The Beatles debut in Hamburg, West Germany, with Stu Sutcliffe on bass and Pete Best on drums.
Richard “Ringo” Starkey, the popular drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, joins the Beatles.
The Beatles hold their first recording sessions at EMI Studios in London, with George Martin as producer.
The Beatles’ first album, Please Please Me, is released in England.
“I Want to Hold Your Hand,” by the Beatles, is released. It is their first release on Capitol Records.
The Beatles arrive in America and hold a quip-filled press conference that sets the antic tone for their two-week stay.
After performing at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, the Beatles announce that they will no longer be touring.
The Beatles launch Apple Corps, Ltd., a business venture that includes Apple Records, in London.
The Beatles make their final live performance with an impromptu, five-song set on the rooftop of Apple headquarters, on London’s Savile Row, during the filming of Let It Be.
The Beatles’ formal legal dissolution takes place in London.