THE BEATLES

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

The Beatles were a rock and pop band from Liverpool, England that formed in 1960. During their career, the group primarily consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). Although their initial musical style was rooted in 1950s rock and roll, the group worked with different musical genres. Their clothes, style and statements made them trend-setters, while their growing social awareness saw their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s. After the band broke up in 1970, all four members embarked upon successful solo careers.
The Beatles were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music, selling over one billion records internationally. In the United Kingdom, The Beatles released more than 40 different singles and albums, earning more number one albums than any other group in UK chart history. This commercial success was repeated in many other countries; their record company, EMI, estimated that by 1985 they had sold over one billion records worldwide. The Beatles' innovative music and cultural impact helped define the 1960s, and their influence on pop culture is still evident today.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles

Glossary:

consist of: αποτελούμαι από

initial: αρχικός

be rooted: έχω τις ρίζες μου

statement: δήλωση

trend setter: αυτός που δίνει τη γραμμή, που ορίζει τη μόδα

social awareness: κοινωνική αντίληψη

extend: επεκτείνομαι

embark upon: αρχίζω

acclaim: επευφημώ

estimate: υπολογίζω

innovative: καινοτόμος

impact: επιρροή

evident: φανερός

Questions:

1. Who were the Beatles?
2. Who were the first members of the band?
3. What kind of music did they play?
4. What kind of influence did they have on young people of the 60s?
5. What did its members do after the band broke out?
6. How many records did the Beatles sell internationally?
7. How many singles and albums did they release in the UK?

Writing:

Write a short biography of your favourite band.