The band's earliest influences include Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry, an artist whose songs they covered more often than any other in performances throughout their career. During their co-residency with Little Richard at the Star..
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The band's earliest influences include Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry, an artist whose songs they covered more often than any other in performances throughout their career. During their co-residency with Little Richard at the Star Club in Hamburg from April to May 1962, friendships were formed and the singer gave advice regarding techniques for performing his songs. Of Presley, Lennon said, "Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been Elvis, there would not have been The Beatles": Other early influences include Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison. The Beatles continued to absorb influences long after their initial success, often finding new musical and lyrical avenues by listening to their contemporaries, including Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa (Freak Out!), the Byrds, and the Beach Boys, whose album Pet Sounds amazed and inspired McCartney. Martin stated that "Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper wouldn't have happened... Pepper was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds." less
