The Beatles and the British Invasion. The Beatles, a group from Liverpool, England, returned excitement to rock 'n' roll in the early 1960's. They made the music more popular than ever and more respected artistically. Their witty and sophisticated music made the sentimental rock of the time seem tame and old-fashioned.
The Beatles consisted of George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. Their first British hit was "Love Me Do" in 1962. Their American breakthrough came with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1964. Both hits were written by Lennon and McCartney, who eventually established themselves as the most popular songwriting team in rock's history.
Beatlemania was the term generally used to describe the excitement generated by the Beatles. It affected society in a number of ways. Teen-age boys began growing their hair longer to copy the Beatles. Teen-age girls screamed so loudly during the band's concerts that it was impossible to hear the music. At first, many parents feared the effects of Beatlemania. But the personal charm and musical appeal of the band soon conquered older listeners.
The Beatles turned rock 'n' roll from an American-dominated musical style into an international phenomenon. Soon after the Beatles hit the United States, popular music charts became filled with songs by British bands that wrote and played their own music. The British bands replaced American solo singers, such as Fabian and Frankie Avalon, who relied primarily on outside songwriters and musicians.
Excerpt from the "Rock music" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999