The Beatles is a band that needs no introduction. In the 1960s, they took the music world by storm with their groundbreaking albums and unforgettable hits. But have you ever wondered how they chose their name? Surprisingly, it was all thanks to a simple pun.
Where Did the Beatles Get Their Name?
The Beatles got their start in the late 1950s in Liverpool, England. At that time, they were known as the Quarrymen—a name taken from their school, the Quarry Bank Grammar School. In 1960, they changed their name to the Silver Beetles after drummer Pete Best joined the band. However, they only used this name for a few months before settling on the Beatles in August of that same year.
So where did the name “Beatles” come from? According to John Lennon, it was all thanks to a simple pun. The band was considering naming themselves after another insect-themed band at the time, the Crickets. However, they decided to change the spelling to “beat” as a pun on musical beats. And thus, one of the most iconic band names in history was born.
Interestingly enough, there was another band called the Beatals who were active in Germany at around the same time as the Beatles. This led to some confusion early on, with both bands being mislabeled as imitators of each other. However, the Beatals disbanded in 1962 while the Beatles’ career was just beginning to take off. As a result, any confusion between the two groups quickly faded into memory.
Conclusion
The next time you hear one of the Beatles’ classic hits on the radio, remember that their quirky name came about thanks to a simple pun. Although it may seem like an obvious choice in retrospect, it’s amazing how such an iconic name came about so randomly. If John Lennon and his bandmates had chosen differently back in 1960, who knows what would have become of them?
