From 1963, the Beatles provided one of the first opportunities for female teenagers in Britain to exhibit spending power and publicly express sexual desire, while the group's image suggested a disregard for adults' opinions and

Germany, Japan and the Philippines
After spending three months away from the public eye in early 1966, the Beatles were eager to depart from the formula imposed on them as pop stars, both in their music and in their presentation. Their first full group activity of

1. ^ Lennon's son Julian was born on 8 April 1963. Lennon visited the hospital to see his wife and meet his new son for the first time, but he attempted to disguise himself to prevent people in the hospital from recognising him.
2. ^ Ed Sullivan was also among those held up at

"Please Please Me" and first UK tours
The Beatles attracted a fan frenzy in the north of England since the start of the 1960s. Beatles historian

US breakthrough and "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
EMI owned Capitol Records, but Capitol had declined to issue any of the band's singles in the US for most of the

Response to revamped image and retirement from touring
The Beatles gave no more commercial concerts from the end of

• The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – 2016 documentary film on the Beatles' touring years
• Apple scruffs – a loosely knit group of Beatles fans who were