The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. From 1962, the group consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals).

Rooted in skiffle, and 1950s rock and roll, they later worked in many genres ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. The nature of their enormous popularity, which first emerged as "Beatlemania", transformed as their songwriting grew in sophistication. They came to be perceived as the embodiment of ideals of the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s. The impact of the Beatles has often been noted but cannot be overstated. The "Fab Four" from Liverpool, England, startled the ears and energized the lives of virtually all who heard them. Their arrival triggered the musical revolution of the Sixties, introducing a modern sound and viewpoint that parted ways with the world of the previous decade. The Beatles' music ignited the latent energy of youth on both sides of the Atlantic. They helped confer self-identity upon a youthful, music-based culture that flexed its muscle in myriad ways - not just as music consumers but also as a force for political expression, social commentary and contemporary lifestyles. Though popular music has changed considerably in the decades since the Beatles' demise, their music continues to reach and inspire new generations of listeners. Half a century after their humble origins in Liverpool, the Beatles remain the most enduring phenomenon in the history of popular music. They are the best-selling band in the history of popular music, and four decades after their break-up, their recordings are still in demand. They have had more number one albums on the UK charts, and have also held the top spot longer than any other act. According to the RIAA, they have sold more albums in the United States than any other artist. The Beatles were number one in a 2008, Billboard list of the all-time top-selling Hot 100 artists to celebrate the US singles chart's fiftieth anniversary. They have been honoured with 7 Grammy Awards, and have received 15 Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. They were also collectively included in Time magazine's compilation of the 20th century's 100 most influential people.