The Beatles are widely regarded as the most influential and important band of all time. They are the best-selling artist in the history of modern music. Part of what made the Beatles so special was the chemistry that was held between the four members of the group. Their collective strengths propelled them into global fame – there has not been another act since the Beatles that has carried the same importance in music history.
The Beatles were comprised of four members (hence the name “Fab Four”). John Lennon was their rhythm guitarist and co-lead singer/songwriter; Paul McCartney played bass guitar and was also a co-lead singer/songwriter; George Harrison was their lead guitarist and occasional songwriter, and Ringo Starr was the drummer. The songwriting partnership of Lennon and McCartney remains the most successful in the history of modern music.
The Beatles were known to frequently experiment with their musical ideas. Just compare an album such as A Hard Day’s Night with Sgt. Peppers to hear how much their style changed in just a few short years. However, their experimentation did not end with just music. From the early days of their career and onward, the Beatles frequently experimented with drugs and substances.
In the early years of their career, they played for many hours at a time, and they would often take stimulants to help them stay energized during long sets. The Beatles would frequently take Preludin to help them keep up their energy that is required to play for hours and hours. They also have been known to use “uppers” or amphetamines to get through 16 hours of performing at a time.
Although the Beatles took these substances to keep up with their demanding schedule, they did not smoke pot (marijuana) until they met Bob Dylan after becoming famous. In 1964, they met Bob Dylan and tried marijuana for the first time. This was a totally novel and essentially life-changing experience for the Beatles, and pot would become a major influence on their future recordings, specifically the psychedelic ones that were soon to follow in the coming years during the mid to late 1960s.
By the mid 1960s, the Beatles were in full “experimentation” mode – in every sense of the word. They were creating psychedelic music (ex: Tomorrow Never Knows, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite), and while they were creating those masterpieces, they were experimenting with drugs beyond marijuana. By the mid 60s, the Beatles began experimenting with psychedelics. Specifically, Lennon started using LSD. Over time, all members of the band used LSD. The mind-altering effects of LSD certainly played a major role in shaping those completely original and somewhat odd (although great) songs such as I Am the Walrus, and It’s All Too Much.
Later on, when John met his next wife, Yoko Ono, he began experimenting with other substances. John has been known to have used heroin quite often, along with cocaine in the 1970s. Ringo Starr is also known to have experimented with cocaine. Through hard work and dedication, Ringo Starr has been sober since October 1988, following years of severe alcohol use. He credits his time in rehab as lifesaving, and he is now, at 85 years old, in good health. He has adopted healthy routines and habits – such as practicing yoga, mediation, and exercising regularly.
The Beatles wrote over 200 songs in a very short amount of time. Their first album came out in 1963, and their last album was recorded in 1969 (released in 1970). While they engaged in substance use and experimentation, they never tried to push this onto their fans of suggest that their fans should try these hard drugs. It was something the Beatles did privately, and they did not suggest that their fans should do the same. It has now been over 55 years since the Beatles broke up, and they are still, and will always be, the most important band in music history.
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