Sometimes people find a way to put a deep impact on society and when their time has come and gone, they usually are remembered as a legend of their time. When John, Paul, George, and their new drummer Ringo first began playing small gigs throughout Europe, I don't think any of them ever imagined the success and impact that they would have on the rest of the world. The lifespan of the Beatles lasted from 1962-1970, which compared to many other breakthrough rock groups was a pretty short time frame. However,during that time The Beatles released 18 U.S. studio albums and 13 U.K Albums and garnered 70 hits on the Hot 100 billboard charts.
Yet, almost 40 years after The Beatles disbanded they still remain one of the most popular and widely appreciated music groups of the 20th century. Many musicians cite the Beatles as a major inspiration to their music and the hype over yesterday's releases of Beatles' Rock Band and the digitally remastered Beatles song catalog shows that Beatlemania, while not strong, is still breathing steadily. As a die hard Beatles fan, I sometimes have to ask why is that? The Beatles never put on a concert like Led Zeppelin or Queen. Although he definitely had the capability, George never tried to wing a sick guitar solo like Clapton and Jimmy Page. Ringo's only recorded drum solo during his career the Beatles is the end of the Golden Slumbers Suite on Abbey Road. If that's the case, then why are the Beatles still making an impact on the world long after their inevitable breakup? It's because of us, the fans.
I sometimes wonder what it must feel for Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to wake up knowing that they probably have the greatest fan base we have ever seen. When the Beatles played at Shea Stadium in 1965, most bands would consider that to be their big break. However, for the Beatles that concert established them as legends and it would serve as a major pivotal point for them. The Beatles had already achieved the hard part,which was to make an impact on the United States. After that it was really the fans, who took over on the impact that the Beatles would have on the rest of the world. As the Beatles moved away from the touring scene and went into the studio, the fans began having an even greater impact on the Beatles popularity. Even when people started burning Beatles albums after misinterpreting a quote from John Lennon, which implied the Beatles were bigger than Jesus, was short lived after Lennon's explanation. The truth is we still care about the Beatles long after they ever did. Of course, when you look at the success of the Beatles, you have to acknowledge that they had perfect timing from the day Ringo replaced Pete until the day it was announced that the Beatles have officially disbanded. It's easy to think of the Beatles success as the process of metamorphosis. The Beatles managed to evolve and transform as time went on and in the end, they went out just like they came in. However, as long as we have the fans, who remind us of the impact the Beatles have left on us, then the Beatles will continue to prosper and grow, not just as legends, but as a cultural pinpoint of modern society.
This has been Ian Feldman speaking words of wisdom... Let It be
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