Guardian Music — The strange, atmospheric and unassuming song was recorded in two versions, wasn't meant to be the first single and was a delayed hit in the US. So what's the appeal of Love Me Do?It was 50 years ago today. There in the Parlophone schedule, next to th... more info

Popdose — Over the years, certain television programs became iconic because of their historical value—the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, Elvis Presley’s 1968 “comeback” special, Nirvana on MTV Unplugged. Others have been forgotten, even though they d... more info

Guardian Music — Hunter Davies gets up on the roof to mark the global resurgence of BeatlemaniaI'll be going on the roof at 3 Savile Row on Friday afternoon, so I told my younger daughter and my two grandchildren. "For obvious reasons," I added.They all looked blank.... more info

Guardian Music — Fifty years ago a little-known band released a single that, while far from their greatest, heralded the start of a legendary eraIn September 1962, the Beatles went into EMI's Abbey Road studios in north London to record their first single. The A-side... more info

Guardian Music — From from the British Pathé newsreel archive, Jon Savage unearths footage of the hip young band who rode the trad jazz wave in 1962, inspired by the Original Dixieland Jazz BandReading this on mobile? Watch clip hereThis is a charming period piece, ... more info

ContactMusic — Beatles legend Ringo Starr has warned fans against buying an "unauthorised" book about his life because he is "not participating" in the project.New... more info

Guardian Music — In an extract from a new anthology of Beatles-based writing from the Guardian and the Observer, Stanley Reynolds turns his investigative eye on a new four-piece band from LiverpoolOn 5 October 1962, the Beatles released their first single, Love Me Do... more info

Guardian Music — Screaming fans, cheeky-chappy grins and floppy fringes: it can only be the Beatles in this 1963 archive footage of a gig in Manchester more info

Guardian Music — Beatles wigs were a hot gift for Christmas as the Fab Four burst on to the scene, as this 1963 archive clip of a visit to a factory making the mop-top wigs shows more info

Guardian Music — Fiona MacCarthy on the making of a countercultural heroTo those of us who were there, and can remember it all too vividly, the 60s was a time when almost anything seemed possible. The chrysalis miraculously turned into the butterfly and flittered in... more info