The Beatles were the biggest, most influential, and most successful band in rock music history. With Lennon and McCartney’s lyrics and vocals, Ringo’s drumming, and Harrison and Lennon’s guitar work, they created a catalog of timeless hits.
From Liverpool With Love
The Beatles formed in the working class port city of Liverpool, England in 1962 and were made up of rhythm guitarist and singer John Lennon, bassist and singer Paul McCartney, lead guitarist George Harrison, and drummer Ringo Starr. In their early years the band’s sound was based around 1950’s style blues-based rock music, Elvis Presley being one of their early influences. Songs like “Roll Over Beethoven,” a Chuck Berry Cover, “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “Love Me Do,” all featured the upbeat, catchy energy of 50’s American rock, propelled by the clean Liverpool guitar sound of the early 1960’s.
John Lennon
Net Worth: $200 million
English singer, songwriter and peace activist, John Lennon, gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles.
Paul McCartney
Net Worth: $1.1 billion
American musician and songwriter, Paul McCartney, is best known as the founding member, lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist of the American rock band Aerosmith.
Ringo Starr
Net Worth: $365 million
English musician, singer, songwriter and actor, Ringo Starr, who achieved international fame during the 1960s as the drummer for the Beatles.
George Harrison
Net Worth: $400 million
English musician, singer, songwriter, and music and film producer, George Harrison, who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist and occasional lead vocalist of the Beatles.
Pete Best
Net Worth: $600 thousand
English musician known as the Beatles’ drummer before the band achieved worldwide fame, Pete Best. After he was dismissed from the group in 1962, he started his own band, the Pete Best Four.
Both Lennon and Harrison played a number of different guitars during their Beatles hey-day. From their Rickenbackers to matching Fender Stratocasters, the two were not tied to any one make or model.
They sometimes used prototypes, such as Harrison’s 12-string custom Rickenbacker that helped the Beatles achieve the ringing guitar sound found in their early work. While their early albums took the world by storm, The Beatles, as they would do throughout their career, evolved their sound. Songs like “Tax Man” and “Yellow Submarine,” off of Revolver showcased Lennon and Harrison’s evolving guitar sound.
By The White Album, Lennon and Harrison’s style had shifted to reflect the heavy fuzz guitar sound. This was was a sound being experimented with at the time. Songs like “Back in the USSR,” “Helter Skelter,” and “Revolution” all feature Lennon and Harrison’s amped up electric sound.
