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The Beatles were an English rock music band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed group in the history of popular music. Their innovative music and cultural impact helped define the 1960s.In the United Kingdom, the Beatles released more than 40 different singles, albums, and EPs that reached number one. This commercial success was repeated in many other countries: their record company, EMI, estimated that by 1985 they had sold over one billion discs and tapes worldwide.

In March 1957, John Lennon formed a skiffle group called The Quarrymen whilst attending Quarry Bank Grammar School in Liverpool. Lennon and the Quarrymen met guitarist Paul McCartney at the Woolton Garden Fête held at St. Peter's Church on 6 July 1957. John Lennon was reluctant to let Paul McCartney join because he feared Paul might upstage him. John had let Paul join because of his musical ability and his expertise at tuning a guitar, a skill they had not previously possessed. On 6 February 1958, the young guitarist George Harrison was invited to watch the group (who played under a variety of names) at Wilson Hall, Garston, Liverpool. McCartney had become acquainted with Harrison on the morning school bus ride to the Liverpool Institute, as they both lived in Speke. At McCartney's insistence, Harrison joined the Quarrymen as lead guitarist after a rehearsal in March 1958, overcoming Lennon's initial reluctance because of Harrison's young age of 15. Members continually joined and left the lineup during that period, and in January 1960 Lennon's art school friend Stuart Sutcliffe joined on bass. Lennon and McCartney both played rhythm guitar and the group had a high turnover of drummers.

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