The Beatles Timeline

1960

January

Despite having no musical ability, Stuart Sutcliffe is recruited to play bass by fellow art student John Lennon in his group The Quarrymen, which includes Paul McCartney and George Harrison.

March-April

The Quarrymen change their name to The Beatles.

May

In a flurry of activity the group recruit drummer Tommy Moore and part-time manager, Allan Williams, which helps them secure a one-off gig as backing group to crooner Johnny Gentle.

The band change their name to the Silver Beatles.

5th May: American U2 spy-plane shot down over Russia

June-July

The band play a string of gigs around Liverpool and make a further small but significant typographical change to become The Silver Beatles.

August

Pete Best becomes the band's full-time drummer. The band travel to Hamburg in Germany to take up a 48-night residency at Bruno Koschmider's Indra club.

They drop the Silver from their name to become The Beatles.

September-November

In Hamburg, the naive young band are quickly immersed in a whirlwind of drink and drugs, sometimes playing for six hours per night, often as a warm-up act to strippers. Despite the gruelling conditions, they quickly sharpen up their act to become a tight and powerful rock 'n' roll outfit with a large repertoire of songs.

20 October: Obscenity trial over plans to publish Lady Chatterley's Lover

9 November:

JFK elected president of the United States

December

The stay in Hamburg comes to an abrupt end when 17-year old Harrison is deported for being underage. The band return to the UK minus Stuart Sutcliffe, who opts to remain in Germany with his new girlfriend, artist Astrid Kirchherr.

Saturday Night And Sunday Morning, La Dolce Vita, The Magnificent Seven were all released at the cinema

1961

January-March

The band play a total of 89 shows in three months around Liverpool, including a debut appearance at the Cavern Club. Neil Aspinall is recruited as roadie.

30 January:

Contraceptive pill goes on sale

April

The band return to Hamburg for a 92-show stint at the Top Ten club.

12 April: Yuri Gagarin becomes first man in space

June

The Beatles are recruited as backing band to singer Tony Sheridan and record a number of tracks in a Hamburg studio.

July-September

Back in Liverpool, the band average 30 performances a month in the city.

20-31 August:

Berlin Wall is built

November

Local department store owner and impresario Brian Epstein goes to watch the boys play a lunchtime gig at the Cavern.

14 November: US sends more 'military advisors' to South Vietnam

December

Epstein becomes The Beatles manager and arranges an audition with Decca records in London.

A Taste Of Honey, West Side Story, Breakfast At Tiffany's are released at the cinema

1962

January

On New Year's Day, the band travel to London to record 15 songs for Decca, but the session is lacklustre and they fail to make an impression.

February

Decca rejects the group, prompting a furious Epstein to proclaim: "You must be out of your minds! These boys are going to explode. I am completely confident that one day they will be bigger than Elvis Presley!" Later in the month he arranges a meeting with Parlophone Records producer George Martin.

3 February: Kennedy places an embargo on Cuban exports

April

Stuart Sutcliffe dies in Hamburg of a suspected brain haemorrhage. The band returns to the city for a 48-night run at the Star Club.

4 April: James Hanratty hanged for 'A6 murder', UK

May-June

Brian Epstein secures a recording contract with Parlophone. The band returns to London and cuts four demo tracks: Besame Mucho, Ask Me Why, Love Me Do and P.S. I Love You.

17 June: Brazil wins the World Cup
11 July: Telstar satellite launched; provides first transatlantic TV link

August

Pete Best is sacked. Ringo Starr from Rory Storm and the Hurricanes - a band The Beatles had been brothers-in-arms with in Hamburg days - joins and the fab four are complete.

Later in the month John Lennon marries his girlfriend Cynthia Powell.

September

The band record their first single Love Me Do with George Martin.

October - November

Love Me Do peaks at a disappointing Number 17 in the singles chart.

22-28 October: Cuban missile crisis
7 November: Nelson Mandela jailed

December

The band return to Hamburg for a final 13 nights at the Star Club.

