The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, they quickly became the most prominent and influential group in history. Initially rooted in skiffle, rhythm and blues, and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later explored various genres, ranging from pop ballads to Indian music, psychedelia, and hard rock, often incorporating elements of classical music and innovative recording techniques. In 1963, their massive popularity emerged as "Beatlemania"; as the group's music gained sophistication, led by the principal songwriters Lennon and McCartney, the Beatles became integral to the evolution of pop music into an art form and the development of the 1960s counterculture. The Beatles established their reputation by playing in Liverpool and Hamburg clubs for a three-year period starting in 1960, with Stuart Sutcliffe initially serving as bassist. The core of Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, together since 1958, went through a series of drummers, including Pete Best, before asking Starr to join them in 1962. Manager Brian Epstein shaped them into a professional act, and producer George Martin brought out their musical potential in the studio. They gained international fame in the early 1960s with songs like "Love Me Do", "From Me to You", "She Loves You", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", and "All My Loving". As their popularity grew, they were given the nickname "Fab Four", with Epstein, Martin, and other members of the entourage sometimes informally referred to as the "fifth Beatle". By early 1964, the Beatles had become international stars, leading the "British Invasion" of the American pop market and breaking numerous sales records. They made their film debut with A Hard Day's Night (1964). Starting in 1965, they produced what many critics consider their finest work, including the innovative and widely influential albums Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966), and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967). The Beatles frequently experimented with a wide range of genres, including pop ballads, Indian music, electronics, and classical music motifs. After their breakup in 1970, they all went on to have successful solo musical careers. McCartney and Starr, the surviving members, remain active in music.

The Beatles - Back In The USSR Extract :