When Did the Beatles Become a Band?

The Beatles officially formed as a band in Liverpool, England, in 1960. The core lineup of the band consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Pete Best. Lennon and McCartney had been performing together since 1957 as part of a skiffle group called The Quarrymen, but the formation of The Beatles marked the beginning of their professional collaboration as a band.

The name "The Beatles" was adopted in August 1960, shortly before their first trip to Hamburg, Germany, to perform at clubs in the city's nightlife district. Over the next few years, The Beatles honed their musical skills and developed their distinctive sound through extensive live performances in Liverpool, Hamburg, and other cities in the United Kingdom and Europe.

The early years of The Beatles were marked by numerous lineup changes, with Stuart Sutcliffe leaving the band in 1961 and Pete Best being replaced by Ringo Starr as the drummer in 1962. By the time of their breakthrough success in 1963 with the release of their first #1 single, "Please Please Me," The Beatles had solidified their lineup and established themselves as one of the most promising bands in the burgeoning British music scene.