Alternate Beatles

Before-Thought
The Beatles. A name that is recognized everywhere in the world. A name that belongs to a band so influential that their music inspired many artists and genres of music, just as other music artists and genres inspired them. A band so legendary that most people can name at least one or two members of the band; John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. When the band released their first album Please Please Me in 1963, it started one of the greatest music runs in history. Even though the band had problems and rough times in their later years, 1967 and beyond to be exact, the Beatles released great music for many generations to enjoy. What is most impressive about the Beatles is that, just like Superman or Batman, they have remained popular through every decade since their debut. The Beatles couldn't work things out forever although. The group broke up in 1970, with their final album being the excellent ''Let It Be. Their final album that the group recorded together however was Abbey Road, which was released before Let It Be. ''But what if the Beatles never broke up in 1970? What if the Fab Four continued to make music in the 1970's and beyond? Will it shape history as we know it today? Let's take that thought and talk about it.

Early Years, 1957 - 63
At age sixteen, English boy John Lennon formed a skiffle group with his friend from his high school. Briefly calling themselves the Blackjacks before changing their name to the Quarrymen. In July of 1957, fifteen year old Paul McCartney met Lennon and joined the group as a rhythm guitarist. In February of 1958, McCartney introduced a friend of his George Harrison to Lennon. Harrison auditioned for the band and Lennon was impressed with his playing ability, but thought Harrison was too young to join his band. A month after the audition, Harrison joined the band as the lead guitarist. In 1958, the Quarrymen recorded two songs; the only songs to be professionally recorded by the group. The two songs were That'll Be the Day which was a cover of Buddy Holly, and In Spite of All the Danger, written by McCartney and Harrison. On July 15th, 1958, Lennon's mother Julia Lennon passes away in a road accident and John loses interest in the band for months. The band continued to play without Lennon and were called "The College Band" when they played at the Liverpool Art School dances every Friday night. The Quarrymen went on to play many performances with mediocre crowds with Lennon back in the band. During one performance at the Pavilion Theatre in Liverpool, Lennon, McCartney, and Quarrymen member Colin Hanton drank a heavy amount of alcohol. This lead to a intoxicated McCartney telling Hanton that he was not good enough. The two nearly fought but Pete Shotton (Quarrymen member) stopped it and helped Hanton off of the bus. After that Hanton left the group and was never contacted again. Lennon and McCartney continued to write music together, and the Quarrymen went on a hiatus. Harrison joined the Les Stewart Quartet with Les Stewart, guitarist Ken Brown, and Geoff Skinner. Harrison asked both Lennon and McCartney to join the Les Stewart Quartet, and the band became the Quarrymen. The band played successful gigs with Mona Best. They played with no drummer and with only one microphone. Due to the band's success, Mona Best gave them a residency and they played there. Eventually the band and Best spit apart. The group, now only Lennon, Harrison, and McCartney signed up for the Television show Discoveries for the Star Search competition as Johnny and the Moondogs. The group was unsuccessful in the competition. During the school holidays of 1960, Lennon and McCartney preformed together as the Nerk Twins. Lennon and McCartney persuaded Stuart Sutcliffe to buy a bass guitar, Sutcliffe was a friend of Lennon who went to art school with him. By May of 1960, Sutcliffe joined Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison and suggested changing the name of the band to the Beatels or Beetles. The new band went on to play in Hamburg, Germany and changed their name to The Beatles. Lacking a real drummer, the Beatles' unofficial manager at the time Allen Williams hired part time drummer Pete Best for the band to play gigs. The band played at many clubs in Hamburg but many would not accept Harrison inside because of his young age. Harrison was caught lying to the officials of his age and he was set to be deported back to Liverpool. Both McCartney and Best were arrested on charges of arson when they set fire to a condom in a club. Lennon returned to Liverpool and Sutcliffe stayed in Hamburg with his German fiancée Astrid Kirchherr to shoot photography. The band played in Hamburg until 1962 and in Liverpool as well. In 1961, the group met Brian Epstein who was a record store owner and music columnist. They were playing at the Cavern Club and were getting tired of playing the same gig night after night. Epstein liked the way they sounded and became their manager in 1962. When the band returned to Germany in April of 1962, they were met with the tragic news of Sutcliffe's passing from a brain hemorrhage. The group was devastated of his passing. Epstein began to negotiate to get recording sessions for the band. Many record companies refused them but George Martin signed them to EMI's Parlophone label. The band began to record at Abbey Road Studios in London on June 6th, 1962 and Martin took notice of Best's poor drumming. He hired drummer Ringo Starr and replaced Best with him. The band recorded Love Me Do, Please Please Me, and ''P.S. I Love You. ''The band release Love Me Do, which went on to chart No. 17. They made their first TV performance, Please Please Me was a success, by 1963 the band was establishing their abilities in music, Lennon and McCartney established a songwriting agreement (Lennon-McCartney), and the band's success grew. They also changed their style while on stage.

Beatlemania and the Tours, 1963 - 1966
In March 1963, their debut album Please Please Me was released with success. The album reached No. 1 on the billboards and charts. In 1964, the band released their fourth single She Loves You and became their first single to sell one million copies.