This in-depth, research-based book profiles the band that shaped a generation and changed the face of music forever.What makes a legend? The Beatles: A Musical Biography attempts to answer that question by taking an in-depth look at the band that changed pop music. Examining the events and ideas that influenced each album and many songs, the book seeks to explain what drove the Beatles to make music, as well as what drove the music itself.While the biography covers the musical history and achievements of the band, it also looks at what was happening in the lives of John, Paul, George, and Ringo during the Beatle years, exploring their personal drives and aspirations and their relationships with each other. Readers will come away from this book with a far better appreciation of the Lads from Liverpool-and of what was really going on underneath those oh-so-controversial haircuts.

Includes discographies of singles and albums and a list of awards

Series ForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroductionTimelineChapter 1 Liverpudlian ChildhoodsChapter 2 Art School DropoutChapter 3 Rockin' the CasbahChapter 4 An Apprenticeship on the ReeperbahnChapter 5 As Big As ElvisChapter 6 Beatlemania!Chapter 7 On Top of the World and High as a KiteChapter 8 Things Fall ApartChapter 9 A Heavy Yoko To BearChapter 10 Let It BeEpilogueAppendix 1: AlbumsAppendix 2: SinglesAppendix 3: AwardsFurther ReadingIndex