The Beatles

[pjkeane]

What made 4 ordinary working class lads from Liverpool so extraordinary?

[andy hughes]

A combination of factors which all came together at the same time. In no particular order - musical ability, a sudden influx of spending power for teenagers, the spread of r 'n' b - based popular music, shrewd management, the personification of a new youth movement, a shrewd sense of media manipulation, the ability to stay together as a group when fame kicked in, a natrual ability to grow and develop as musicians, the ability to take their positions as figureheads of a generation and carry on making new vibrant music throughout their long and unrepeatable career. That set of circumstances is unique - we have all benefited from it. 

[WaldoMcFroog]

Lennon wasn't working class though - he was middle class.

[Birchy]

Could you be more precise, Yozzer?

[Gillbo]

You are either very young or have led a sheltered life.The Beatles are probably the biggest influence on popular music today.Being working class has nothing at all to do with it. Even people who dont like their music generally recognise their influence and input to music.

[derek 1950]

A little thing called talent

[bruin]

I ask you to listen to their music and judge for yourself.....

[magicbeatle]

They were no more ordinary than Elvis was. Just genius that happened to be born in a ordinary city. They were a gift from god and were meant to meet each other and it was meant to be!

[Birchy]

Not sure Pete Best would enthuse in a like fashion!

[magicbeatle]

Yeah, i know what your saying Birchy. But the whole Beatles story is stranger than anything hollywood could conjure up. And Pete Best was part of that amazing story.

[pjkeane]

I think an importent fact was they met in their teens and grew together, a bit like u2. I can see similarities between the 2 bands, especialy between john and bono.

[Birchy]

You are JOKING about the similarities between Lennon and Hewson, SURELY! OK, same amount of arms and legs etc., but one was shot and the other should be. If you've reeled me in with this ludicrous jape, then well done! But the very notion is more Hollywood fantasy than The Beatles story...