The Beatles: The Biography by Bob Spitz

Here’s my Beatles story. I knew about them before you did. In September of 1963 two brothers returned to our college from a year in England. They came back with strange haircuts, thick mops of hair that covered their ears and foreheads. A scandalous look. All they could talk about was a group called The Beatles. We all thought the brothers looked weird and didn’t give a hoot about The Beatles who everyone thought were “the beetles.” By February of 1964 when The Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan most of us had heard of them and the entire population of our small dormitory crowded into the housemother’s (a quaint phenomenon of the past) quarters to watch the show. I was underwhelmed, continued to listen to my roommate’s jazz albums, graduated, joined the Air Force, was discharged, started a family and a job and thus, unfortunately, missed the entire 60’s. I didn’t pay much attention to The Beatles’ story. I heard the music. Linda played it constantly and wished she was a hippie or, at least, a “bird”. I knew they were John, Paul, George and Ringo. I saw Hard Day’s Night. Was amused at their adventures with the Maharishi. Was aware of the evil Yoko. Felt bad when John was murdered; but kind of lost track of them after that. Didn’t follow Wings. Ignored George until he died of cancer. Yet The Beattles have always been there, music for my personal sound track, since 1963. We’ve played Beatles music constantly over the years and now, with the invention of the iPod, I probably have ten Beattles albums close at hand. Since I’ve finished Bob Spitz’s intense biography of The Beatles I’m totally caught up. Will get an A on the Beatles pop quiz. Can name the ex-Beatles, the near Beatles, the fifth Beatles, the wives, the muses, the managers, the lovers, the entourage, the dope, the booze, the tours, the producers and emprassarios, the charlatans, the songs and situations. Mr. Spitz is comprehensive and details the evolution of The Beatles from childhood to the painful breakup of their most successful musical partnership. Afterall, The Beatles story is a story of partnership and I can relate to that aspect of it having been in a business partnership that had a breakup. I find that my partnership story is very similar to The Beatles—that is if you take out the music, the girls, the dope, the booze, the world travel and the money. Their’s is a great story. Stranger than fiction. A fascinating tale of ambition, talent, karma and tragedy. The Beatles: the Biography by Bob Spitz is a compelling read, well-researched and well-written. A page turner that helps explain the music of this unique group.  Read a more detailed review here.