The Beatles
The Beatles were not so much a popular rock/pop group as they were quite possibly the most significant pop culture phenomenon of the twentieth century. Originally formed in the late 50s by bassist/vocalist Paul McCartney, guitarists John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe, and drummer Pete Best as the Quarrymen, they would later change their name to The Silver Beetles, and then to simply, The Beatles, in a nod to the word 'beat', as if beat/skiffle music that they adored at the time. With the replacement of Sutcliffe with guitarist George Harrison, and later, Best with Ringo Starr behind the kit, the band made a name for themselves playing rock clubs in Germany. they made enough of a noise to cause the British labels to come calling, and the band signed to EMI Records in the early 60s.
Beginning with 1963's Please Please Me, The Beatles proceeded to release a solid string of singles and albums, each one surpassing the last in quality and popularity. During their eight short years of recording activity, the band created a catalog of what many people consider some of the most important recordings ever made. Although The Beatles did their share of cover songs early on, they were one of the first acts to write and perform their own material, which changed the way the music industry worked.
Before long, The Beatles caught on in America, and, in turn, the rest of the world, with the public's feverish interest in the group spawning the term 'Beatlemania'. Aside from being accomplished musicians, the members of the band were charming young men who never shied away from the spotlight, and managed to star in two feature films, a TV special, were the subject of a documentary film, and inspired an animated feature.
Unfortunately, like all good things, The Beatles came to an eventual end in 1970. Inner-group frictions and artistic differences did the band in, and each member went on to solo careers of varying success. However, the original group left behind a musical legacy that is still enthralling listeners, and inspiring new musicians, to this very day.
Like many artists, the lads in Weezer cite The Beatles as a primary influence.