Dr No, The Manchurian Candidate and Laurence Of Arabia released on film

1963

January

Band release their second single - Please Please Me - and make national TV debut on ITV's Thank Your Lucky Stars.

February

Band return to the studio to record their first album - Please Please Me.

March

Single Please Please Me completes a slow climb up the charts to reach Number One.

3 March: Kim Philby defects to the Soviet Union
22 March: Government minister John Profumo denies 'impropriety' with 'model' Christine Keeler

April
12 April: Martin Luther King arrested for leading a civil rights march in Birmingham, Alabama

May

Band tour with Roy Orbison. Third single From Me To You tops the charts for seven weeks, prompting the BBC to give them their own show Pop Goes The Beatles.

28 May: Dr Timothy Leary sacked from Harvard for experimenting on students with LSD

June
26 June: Kennedy makes "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech

August

Band play their final gig at the Cavern.

8 August: Great train robbery

September

Single She Loves You tops the charts for four weeks. The following month an appearance on Sunday Night At The London Palladium sees the band besieged by hundreds of adoring fans.

November

'Beatlemania' is now in full swing. At a Royal Command Performance at London's Prince of Wales theatre John Lennon cheekily suggests that the more well-heeled members of the audience "rattle their jewellery."

She Loves You goes back to number one for another two weeks.

22 November: President Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas

December

I Want To Hold Your Hand tops the charts for five weeks. The band play a string of Christmas shows at the Finsbury Park Astoria in London and appear on Juke Box Jury.

From Russia With Love, The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner and The Birds released at the cinema

1964

February
Band make their first visit to America to be greeted - to their surprise - by hysterical crowds. A performance on the Ed Sullivan show is watched by a record audience of 73 million. The band make their debut at New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall.

25 February: Cassius Clay becomes World Heavyweight Champion

March
Back in the UK, the band begin filming their first movie, A Hard Day's Night and recording songs for the accompanying album. John Lennon's first book In His Own Write is published.

April
Can't Buy Me Love tops the UK and US charts. At one point, The Beatles occupy the top 5 places in the US chart, as well as 11 other positions in the Top 100.

May
18 May: Mods and Rockers fight in Clacton, Margate and Brighton

July-August
Premiere of A Hard Days Night. Title single tops the charts for three weeks. The band return to play their first American tour, including at date at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl.

2 July: President Lyndon Johnson signs Civil Rights Act
28 July: Malcolm X founds Organisation for Afro-American Unity

October-November
Beatles go on tour in the UK.

December
I Feel Fine tops the charts for five weeks. Band stages a run of Christmas shows at the Hammersmith Odeon.

Goldfinger, A Fistful Of Dollars and Zulu released at the cinema

1965

January:
25 January: Winston Churchill dies age 90

February

Beatles begin recording new album Help! and filming their second movie of the same title in the Bahamas. Ringo marries Maureen Cox.

5 February: TV cigarette advertising banned in the UK
21 February: Malcolm X assassinated in New York

April

Ticket To Ride tops the charts for three weeks.

2 April: US increases military aid to South Vietnam

May

Band make their final performance for BBC radio.

June

The Queen awards the band MBEs - to the disgust of some other recipients of the honour, who send back their medals in protest. Lennon's second book A Spaniard In The Works is published.

29 June: Vietnam War begins: US troops begin first offensive against Viet Cong

August

The Beatles play New York's Shea stadium to an estimated audience of 55,000 before travelling to the west coast to meet Elvis Presley in LA. The film Help! premieres in London.

11-15 August: Race riots in Los Angeles

October

Band begin work with George Martin on sixth album Rubber Soul.

28 October: Ian Brady and Myra Hindley arrested for moors murders

December

Final UK tour. We Can Work It Out/Daytripper double A-side single goes to number one for five weeks. Rubber Soul released.

The Ipcress File, The Sound Of Music and Repulsion released at the cinema

1966

January

George Harrison marries Pattie Boyd.

