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The Beatles were a British pop and rock group from Liverpool. They are widely regarded as the most successful group of the rock and roll era, having achieved broad popular success, critical acclaim and cultural influence. The Beatles are reported to have sold more than 1 billion albums worldwide.

Dubbed "The Fab Four" by some of their fans, the Beatles were John Lennon (1940–1980), Paul McCartney (born 1942), George Harrison (1943–2001), and Ringo Starr (born 1940). Lennon and McCartney were the principal songwriters, with Harrison making a significant contribution as the band matured. George Martin produced most of the Beatles' recordings.

 

The Beatles created a sensation in late 1963 in the UK (the phenomenon was dubbed "Beatlemania" by the British press), notable for the hordes of screaming and swooning young women the group inspired. Beatlemania came to North America in early 1964, and the band's popularity extended across much of the world. Within the space of five years, their music progressed from the apparent simplicity of their early hits (such as "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand") to artistically ambitious suites of songs (such as the albums Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road). By writing their own songs, exploring the possibilities of the recording studio and striving for unprecedented quality in every recording they released, the Beatles had far-reaching effects on popular music and made two feature films. They were subjected to unprecedented press scrutiny which included criticism of their later role as symbols of 1960s youth counterculture. The group disbanded in 1970.