The Beatles

[Arginald Valleywater]

Only together for 8 years, no cudos as a live act, greatest band of all time? Seriously?

[Grendel1]

In my opinion, no not the greatest band of all time, but look at what they did in those 8 years. Serious innovators that developed songwriting and studio techniques like no one else at the time, and paved the way for many many bands.

[max_tranmere]

I've always thought that a band goes from being huge to being god-like (and worshipped for ever more) if a key member dies. The Beatles, Nirvana - there are a few examples.

[Arginald Valleywater]

I agree the Beatles were innovative and Martin was a genius but it's the "nobody else has done so much for music etc etc" attitude that annoys me.
Zeppelin, Yardbirds, The Kinks, The Who, The Beach Boys, Dylan all made massive contributions. Add in Soul, Blues, Reggae and good old Elvis style Rock n'Roll..all equally influential.

[Grendel1]

Totally agree. Each part of the collective has their part to play in the evolution of music, and that continues today. If Cowell kept his nose out the music industry would be a much better place

[pornoshop]

I love the Beatles stuff, but don't like any of the other bands listed - maybe the did and still do just appeal to more people's taste?


A real quality and broad range of songs in their back catalogue

[Flat_Eric]

Sergeant Pepper's = Emperor's New Clothes.

- Eric

[max_tranmere]

People have the impression today that everything the Beatles did was thought very highly of and they were in demand like nobody's business. The truth is rather different. When they returned to the USA to play Shea Stadium for a second time (the first gig there was a year earlier I think) they couldn't even sell-out the venue. Also some of their later albums (the ones we now view as the best albums ever) got mediocre reviews.

In the 1990's the three remaining Beatles reunited a few times. I remember an interview in Q Magazine where they said "we love each other!". I think the reason they had the desire to start associating again was because of the now god-like status they had which, as I said earlier, is because of Lennon's death. To have a situation where the thing can never be done again means people look back on everything the four of them did and view it as being of extreme importance. There are books written about the Beatles listing EVERYTHING they did. Things like: "on Tuesday of the third week of the recording of Sgt Pepper the session started an hour and half late because Ringo had a dentist's appointment". Stuff like that. I think they would be viewed similar to The Rolling Stones now had it not been for the fact a key member died - in other words a huge band but not quite as legendary as they are now regarded.

I don't think George Harrison had really any interest in knowing Paul McCartney again after the band split. Harrison was said to often have been McCartney's lackey in the band, bossed around by him and only occasionally allowed to write songs. Harrison was still critical of McCartney in interviews as late as the 1980's. But constant discussion of this now legendary band, now that the band could never exist again as it originally did, endless media coverage, etc, I think made them feel compelled to start up an association again. If all four Beatles were still alive the band wouldn't be thought of as being as legendary as they are now regarded and the four would have had very little to do with each other over the last 40 years.