1960
January :
Despite having no musical ability, Stuart Sutcliffe is recruited to play bass by fellow art student John Lennon in his group The Quarrymen, which includes Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
March-April :
The Quarrymen change their name to The Beatles.
May :
In a flurry of activity the group recruit drummer Tommy Moore and part-time manager, Allan Williams, which helps them secure a one-off gig as backing group to crooner Johnny Gentle.
The band change their name to the Silver Beatles.
June-July :
The band play a string of gigs around Liverpool and make a further small but significant typographical change to become The Silver Beatles.
August :
Pete Best becomes the band's full-time drummer. The band travel to Hamburg in Germany to take up a 48-night residency at Bruno Koschmider's Indra club.
They drop the Silver from their name to become The Beatles.
September-November :
In Hamburg, the naive young band are quickly immersed in a whirlwind of drink and drugs, sometimes playing for six hours per night, often as a warm-up act to strippers. Despite the gruelling conditions, they quickly sharpen up their act to become a tight and powerful rock 'n' roll outfit with a large repertoire of songs.
December :
The stay in Hamburg comes to an abrupt end when 17-year old Harrison is deported for being underage. The band return to the UK minus Stuart Sutcliffe, who opts to remain in Germany with his new girlfriend, artist Astrid Kirchherr.
1961
January-March :
The band play a total of 89 shows in three months around Liverpool, including a debut appearance at the Cavern Club. Neil Aspinall is recruited as roadie.
April :
The band return to Hamburg for a 92-show stint at the Top Ten club.
June :
The Beatles are recruited as backing band to singer Tony Sheridan and record a number of tracks in a Hamburg studio.
July-September :
Back in Liverpool, the band average 30 performances a month in the city.
November :
Local department store owner and impresario Brian Epstein goes to watch the boys play a lunchtime gig at the Cavern.
December :
Epstein becomes The Beatles manager and arranges an audition with Decca records in London.
1962
January :
On New Year's Day, the band travel to London to record 15 songs for Decca, but the session is lacklustre and they fail to make an impression.
February :
Decca rejects the group, prompting a furious Epstein to proclaim: "You must be out of your minds! These boys are going to explode. I am completely confident that one day they will be bigger than Elvis Presley!" Later in the month he arranges a meeting with Parlophone Records producer George Martin.
April :
Stuart Sutcliffe dies in Hamburg of a suspected brain haemorrhage. The band returns to the city for a 48-night run at the Star Club.
May-June :
Brian Epstein secures a recording contract with Parlophone. The band returns to London and cuts four demo tracks: Besame Mucho, Ask Me Why, Love Me Do and P.S. I Love You.
August :
Pete Best is sacked. Ringo Starr from Rory Storm and the Hurricanes - a band The Beatles had been brothers-in-arms with in Hamburg days - joins and the fab four are complete.
Later in the month John Lennon marries his girlfriend Cynthia Powell.
September :
The band record their first single Love Me Do with George Martin.
October - November :
Love Me Do peaks at a disappointing Number 17 in the singles chart.
December :
The band return to Hamburg for a final 13 nights at the Star Club.
1963
January :
Band release their second single - Please Please Me - and make national TV debut on ITV's Thank Your Lucky Stars.
February :
Band return to the studio to record their first album - Please Please Me.
March :
Single Please Please Me completes a slow climb up the charts to reach Number One.
April :
/
May :
Band tour with Roy Orbison. Third single From Me To You tops the charts for seven weeks, prompting the BBC to give them their own show Pop Goes The Beatles.
June :
/
August :
Band play their final gig at the Cavern.
September :
Single She Loves You tops the charts for four weeks. The following month an appearance on Sunday Night At The London Palladium sees the band besieged by hundreds of adoring fans.
November :
'Beatlemania' is now in full swing. At a Royal Command Performance at London's Prince of Wales theatre John Lennon cheekily suggests that the more well-heeled members of the audience "rattle their jewellery."
She Loves You goes back to number one for another two weeks.
December :
I Want To Hold Your Hand tops the charts for five weeks. The band play a string of Christmas shows at the Finsbury Park Astoria in London and appear on Juke Box Jury.
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1964
February :
Band make their first visit to America to be greeted - to their surprise - by hysterical crowds. A performance on the Ed Sullivan show is watched by a record audience of 73 million. The band make their debut at New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall.
March :
Back in the UK, the band begin filming their first movie, A Hard Day's Night and recording songs for the accompanying album. John Lennon's first book In His Own Write is published.
April :
Can't Buy Me Love tops the UK and US charts. At one point, The Beatles occupy the top 5 places in the US chart, as well as 11 other positions in the Top 100.
May :
/
July-August :
Premiere of A Hard Days Night. Title single tops the charts for three weeks. The band return to play their first American tour, including at date at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl.
October-November :
Beatles go on tour in the UK.
December :
I Feel Fine tops the charts for five weeks. Band stages a run of Christmas shows at the Hammersmith Odeon.
1965
January:
/
February :
Beatles begin recording new album Help! and filming their second movie of the same title in the Bahamas. Ringo marries Maureen Cox.
April :
Ticket To Ride tops the charts for three weeks.
May :
Band make their final performance for BBC radio.
June :
The Queen awards the band MBEs - to the disgust of some other recipients of the honour, who send back their medals in protest. Lennon's second book A Spaniard In The Works is published.
August :
The Beatles play New York's Shea stadium to an estimated audience of 55,000 before travelling to the west coast to meet Elvis Presley in LA. The film Help! premieres in London.
October :
Band begin work with George Martin on sixth album Rubber Soul.
