Strange But True Facts About The Beatles

The Beatles may have been the most influential band in the history of rock n roll, even though they had a relatively short tenure together.  Here are some cool facts about the Beatles and their songs you may not know!

The Beatles were formed in 1957 by John Lennon.  The original name of the band was The Blackjacks.  Later they became The Quarrymen, and after that, The Beatles!  Paul McCartney and George Harrison joined the band in 1958.

In 1962, the Beatles single "Love Me Do" reached number 17 on the charts in the UK.  Part of the reason for this may have been their own manager bought 10,000 copies of the single, to move it up the charts!


Astronomer Carl Sagan wanted The Beatles recording "Here Comes The Sun" included on a phonograph record sent into space aboard the Spacecraft Voyager. While the Beatles themselves liked the idea,  EMI, the Beatles label, refused to allow it.

George Harrison was the first Beatle to perform in the United States.....in 1963, he visited his sister, Louise,  in Benton, Illinois! He wound up playing/jamming with a local band, The Four Vests, at the VFW in nearby Eldorado, Illiniois. They played everything from Carl Perkins' "Matchbox." to Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart."  While in Southern Illinois, he also bout a guitar at a Mt. Vernon music store ( a Rickenbacker 425) , and the first Beatle record to ever be played on the radio in United States happened at WRFX-AM, in West Frankfort, Illinois, where Harrison was also interviewed on the air.  The record they played was "She Loves You."  In 1964, The Beatles made their first trip to the USA as a group, appeared on the E Sullivan Show, and the rest is history!

At first, Paul McCartney and John Lennon were disinterested in George Harrison song, "While My Guiar Gently Weeps" for The White Album.  Eric Clapton initially refused to play on it,  saying "No one ever plays on Beatles records." Harrison convinced him to participate.

The Beatles debut album, "Please Please Me" was recorded in only 9 hours.

In the 60s, The Beatles bought a private 80 acre island where they planned to live together, as a sanctuary away from they overly enthusiastic fans, but eventually, they broke up and the island was sold....at a profit.

The original bass player for the Beatles was Stuart Suttcliffe, who left the band in Germany.  He was replaced by Chas Newby.  Newby also left the band to return to school and later became a math teacher.

In the 60s, The Beatles wanted to be in a film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on "The Lord Of The Rings," but the project never materialized.  Lord of the Rings creator, J.R.R.Tolkien was against the Beatles being involved in the project.

"I Want To Hold Your Hand" was the first Beatles record to be recorded in stereo.

"Yesterday" holds the record for the most "covered" recording of all time. It was been recorded more than 16 hundred times by artist ranging from Elvis, to Frank Sinantra to Boys 2 Men.

The second most covered song is George Harrison's "Something," which Frank Sinatra called "The greatest love song of the last 50 years."

"Ticket To Ride" was the first Beatles song to last more than 3 minutes.

Walt Disney wanted The Beatles to perform in the Disney classic "Jungle Book, but the Beatles themselves shot down the idea, as John Lennon said "There's no way The Beatles are going to sing for Mickey Fu*king Mouse!"

Paul McCartney is left handed although there were rumors he was right handed and simply played left handed.  Ringo Starr is ambidextrous but plays drums right handed.

None of The Beatles could read music. They played "by ear."

Paul McCartney and former Beatles drummer Pete Best were deported from Germany for arson.....for burning condoms.  They were trying to use them for light to see in their van.

British model Pattie Boyd inspired both George Harrison's "Something." and Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight." She wound up being the first wife of BOTH!

In 1961, The Beatles were rejected by Decca Records, who told them "guitar groups are on the way out.," and they had no future.  Less than a year later, Beatlemania swept England.

Every 15 seconds, a Beatles song is played, somewhere in the world.

On April 4, 1964, The Beatles held 12 positions on Billboard Magazine's "Hot 100" chart, including ALL of  the top 5 positions.  A feat that has never been matched.  Number one was "Can't But Me Love."

Cher's first song release, under the name Bonnie Jo Mason, was a song titled, "Ringo, I Love You"

"Strawberry Fields Forever" is based on a Salvation Army children's home in Liverpool which John Lennon remembered from his childhood.

The song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" is NOT about LSD.  It's about a drawing little Julian Lennon did in nursery school, which he brought home to his dad, John.

In 1964, The Beatles were introduced to marijuana by Bob Dylan. Paul McCartney later confiemd every reference to "high" and "grass" in Beatles songs were related to marijuana.

The Beatles song "She's So Heavy" is more than 8 minutes long, yet the lyrics only contain 14 words.