The Beatles

Joey Molland (1947–2025), last surviving member of Badfinger

Joey Molland was an English guitarist and songwriter with Badfinger, who carried on the band for years after its other core members died.

Edward Sexton (1942–2023), tailor who helped define British rock style

Edward Sexton was a tailor and fashion designer whose work, sometimes in collaboration with Tommy Nutter, helped define the look and style of late 1960s and early 1970s British rock.

Dick Biondi (1932–2023), Chicago DJ who played the Beatles first 

Dick Biondi was a legendary Chicago radio DJ who, in 1963, played the first Beatles song heard on U.S. radio.

Royston Ellis (1941–2023), Beatles-connected beat poet 

Royston Ellis began as a poet in the so-called Beat Generation, with a career spanning the 1950s through the 2010s. His primary claim to fame may be his connection to The Beatles, and to John Lennon in particular, but he also wrote dozens of books on travel, works of fiction, biographies, and poetry. 

Gerald Potterton (1931–2022), “Heavy Metal” director 

Gerald Potterton was a director and animator best known for directing the 1981 animated cult classic film “Heavy Metal.”

Maureen Cleave (1934–2021), music journalist who covered the Beatles

Maureen Cleave was a music journalist who was a confidante of the Beatles, having written about them since their early days of fame.

Lizzie Bravo (1951–2021), Beatles fan who sang on “Across the Universe”

Lizzie Bravo was a Beatles fan who was invited by the band to sing backing vocals as they recorded “Across the Universe” in 1968.

Phil Spector (1939–2021), influential record producer convicted of murder

Phil Spector was a record producer who worked with artists including the Beatles and Ike & Tina Turner. At the time of his death, he was serving a prison sentence of 19 years to life for the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

Gerry Marsden (1942–2021), Gerry and the Pacemakers singer

Gerry Marsden was the lead singer of the British Invasion band Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Margaret Nolan (1943–2020), actress in “Goldfinger,” “A Hard Day’s Night”

Margaret Nolan was a British actress known for films including “Goldfinger,” in which she was painted gold and wore a gold bikini for the iconic title sequence.

Emitt Rhodes (1950–2020), power pop pioneer

Emitt Rhodes was a beloved power pop pioneer with a strong cult following whose song styling was compared to Paul McCartney.   

Astrid Kirchherr (1938–2020), Beatles’ friend and photographer

Astrid Kirchherr was a close friend and photographer of the Beatles who was once engaged to former Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe.

Wes Wilson (1937–2020), leading 1960s rock concert poster artist

Wes Wilson was a pioneering rock concert poster artist who created posters for leading 1960s San Francisco psychedelic rock bands including the Grateful Dead and the Jefferson Airplane. He created a recognizable concert poster style with a psychedelic font that made it appear as if the letters were moving. Based in San Francisco during the flower power movement, he designed posters for Bill Graham’s famous Fillmore and for many local bands such as the Quicksilver Messenger Service. Wilson designed the poster for the Beatles' final concert held at Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966.

Neil Innes (1944–2019), Monty Python comedian who co-created The Rutles

Neil Innes was a comedian, writer, and songwriter best known for collaborating with the Monty Python team. He wrote songs and sketches for their TV show, “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” and he wrote and performed songs on some of the comedy troupe’s albums. Innes played several small roles in the movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” — the leader of Sir Robin’s minstrels, a serf crushed by the Trojan Rabbit, the leader of the chanting monks, and more — as well as writing the songs “Knights of the Round Table” and “Brave Sir Robin.” He also had small roles in “Monty Python’s Life of Brian” and Python member Terry Gilliam’s “Jabberwocky,” and he had his own show on British TV, “The Innes Book of Records.” Innes was a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, who were featured in the Beatles’ movie “Magical Mystery Tour,” and the Rutles.

Robert Freeman (1936 – 2019), photographer for Beatles albums

Robert Freeman was a British photographer best known for his album cover work with the Beatles.

Joe Flannery (2019), the Beatles' booking manager who helped launch their career

Joe Flannery was the Beatles booking manger from 1962 until 1963 and a key figure in the band’s early days. He was a childhood friend of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Flannery’s apartment was a second home for many Merseyside bands, the Beatles would often sleepathe reand Flannery would drive them home the next day. He wrote a book titled “Standing in the Wings: The Beatles, Brian Epstein and Me,” about his time with the Beatles. In the book, he recalled giving George Harrison driving lessons.aa

Geoff Emerick (1945–2018), Beatles chief sound engineer

The man behind the board for “Revolver,” “Abbey Road,” and “Sgt. Pepper’s.”

The Summer Rock Went Dark

Fifty years ago, the sunny optimism of the Summer of Love yielded to a darker season—the Summer of '68.

The 50th Anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (video)

A video tribute to the creation of the legendary album.

Stu Sutcliffe and the Beatles

Stuart Sutcliffehas often been called the "Fifth Beatle," but in reality he was the fourth.

Grammy Flashback: Album of the Year (video)

A video tribute to some of the most beloved Grammy winners.

Allan Williams (1930 - 2016), first manager of the Beatles

Allan Williams, the first manager of the Beatles, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 86.

Beatle Number Five, Brian Epstein

Brian Epstein went from running a record store to managing the biggest band the world had ever known.

Sir George Martin (1926 - 2016), record producer known as the Fifth Beatle

Sir George Martin, the British record producer also known as the Fifth Beatle, has died. He was 90.

Angus Scrimm (1926 - 2016)

Angus Scrimm, a character actor best known for playing the frightening “Tall Man” in the "Phantasm" horror films, has died at the age of 89.

Andy White (1930–2015)

Drummer known for playing on the Beatles' first single "Love Me Do."

Ed Sullivan: Civil Rights Trailblazer

For more than 20 years, most Americans knew what they were doing on Sunday nights: watching "The Ed Sullivan Show" on CBS, eager to see which new talent or old favorite it's host would bring to the stage that week. Ed Sullivan, who died Oct. 13, 1974, 40 years ago, introduced more than 10,000 acts between 1948 and 1971.

The Multitalented Billy Preston

Keyboardist could play it all—gospel and rock, classical and punk, show tunes, country, blues and funk—and he did just that, either on his own or alongside some of the biggest names in music. During his storied career, which was cut short when he , 2006 at age 59, Preston recorded with the likes of the Rolling Stones, , Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, , and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others. He earned the moniker "the Fifth Beatle" because he is the only musician to share label credit with —on 1969's "Get Back."

Linda McCartney and Wings

Linda McCartney died April 17, 1998, of breast cancer at 56. We remember the activist and songwriter...

George Harrison’s Best Beatles Songs

Though John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the vast majority of Beatles’ tunes, George Harrison proved his compositional chops whenever he had the chance. On his birthday, we look back on his some of his best-loved Beatles songs.

Ravi Shankar's Rock 'n' Roll

We remember the sitar master who influenced countless musicians from the Beatles to John Coltrane.

George Harrison’s Musical Legacy

George Harrison died 10 years ago today, but his music still plays a part in the soundtrack of our lives.

Jane Scott, 92, one of America’s first and longest-working rock music critics

Jane Scott became the first rock ‘n’ roll reporter in Cleveland, Ohio, after covering The Beatles’ first visit to Northeast Ohio in 1964.