..“Oh I get by with a little help from my friends..”

1960 – 1970

Thesis

• The destruction of The Beatles caused by their unified group evolving into an assembly of

individuals with radically diverse ideas and goals.

Main Points

• Forming/Group Development• Roles in Leadership• Performing• Group Climate (positive/negative)• Group as a System (synergy)• We Not Me/Me Not We• Cooperation vs. Competition• Psychological Reactance• Hidden Agendas• Hypercompetitiveness

Introduction and History

• English rock band formed in Liverpool (1960)• Most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts

in the history of popular music• Folk Rock, Psychedelic Pop and Classical

• Influenced social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s

Introduction and History

• JOHN LENNON (rhythm guitar, vocals)

• PAUL MCCARTNEY (bass guitar, vocals)

• GEORGE HARRISON (lead guitar, vocals)

• RINGO STARR (drums, vocals)

• Stuart Stucliffe (bass guitar): 1960-1961

• Pete Best (drums): 1960-1962

Early Years (Group Development & Forming)

• 16-year-old singer and guitarist, John Lennon, formed skiffle group “The Quarrymen” with Liverpool school friends (1957)

• 15-year-old Paul McCartney joined Lennon’s band as guitarist after meeting in July (1957)

• McCartney invited 14-year-old George Harrison into the band as lead guitarist (1958)

Early Years (Roles in Leadership)

• Style Perspectives: Autocratic, Democratic and Laissex-fair

• The band encountered Brian Epstein, local record store owner and music columnist, at a frequently visited club for performance

• Band appointed Epstein official manager (1962)

• George Martin signed band to EMI’s Parlophone label

Early Years

• Martin conducted band’s 1st recording session at Abbey Road Studios in London (1962)

• English singer, song-writer and actor, Ringo Starr joins band (1962)

• Starr left band “Rory Storm and the Hurricanes” to join The Beatles

Early Years (Norming & Performing)

• Band established fame with first single “Love Me Do” followed by “Please Please Me”

• Made 1st live TV debut performance on regional news programme Peoples and Places

• Lennon and McCartney established songwriting partnership

• “McCartney’s melodic bass lines, Starr’s slaphappy no-rolls drumming, Harrison’s rockability-style guitar leads & Lennon’s assertive rhythm guitar …& 4 fervent voices” (Rolling Stone)

Touring Years (Group Climate & Group as a System: Synergy)

• Positive Climate exist when individuals perceive that they are valued, supported and treated well by the group

• Epstein encouraged band to be more professional and commercial performers

• By March 1963 “Love Me Do” and “Please Please Me” hit #2 on UK singles chart

• Band’s quick popularity created a frenzied adulation “Beatlemania!”

• The Beatles were a synergistic phenomenon

Touring Years (We Not Me)

• 1962 - 1966 The Beatles toured internationally, creating world-wide fame

• Preformed on The Ed Sullivan Show with approx. 74 million viewers

• Held 12 spots on Billboard Hot 100 singles chart

• Famous hit singles included “I Want to Hold Your Hand” “Help!” “Maggie Mae”

• Major Motion Picture Contracts: Help! and A Hard Day’s Night

Touring Years (Group Climate)

• Negative Climate exists when group members do not feel valued, respected, when trust is minimal and members perceive not being treated well

• After 4th album band began to struggle with controversy and conflict in commercialism vs. creativity

• Album Rubber Soul posed more complex and mature nature of band’s songs and their meaning

• The clash between Lennon’s deep ingenuity and McCartney’s thirst for prominence became evident

The Breakup (Cooperation vs. Competition, Me Not We)

• Content of lyrics, band’s openness about drug use, and visual presentation of album covers triggered much controversy

• U.S. religious and social groups back lashed on band after Lennon expressed opinions on Christianity

• Epstein criticized media about the band taking harsh judgment

• Epstein encouraged band’s reactions to controversy remain undisclosed (1966)

• The Beatles marked their last tour in August (1966)

The Breakup (Psychological Reactance)

• Psychological Reactance: More someone tries to control by telling what to do, the more inclined to resist or do opposite

• Epstein died by accidental overdose August of 1967

• Epstein’s death left band feeling disoriented and fearful of the future

• McCartney tried initiating projects for band

• Lennon stated Esptein’s death marked the beginning of the end for The Beatles

The Breakup (Hidden Agendas)

• Each member developed different agendas & musical desires

• During recording sessions of the infamous White Album relations among the band became openly troublesome

• Starr left the band leaving McCartney drummer

• Lennon’s romantic preoccupation with avant-grade artist, Yoko Ono posed strong tension

• Lennon lost interest in co-writing with McCartney creating defensive/negative atmosphere

The Breakup (Hypercompetitiveness)

• McCartney and Lennon competed with one another’s ideas and directions

• Strong conflict between Lennon and McCartney arose with appointment of financial advisor

• Lennon was the 1st of the band to release solo single “Give Peace a Chance” album Abbey Road

• Harrison left the band out of frustration of Ono’s presence and Lennon and McCartney’s disagreements

Conclusion

• The Beatles officially broke up/ fell apart

• Lennon announced his departure from band September 20, 1969

• McCartney publically announced his departure form band April 10, 1970

• All 4 members released solo albums in 1970

• The Beatles released 12 studio albums, 13 EP’s and 22 singles from 1962-1970

• Noted by many as greatest and most influential rock band of all time during and after years active

The Beatles Today

• Lennon was shot and killed in New York City December 8, 1980

• Harrison died of lung cancer November 29, 2001

• McCartney and Starr are the only living members today

• Strongly publicized in today’s media McCartney and Starr actively continuing and progressing their music careers

The End “Let It Be.”