The Beatles were together as the classic lineup-John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr-for about 7 years, 7 months, and 24 days, from August 18, 1962 (when Ringo joined) until April 10, 1970 (when Paul McCartney publicly announced the band's breakup)
. However, the band's origins go back earlier: John Lennon and Paul McCartney started playing together in 1958, and the group that would become The Beatles formed in 1960, with various lineup changes before Ringo Starr joined in 1962
. Counting from their formation in 1960 to their breakup in 1970, The Beatles were active for about a decade
. In summary:
- As the "classic" Beatles lineup: about 7 years and 7 months (1962–1970)
- From formation to breakup: roughly 10 years (1960–1970)
The shorter official timeline is often used because Ringo Starr's joining solidified the band’s most famous lineup, while the longer timeline accounts for their early years and evolution before mainstream fame.
