David Hatch and Stephen Millward

The Beatles are widely considered to be the most influential group in the history of rock. In the following excerpt from their book From Blues to Rock: An Analytical History of Pop Music, David Hatch and Stephen Millward explain how the Liverpool band created a new type of British music that stood apart from its American predecessors. According to the authors, the Beatles were influenced first by 1950s stars such as Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry and then by contemporary rhythm and blues. However, by 1965 the Beatles had ceased covering songs and were instead recording original music that emphasized their unique vocal and instrumental style. Their new approach inspired their peers and led to a changing relationship between American and British music.