The Beatles were a band.
John Winston Ono Lennon , ( born John Winston Lennon ; 9 October 19408 December 1980 ) was an English guitarist , singer , and songwriter who co-founded the Beatles , the most commercially successful and musically influential band in the history of popular music . `` Love Me Do '' is the debut single by the English rock band the Beatles , backed by `` P.S. I Love You '' . Randolph Peter `` Pete '' Best ( born Randolph Peter Scanland , 24 November 1941 ) is an English musician , principally known as an original member and first drummer of the Beatles , from 1960 to 1962 . The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960 . The core of Lennon , McCartney and Harrison went through a succession of drummers , including Pete Best , before asking Starr to join them in 1962 .