Top 10 Fun Facts about The Beatles

Top 10 Fun Facts about The Beatles

The Beatles in Treslong – By By Boer, Poppe de – https://hdl.handle.net/21.12102/fb9a0a5a-8c60-f9e9-af21-58a088111e6f, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77569386

One of the most well-known bands in the history of music – The Beatles

When you think about the most popular bands in the history of music, who do you think of? I go so far as to wager that many of you will say one common artist – The Beatles. Famous not only in their homeland of the United Kingdom, this group of boys turned into men and rose to stardom across the world. Writing and singing numerous albums on their illustrious career, The Beatles had multiple hits, number one songs, and sold-out concerts all around the globe. There are still thousands of Beatles’ fans everywhere, learning all there is to know about the four guys who seemingly changed the world and the music industry as we know it. Although many of these facts about the band are well-known, there are other lesser-known facts about the band and the members which most will find quite interesting. Here we have compiled the top 10 fun facts about the infamous and talented band, The Beatles.

1) Lennon had an unconventional childhood

John Lennon had a tough time growing up. Born in Liverpool in 1940, his parents were Julia Stanley and Alfred Lennon. Alfred was often away working, but would send money home to his wife and John, until the checks stopped coming in early 1944. He eventually returned home six months later, and found that his wife was pregnant with another man’s child. Because of the tumultuous situation for John to be living in, Julia’s sister, Mimi, reported the unstructured and chaotic home-life to social services. Julia then gave her custody of John.

However, in 1946, John’s father came to see him for a visit – and ended up basically kidnapping his son and taking him to Blackpool, planning to emigrate with him to New Zealand. Julia followed them, and got into a heated argument with her ex. John’s father then put an unfair ultimatum on his son, and asked him to choose between himself and his mother. After choosing his father, John felt too guilty about seeing his mother cry, and went to live with her instead.

Despite choosing his mother, he went to live with Mimi and her husband in Woolton. He enjoyed reading short stories and solving crossword puzzles to pass the time. His mother would sometimes visit, and he began going to see her in Liverpool when he was old enough. She would teach him how to play the banjo, and showed him a variety of new music, like Elvis Presley.

Although John had an unconventional and chaotic childhood, the passing between family members may have helped to contribute to the way he fit so well into the ever-changing and evolving music industry. He became used to life on the road, leaving with little notice, learning to adapt to his surroundings, and his respect for women.

2) John Lennon started the band originally with his own high-school friends

In the mid 1950s, Lennon formed a group with his high-school friends from Quarry Bank High School in Liverpool. They named themselves the ‘Blackjacks,’ before changing their name to ‘Quarrymen’ later on. Paul McCartney joined them as guitarist in July, a few months before Lennon invited George Harrison to come and watch the band practice. Harrison, 15 years old at the time, auditioned for the band, and impressed the members with his playing skills. Lennon thought he was too young to join, but after a special performance on the upper deck of a Liverpool bus, Lennon finally caved and agreed to bring him on as lead guitarist.

3) Ringo Starr wasn’t the first drummer in the band

Pete Best drumming – By Urbankayaker at English Wikipedia [Public domain]

George Martin signed The Beatles to a Parlophone Label in 1962, after Decca Records rejected signing the band. His first recording session with the band took place at Abbey Road Studios in June of 1962. Unfortunately for the current drummer, Pete Best, Martin complained about his performance and his skills. He told the band’s manager, Brian Epstein, that they should use a session drummer in his place. Unknowingly to Martin, Epstein had already been thinking about Best’s dismissal from the band.

In August, The Beatles replaced Best with the Ringo Starr, who left Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. After recording ‘Love Me Do’ in September, Martin then hired another drummer for sessions only a week later. After contemplation, Martin selected the version with Starr as the drummer for the release of the first single, ‘Love Me Do.’ After peaking at #17 on the Record Retailer chart, The Beatles garnered a spot on a regional news program to play a live performance. After the success of their single and TV performance, the band agreed on the four members, and confirmed Starr as the fourth member, despite his limited vocal range.

4) Ringo had a troubled childhood just like Lennon

Ezio Guaitamacchi [CC0]

Richard Starkey, also known as Ringo Starr, was born in 1940 in Dingle, an inner-city portion of Liverpool. His parents spent much of their time ballroom dancing before the birth of Richard, but that ceased after he was born. The mother, Elsie, had an overprotective approach to parenting, while his father, Ritchie, became absent, and would leave for days at a time. His parents separated in 1945, and he lived with his mother who had to perform multiple jobs to stay afloat.

At 6-years-old, Starkey developed appendicitis, which turned into contracting peritonitis, an infection that covers most of the abdomen. He fell into a coma, and spent 12 months recovering at a children’s hospital. During this time he was away from his family, and fell behind in school, causing him to become alienated and taunted at school for his lack of understanding. After many years of extra tutoring, he eventually caught up with his studies.

Unfortunately for Starkey, his bad luck continued. He contracted tuberculosis in 1953 and was admitted to a sanatorium, where he would stay for 2 years. The staff tried to make him and the other patients active and stimulate their brain by learning instruments and playing music. His first time picking up an instrument was a makeshift mallet, that later transcended into an interest in drumming. He joined the hospital band, and his love for music grew deeper even when he was finally released from the hospital.

