Rock History

1.  The Beatles
   
   

1. 1940-1962

1. Ringo Starr (7/7/40) John Lennon (10/9/40) Paul McCartney (6/18/42) George Harrison (2/25/43)

2. John Lennon Formed a skiffle group called the Quarrymen in March 1957.  Met Paul McCartney July 6th 1957.  George Harrison Joined March 1958. (Video Clip: Anthology tape 1. 21:00-26:40)
   
   

3. Stu Sutcliffe (6/23/40)  joins in January 1960.   (Video Clip:  Anthology tape 1. 28:04-29:30)   Leaves the Band in mid 1961 after their second hamburg trip.  Paul takes over on bass.

4. Several name changes, including Johnny and the Moondogs and the Silver Beatles (From Long John Silver), settled on the Beatles as a play on Buddy Holly and the Crickets.

5. Pete Best joins August 1960 as the Group Leaves for Hamburg, Germany.
   
   

2. Hamburg

1. Left for Hamburg August of 1960.  After a 36 hour trip, found out they were due onstage within an hour.  They were also informed that they were to play 6-8 hours a night, 7 days a week.

2. First stay in Hamburg was for three months.  They quit the club they were at and moved to a different club.  The owner of the first club was angry and reported George as being underage.  Pete and Paul were arrested for starting a fire in their dressing room.

3. Would later return to Hamburg in 1961 and 1962. (Video Clip:  DVD 2, epi.1 Chapter 2)   Stu Leaves the Band in mid 1961 after their second Hamburg trip.  Paul takes over on bass when Stu stays in Germany with his financee.

4. When the band returns to Hamburg in April 1962, they were informed of Stu’s death from a brain Hemmorage .
   
   

3. Brian Epstein (9/19/34-8/27/67)

1. First heard of the Beatles from his record shop around the corner from the Cavern.  They all knew him because they used to shop there.  Started managing them in fall 1961.  Signed them in  January of 1962.

2. Was turned down by every record company in England, including Decca, who’s A & R chief, Dick Rowe,  told him “Guitar Groups are on the way out”.  

3. Auditioned by George Martin in June of 1962, and agreed to sign them even though he wasn’t terribly impressed.  He signed them based on their wit and personality, after George Harrison said “I don’t like your tie”.

4. Pete Best is fired when George Martin says he’s not good enough and that they’ll use a session drummer for recording.  Let go in August 1962. (Video Clip: Anthlogy tape 1 53:45-56:45)
   
   

4. George Martin (Born 1926)

1. Classical Backround and training.  Spent his early career with EMI recording Classical music, Cast Albums, and comedy records (Including Peter Sellers’s “The Goon Show”. )

2. Was the Head of Parlophone records, a subsidiary of EMI, since 1955.  Had turned the label around, and wanted to expand into Rock and Roll.

3.  First single “Love Me Do” released in October 1962.  #17 on British chart.
   
   

5. 1963

1. Second single, “Please Please me” released in Jan. 1963. #1 hit.

2. First Album released in march 1963, Please Please me,  #1 in england for 30 weeks, #2 for another 20.  Gave up the number one spot to the second Beatles Album. Tape 2 6-11)
   
   

6. 1964

1. First American Album, Meet the Beatles, released January 1964.  The american record companies had refused to release all their previous singles including she loves you, Love me do, From Me to You, and please please me.  I want to hold your hand was the first one to come out on Capitol.

2. Going to America in Feburary 1964.   (Video clip: Anthology tape 2. 1:00:00-1:02:27  1:06:30 to end)

3. Ed Sullivan and Washington DC.   (video clip: Anthology tape 3 02:12-3:00)  (9:50-13:00) (14:00)  (I saw her standing there 18:00-21:00)

4. Hard day’s night
   
   

7. 1965

1. Help!

2. Rubber soul

1. Use of unusual instruments (sitar)
   
   

8. 1966

1. Revolver

2. End of touring in august 1966.
   
   

2.  Other British Invasion Groups (The “Big Four”)

1. The Rolling Stones

1. Formed in 1962.  Founding members included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Brian Jones.  Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts joined in 1963.

2. Much more based in blues than American Rock and Roll.  Took their name from a Muddy Waters song.

3. Signed by their Manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, in 1963.  He was an employee of Brian Epstein’s who wanted to be a manager.  George Harrison reccommended the Stones the Dick Rowe, the Decca man who had rejected the Beatles.  First recording was made in May of 1963, “Come on” a Chuck Berry song.  Second single was “I wanna be your Man”, a Lennon-McCartney song, and a top ten hit.  They originally did the suits act like the Beatles, but soon changed their image and became a counterimage to the Beatles on the reccomendation of their manager.  First album released April 1964.  All covers, one original.
   
   

4. First American tour June 1964. (Video Clip: Disc 2 Ep.1 Chapter 10-11) Second tour in late 1964 was more successful.

5. Second album in January 1965.  More original songs, as Jagger/Richards starting writing songs at the demand of their manager as well as pressure to compete with the Beatles.  “Time is on my Side” first top 10 single in America.  Second single “The Last Time” also top ten.

6. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” first US #1 hit in summer of 1965.

7. Roundup:  The Stones were presented as an alternative to the Beatles, when in reality, the groups were good friends.  Keith Richard has said “If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have tried to write songs.” The Stones always tried to imitate the Beatles.  Note the Following items:

1.  Originally wore suits like the Beatles.

2.  First original song was a blantant Beatle rip off, complete with “Yeah’s”

3. First album cover was much like the Beatles famous “Half shadow”.

4. Tried to do the same big US tour, complete with Ed Sullivan show.  

5. “Get off of my cloud” Same chord progression as “Twist and shout”.

6. “As tears go by” imitation of yesterday.

7. Copied the use of indian instruments on 1966, right after beatles did it in 1965.

8. “Their Satanic majesties request” is a delibrate attempt to respond to Sgt. Pepper, right down to Album cover.

 

 

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