose sound was
based in skiffle and American '50s rock 'n roll, and under manager
Brian Epstein’s direction, the foursome became more confident and
assured.
Though they started out with other drummers, the eventual
lineup of The Beatles included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George
Harrison and Ringo Starr. Nicknamed the “Fab Four,” The Beatles’
popularity in the U.K. grew following their 1962 hit “Love Me Do.” By
1964, they were spearheading the British Invasion of America, with a
number of chart-topping, cleverly written pop singles to their credit.
After 1965, however, their sound began to expand to include other
influences, including psychedelia, pop balladry, and classical elements.
With the help of producer George Martin, they became studio innovators,
releasing some of the most critically acclaimed albums in rock history,
such as 1965’s Rubber Soul, 1966’s Revolver, 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s
Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1968’s The Beatles (or, as it more commonly
known, the White
Album), and 1969’s Abbey Road. But there was dissension
within the ranks, and in 1970, The Beatles broke up.
All four of them
embarked on successful solo careers, with McCartney starting the band
Wings with wife Linda McCartney. In 1980, Lennon was shot and killed in
New York City, and lung cancer took Harrison in 2001. McCartney and
Starr are still alive and continue to work to this day.
Outside of KISS,
nobody could ever rival The Beatles as far as merchandising goes. Lunch
boxes, juke boxes, comics, pennants, toys, buttons, coffee mugs … the
list is endless. Items with authenticated autographs often go for huge
prices – even six figures, as a copy of Sgt. Pepper’s signed by all four
members recently did. Fan club memorabilia is highly-sought after, as
are well-kept vintage magazines with the Fab Four on the cover. Material
from their Apple Records days is in demand, and when it comes to vinyl
records, some of the most expensive and rare specimens are Beatles
records. And because the Beatles stopped touring fairly early in their
career, any concert-related items from the early ‘60s are prized, as
well.
Check out our current inventory: Beatles Memorabilia
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