5) ‘Norwegian Wood’ isn’t actually about an apartment

While John Lennon was skiing on holiday with his wife, they were joined by George Martin, The Beatles’ producer and mentor. He injured himself early on in the trip, and while they nursed him back to health, Lennon began singing ‘Norwegian Wood’ to him in the hotel room. The song was an allusion to an affair for Lennon, who had undergone numerous infidelities during his marriage. The interesting part of the song is the title, which actually references the furniture of an average 1960s bachelorette apartment.

The allusion to a single woman’s apartment is really a hint that Lennon had been in an apartment like that before, admitting the affair. However, he didn’t want his wife Cynthia to find out – so he named the song ‘Norwegian Wood.’ The lyrics are about a man who goes to a girl’s apartment for the evening, is told to sleep in the bathtub, and proceeds to set fire to her apartment due to his bruised ego.

Lennon openly admits later on in life that ‘Norwegian Wood’ is totally his song, and was about his affair. He was paranoid during the writing and production, since he didn’t want Cynthia to know, so he tried to use the title of the song as a sort of distraction to the actual meaning. Although he admits to the affair, he says that the song isn’t about a specific woman in particular.

6) A line in a movie turned Beatles’ fans against the famous actor, Sean Connery

Sean Connery – By Rob Bogaerts / Anefo [CC0]

The James Bond movies are one of the most famous collections in the history of cinema. With multiple James Bond actors, Connery is undoubtedly one of the most popular of his time, delivering perfectly-timed lines, great action scenes, and not looking too bad while doing it either.

After being cast for Goldfinger, the 1964 release was a popular hit amongst the general population. Among Beatles’ fans however, it was a different story. A line in the movie turned the fans to outrage. As Bond is sitting in his bedroom chatting with a blonde woman, he comes to the realization that his drink had unfortunately turned warm, and lost it’s chill. He references that drinking it at the wrong temperature would be blasphemous, ‘like listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.’

As you can imagine, the millions of young fans booed the line in the theaters, and were appalled he could say such a thing. However, Connery was a fan in real life, and even worked with George Martin in 1988 for their In My Life album.

7) ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ was a muse to Lennon as a child

The Beatles verlaten Treslong – By Boer, Poppe de [CC0]

When fans look at this popular title to the catchy track, the only letters they seem to see is ‘LSD.’ The numerous references to trippy effects, ‘kaleidoscope eyes,’ and other hallucinogenic-characteristics made the fans assume the band was talking about the effects of the aforementioned drug. However, the real reason behind the name of the song is much more innocent than you would originally think.

When Lennon’s son was 4-years-old, he showed his father a drawing of a girl in his class, Lucy. His son reportedly said she was ‘in the sky with diamonds,’ a phrase which stuck in John’s mind. Lucy Vodden, the girl in the picture, moved to London, where she would reside until her early death in 2009 due to Lupus complications. Julian rekindled their companionship for the last few years of her life, and would keep in contact until her death.

8) Is it the Beatles or The Beatles?

Beatles logo – By Inductiveload [Public domain]

Apparently no one knows. Even Lennon and McCartney won’t comment on the matter, as to not upset any one of their super-fans who are adamant on the correct answer. Those who are insistent of the lower-case spelling reference some handwritten letters by Lennon, where he uses a small ‘t’ in the title. However, on the band’s official website, an uppercase ‘T’ is used, as well as in various band logos.

Beginning in 2004, disputes on the online encyclopedia started, with heated arguments about the topic. The conversations were so intense that many editors were banned from using the site, as cyber-stalking and cyber-bullying became a problem on the site. I guess you’ll just have to use your own personal preference.

9) Starkey became Starr before he joined The Beatles

Los Angeles Hollywood Boulevard Ringo Starr – By Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons / “Los Angeles (California, USA), Hollywood Boulevard, Ringo Starr — 2012 — 4992” / CC BY-SA 4.0

Before Starr became the famous drummer of one of the most famous bands in the world, he joined the Texans, a skiffle group that wanted to transition to a full-on rock and roll band. They began playing at local clubs, and changed their name multiple times, ending with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. During this time of playing in clubs with Rory, Starkey changed his name to Ringo Starr for his stage name – which later became the only name he was known by.

The name was derived from the statement pieces and ample jewelry he wore while performing. The name implied a country western influence, which worked with the theme of his band.

10) Starr was disheartened and felt isolated at times during his time with The Beatles

After a few years of intense success and being widely recognized by everyone in the world, the prevalence of ‘Beatlemania’ had affected Starr. The constant pressure mixed with the stardom led to high levels of stress for the drummer. He received a telephone death threat before a show in Canada, which caused him to position his cymbals to protect him from any bullets. He felt as if the pressure was causing the entire band to ‘turn into bad musicians’ and he thought they had lost their groove.

He felt isolated from the band, who were pushing the boundaries of the traditional music industry, and heading into some songs that didn’t require any drum accompaniment. Reportedly, he would spend time playing cards and chatting while his band mates would record other songs without him. He resigned himself to being happy with only a couple tracks on the later albums, as The Beatles’ style began to change and shift with the times.

One of the greatest bands of all time – The Beatles

There you have it, 10 fun facts about The Beatles – a band which is widely touted as one of the most popular ever in the history of music. The combination of four unique individuals comprising a band that rose to super-stardom is one of the best success stories we’ve ever heard. The uniqueness of each band member created an interesting dynamic that is still a subject to music fans today.