Fifty years after the Beatles' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, it remains the most-watched television event in history. When the Beatles burst onto the scene, they charmed the public with their mop-top haircuts, their playful wit, and their sweetly romantic rock songs—igniting Beatlemania, an intense fandom unlike any before.
Most bands would be thrilled with this success, but the Beatles wanted more. Their growth as musicians ultimately changed rock and roll into a respected art form—but their conquest of the music world was just the beginning. The band's hit movies changed the way films are made, even to this day. Loyal fans around the world followed and copied what the Beatles wore, where they traveled, and what they believed. These four lads from Liverpool reflected and shaped the 1960s, one of the most tumultuous decades in recent history.
Perfect for Beatles fans and history fans alike, award-winning author Martin W. Sandler's stunning full-color photo-essay captures the Beatles' unique influence for a whole new generation of readers.