December :
Final UK tour. We Can Work It Out/Daytripper double A-side single goes to number one for five weeks. Rubber Soul released.
1966
January :
George Harrison marries Pattie Boyd.
March :
In an interview for the London Evening Standard, John Lennon expresses the opinion that The Beatles are now more popular than Jesus.
April :
Band spend most of the month in the studio recording new album Revolver.
May :
Final UK concert - the NME poll winners concert at Wembley Empire Pool (now the Arena). Band film promo films for new AA-side single Paperback Writer/Rain.
June-July :
The Beatles continue work on Revolver album. Paperback Writer single tops the charts for two weeks. Band then goes on tour in West Germany, Japan and Philippines, where they trigger a riot and are forced to flee after offending President Marcos' wife Imelda. Lennon's 'Jesus' interview re-printed in the US.
August :
Christian groups stage protests - including record burnings in parts of the US - against The Beatles following Lennon's 'blasphemous' comments. A final US tour, overshadowed by the controversy ends at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. The jaded and disillusioned group quit live performances for good.
September :
Lennon given the part of Private Gripweed in the surreal anti-war film How I Won The War. George Harrison travels to India to study with sitarist Ravi Shankar. Ringo and Paul go on holiday.
November :
John Lennon meets Japanese artist Yoko Ono at her Unfinished Paintings and Objects exhibition in London. Band begin recording Strawberry Fields Forever.
December :
Band enter the studio with George Martin to begin work on Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
1967
January :
During a break in recording Sgt Pepper, John and Paul go to the London Roundhouse to watch The Who and Jimi Hendrix.
March :
Engelbert Humperdinck's Release Me keeps Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane off the UK Number One spot.
April-May :
Frenzy of recording continues as the band begins work on follow-up to Sgt Pepper (Magical Mystery Tour) immediately after completing the album.
June :
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band released. Band record All You Need Is Love and appear on the BBC's One World global simulcast programme, watched by an audience of an estimated 400 million).
July :
The Beatles go on holiday together in the Aegean. All You Need Is Love goes to number one for three weeks.
August :
George Harrison visits the hippie enclave of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco - world headquarters of the 'Flower Power' movement. Band travel to Bangor in Wales to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
September-October :
Filming and recording for Magical Mystery Tour continues around the UK and France.
December :
Single Hello Goodbye tops the chart for seven weeks. Magical Mystery Tour film is screened by BBC2 on Boxing Day to a lukewarm critical reception. Beatles open the Apple Boutique on Baker Street in London.
1968
January :
George records his experimental soundtrack album Wonderwall in India.
February :
Band record Lady Madonna, Across The Universe and Hey Bulldog before travelling to Rishikesh in India to resume meditation with the Maharishi.
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March-April :
Band straggle back from India after growing disillusioned with the Maharishi.
May :
The band form their Apple Corps. company. John convenes a meeting to inform the rest of the band that he is Jesus. The Beatles begin working on The Beatles album (aka the White Album). Lennon and Yoko Ono become a couple.
July :
Animated film Yellow Submarine opens in London. Band record Hey Jude while continuing work on their new album. Apple Boutique closes at the end of the month.
August :
Cynthia Lennon files for divorce as John's relationship with Yoko Ono continues.
September :
Hey Jude goes to number one for nine weeks in America, becoming one of the biggest selling singles there of all time.
October :
John and Yoko raided by the drugs squad at Ringo's flat in London. They are later fined £150 for possessing cannabis.
November :
The Beatles double album is released.
Release of John and Yoko's Two Virgins album is marked by controversy caused by the record's front cover shot of the couple posing naked.
December :
John and Yoko perform in The Rolling Stones Rock n' Roll Circus.
1969
January :
Band convene at Twickenham studios to begin filming rehearsals for a loosely conceived concert-album, but after a major row with John, George temporarily walks out.
The Beatles return to Apple to continue recording the album part of the project - Let It Be. Sessions remain fractious, and peter out at the end of the month.
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February :
Without a manager since the death of Brian Epstein, John, George and Ringo ask US businessman Allen Klein to look after the band's chaotic affairs. Paul objects to this, and appoints Eastman and Eastman as 'general advisors'.
March-April :
Paul marries Linda Eastman. John and Yoko get married in Gibraltar and hold a 'bed-in' at the Amsterdam Hilton. Single Get Back tops the UK chart for seven weeks. John and Paul record The Ballad of John And Yoko.
May :
Band return to the studio to begin work on Abbey Road. Refused entry to the US after their drug convictions, John and Yoko hold a series of bed-ins in Canada.
June-July :
John records Give Peace A Chance in Montreal. Band continue work on Abbey Road.
August :
/
September :
The Plastic Ono Band make their debut appearance in Toronto. John begins work on a solo single, Cold Turkey.
The Beatles' final recorded album, Abbey Road, is released.
November-December :
Ringo starts recording solo album Sentimental Journey. John and Yoko publish posters in 11 cities worldwide saying: "War Is Over - If You Want It. Happy Christmas From John and Yoko."
Paul McCartney starts work on McCartney album at home in Scotland.
1970
January :
Recording resumes on aborted Let It Be album - not all band members present.
February :
John and Yoko become involved with Michael X's Black House project and join campaigns against apartheid and for nuclear disarmament.
March :
Single Let It Be stalls at number two in the UK charts. Phil Spector remixes the Let It Be album - to the later disgust of Paul McCartney.
April :
The Beatles announce their break-up. Paul McCartney releases his first solo album.
I enjoyed this research. The Beatles are amazing.
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