15 January: Trips festival in San Francisco sees beginning of US hippie movement
20 January: World Cup stolen in London (and recovered by a dog a week later)

March

In an interview for the London Evening Standard, John Lennon expresses the opinion that The Beatles are now more popular than Jesus.

April

Band spend most of the month in the studio recording new album Revolver.

5 April: Oil discovered in the North Sea

May

Final UK concert - the NME poll winners concert at Wembley Empire Pool (now the Arena). Band film promo films for new AA-side single Paperback Writer/Rain.

2 May: Mao Tse-Tung proclaims Cultural Revolution in China
6 May: Brady and Hindley jailed for life

June-July

The Beatles continue work on Revolver album. Paperback Writer single tops the charts for two weeks. Band then goes on tour in West Germany, Japan and Philippines, where they trigger a riot and are forced to flee after offending President Marcos' wife Imelda. Lennon's 'Jesus' interview re-printed in the US.

30 June: US planes bomb Hanoi
3 July: Dozens arrested at anti-Vietnam war protests in London
30 July: Bobby Moore captains England to a 4-2 victory over Germany to win the World Cup

August

Christian groups stage protests - including record burnings in parts of the US - against The Beatles following Lennon's 'blasphemous' comments. A final US tour, overshadowed by the controversy ends at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. The jaded and disillusioned group quit live performances for good.

September

Lennon given the part of Private Gripweed in the surreal anti-war film How I Won The War. George Harrison travels to India to study with sitarist Ravi Shankar. Ringo and Paul go on holiday.

21 October: Aberfan slag-heap disaster, Wales.


November

John Lennon meets Japanese artist Yoko Ono at her Unfinished Paintings and Objects exhibition in London. Band begin recording Strawberry Fields Forever.

December

Band enter the studio with George Martin to begin work on Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

23 December: Underground scene UFO club opens in London

At the cinema: Alfie, Blow-Up and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

1967

January

During a break in recording Sgt Pepper, John and Paul go to the London Roundhouse to watch The Who and Jimi Hendrix.

4 Jan: Donald Campbell killed while attempting water speed record on Coniston water

26 Feb: American troops attack Ho Chi Minh trail on Cambodian border

March

Engelbert Humperdinck's Release Me keeps Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane off the UK Number One spot.

April-May

Frenzy of recording continues as the band begins work on follow-up to Sgt Pepper (Magical Mystery Tour) immediately after completing the album.

15 April: Mass protests outside UN in New York against the Vietnam war
28 April: Muhammed Ali stripped of heavyweight title for refusing Vietnam draft
10 May: Rolling Stones Keith Richards and Mick Jagger go on trial on drugs charges

June

Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band released. Band record All You Need Is Love and appear on the BBC's One World global simulcast programme, watched by an audience of an estimated 400 million).

July

The Beatles go on holiday together in the Aegean. All You Need Is Love goes to number one for three weeks.

August

George Harrison visits the hippie enclave of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco - world headquarters of the 'Flower Power' movement. Band travel to Bangor in Wales to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

25 August: Hippies stage a 'Festival of the Flower Children' at Woburn Abbey

Brian Epstein found dead at his flat from an overdose.

September-October

Filming and recording for Magical Mystery Tour continues around the UK and France.

9 October: Death of Che Guevara

December

Single Hello Goodbye tops the chart for seven weeks. Magical Mystery Tour film is screened by BBC2 on Boxing Day to a lukewarm critical reception. Beatles open the Apple Boutique on Baker Street in London.

At the cinema: The Graduate, Bonnie And Clyde and Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush

1968

January

George records his experimental soundtrack album Wonderwall in India.

31 January: Viet Cong launch Tet offensive

February

Band record Lady Madonna, Across The Universe and Hey Bulldog before travelling to Rishikesh in India to resume meditation with the Maharishi.

24 Feb: US and South Vietnamese forces recapture Hue from the Viet Cong

March-April

Band straggle back from India after growing disillusioned with the Maharishi.

