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Line diagram

The Beatles

1960 to 1970

The Beatles' stationSee Beat (Merseybeat) on the network

The line diagram

Each member is a lane on the year axis, in the colour of the line the band was on. A filled station marks a joining, an open one a departure, a square a death. The dotted rail is a reunion. A dotted branch leads to a band that grew out of this one, or in from a band its members came from. The table below lists the same spells.

Members

MemberRoleYears
Stuart Sutcliffebass1960 to 1961
Pete Bestdrums1960 to 1962
John Lennonvocals, rhythm guitar1960 to 1970
Paul McCartneyvocals, bass1960 to 1970
George Harrisonlead guitar, vocals1960 to 1970
Ringo Starrdrums, vocals1962 to 1970
Jimmie Nicoldrums (stand-in)1964 to 1964

The lines

  1. Beat (Merseybeat)1962 to 1966

    Liverpool, Hamburg, Beatlemania

    John Lennon's Quarrymen became the Beatles in 1960 and learned their trade in Hamburg, where Stuart Sutcliffe stayed behind in 1961. Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best in August 1962, weeks before "Love Me Do". By 1964 they had the top five places on the American chart at once.

    Key album: A Hard Day's Night, 1964

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, The Beatles (opens in a new tab)

  2. Rock1967 to 1970

    The studio years

    They stopped touring in 1966 and made Sgt. Pepper, the White Album and Abbey Road in the studio. Lennon told the others he was leaving in September 1969; McCartney said so in public in April 1970, and the band was over.

    Key album: Abbey Road, 1969

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, The Beatles (opens in a new tab)

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, The Beatles (opens in a new tab)
  2. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Beatles (opens in a new tab)
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica, The Beatles (opens in a new tab)

Cite this page

The Metro Map of Music, ‘The Beatles: line diagram’, /line-ups/the-beatles.