Beatles FAQ

Liverpool was heavily bombed in 1940 Contrary to Aunt Mimi’s later recollection, John Lennon was not born during an air-raid. The shadow of the Second World War was, however, very apparent at his birth. 

Always intensely competitive, The Beatles monitored the output of their rivals closely. None came close to matching their commercial success but this was not the only criteria that mattered to them. Above all The Beatles wanted to remain ahead of their peers. Of their direct competitors Bob Dylan loomed largest. Though slightly younger than them, Dylan released his second album  The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in May 1963. From its casual cover to the rebellious themes of its songs ('Blowing in the Wind, Times they are a changing, Masters of War etc) its seemed to throw down the gauntlet to the establishment.  Though many assumed Dylan was posing a political challenge, the deeper resonance was cultural. The key word in the title Freewhelin' expressed seemed like a direct challenge to the previous 'greatest' generation. They had gone to war to defend freedom - here was a young man clearly enjoying it. He had his girl and his guitar - and he wasn't settling down anyti...