16 March: My Lai massacre, Vietnam.
4 April: Martin Luther King assassinated in Memphis
21 April: Enoch Powell makes 'rivers of blood' speech

May

The band form their Apple Corps. company. John convenes a meeting to inform the rest of the band that he is Jesus. The Beatles begin working on The Beatles album (aka the White Album). Lennon and Yoko Ono become a couple.

5-7 May: Paris student riots

July

Animated film Yellow Submarine opens in London. Band record Hey Jude while continuing work on their new album. Apple Boutique closes at the end of the month.

August

Cynthia Lennon files for divorce as John's relationship with Yoko Ono continues.

21 August: Warsaw pact forces invade Czechoslovakia

September

Hey Jude goes to number one for nine weeks in America, becoming one of the biggest selling singles there of all time.

October

John and Yoko raided by the drugs squad at Ringo's flat in London. They are later fined £150 for possessing cannabis.

18 October: First UK abortion clinic opens

November

The Beatles double album is released.

Release of John and Yoko's Two Virgins album is marked by controversy caused by the record's front cover shot of the couple posing naked.

6 November: Richard Nixon elected president
7 November: Anti-Soviet riot in Prague

December

John and Yoko perform in The Rolling Stones Rock n' Roll Circus.

Released at the cinema were: If… Planet Of The Apes and Rosemary's Baby

1969

January
24 January: Student demonstration at LSE, London

Band convene at Twickenham studios to begin filming rehearsals for a loosely conceived concert-album, but after a major row with John, George temporarily walks out.

The Beatles return to Apple to continue recording the album part of the project - Let It Be. Sessions remain fractious, and peter out at the end of the month.

February

Without a manager since the death of Brian Epstein, John, George and Ringo ask US businessman Allen Klein to look after the band's chaotic affairs. Paul objects to this, and appoints Eastman and Eastman as 'general advisors'.

3 Feb: Yasser Arafat becomes head of the PLO

March-April

Paul marries Linda Eastman. John and Yoko get married in Gibraltar and hold a 'bed-in' at the Amsterdam Hilton. Single Get Back tops the UK chart for seven weeks. John and Paul record The Ballad of John And Yoko.

2 March: Concorde makes debut flight
28 April: De Gaulle resigns after defeat in constitutional referendum

May

Band return to the studio to begin work on Abbey Road. Refused entry to the US after their drug convictions, John and Yoko hold a series of bed-ins in Canada.

June-July

John records Give Peace A Chance in Montreal. Band continue work on Abbey Road.

2 July: Rolling Stone Brian Jones found dead in his swimming pool
21 July: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon.

August
9 August: Charles Manson and his 'family' cult murder Sharon Tate and four friends in LA.
21 August: Soviet tanks enter Prague to quell protests

September

The Plastic Ono Band make their debut appearance in Toronto. John begins work on a solo single, Cold Turkey.

The Beatles' final recorded album, Abbey Road, is released.

5 September: First colour TV broadcast in the UK
5 October: First edition of Monty Python's Flying Circus


November-December

Ringo starts recording solo album Sentimental Journey. John and Yoko publish posters in 11 cities worldwide saying: "War Is Over - If You Want It. Happy Christmas From John and Yoko."

Paul McCartney starts work on McCartney album at home in Scotland.

6 December: Hells Angels' run riot at Rolling Stones Altamont Concert, killing an audience member
18 December: UK death penalty abolished

Midnight Cowboy, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, Easy Rider and 2001 A Space Odyssey are released at the cinema

1970

January

Recording resumes on aborted Let It Be album - not all band members present.

Voting age lowered to 18 from 21 in the UK

February

John and Yoko become involved with Michael X's Black House project and join campaigns against apartheid and for nuclear disarmament.

Equal pay for women becomes law

March

Single Let It Be stalls at number two in the UK charts. Phil Spector remixes the Let It Be album - to the later disgust of Paul McCartney.

Catholic riots in Bogside, Londonderry

April

The Beatles announce their break-up. Paul McCartney releases his first solo album.

13-17th: Apollo 13 mission narrowly avoids disaster

At the cinema were: Performance, Catch 22, The Devils and Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls.