Most, if not all, bands evolve as their careers trek on. Burgeoning outfits can often be a little naive–swept along with the fame machine and doing what they can to hang on for dear life. When you’re trying to make it in the music industry, there often is a bit of compromise you have to do. Though purists might deem that “selling out,” it’s a familiar exchange for a lot of artists–Even the Beatles, according to John Lennon.
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Lennon once said that he felt the Fab Four had to fabricate themselves a bit in order to “leave Liverpool.” Find out why, below.
John Lennon Felt the Beatles Had to Compromise Their Truth Early On–Here’s Why
Oh, please, say to me
You’ll let me be your man
And please, say to me
You’ll let me hold your hand
You’ll let me hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
Though talent should be what takes you to the top, there are other factors at play. Curating the right image is important for every artist, whether it’s heavily fabricated or not. We all have a public perception one way or another. At times, it’s that perception that gets an artist noticed above all their peers.
According to Lennon, the Beatles had to “compromise” when it came to their image early on. He claimed that the band wasn’t as authentic as they were later on in their career. Mostly, because they didn’t have the power to be.
“We weren’t as open and as truthful when we didn’t have the power to be,” Lennon once said. “We had to take it easy. We had to shorten our hair to leave Liverpool and get jobs in London. We had to wear suits to get on TV. We had to compromise.”
“We had to get hooked, as well, to get in and then sort of get a bit of power and say, ‘This is what we’re like,’” he added. “We had to falsify a bit, even if we didn’t realize it at the time.”
The early years of the Beatles were certainly less complicated than their latter years. Their music became more charged with social commentary, drug references, and other more mature themes. Their look became less polished–although the mop tops already caused quite the stir. Though we’re glad they evolved as a band and came into their own, we have a fondness for those early years. Despite having to fake it a bit until they made it, there is something comforting about the Beatles as burgeoning rockers.
Yeah, you got that somethin’
I think you’ll understand
When I feel that somethin’
I want to hold your hand
(Photo by Reg Lewis/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
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