The Beatles Family Tree

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Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

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The Beatles are easily one of the most influential bands in music. They were the most important band at a time when rock ‘n’ roll became rock. Despite being extremely un-metal they would be a big influence on many metal bands. Rather it was future metal musicians growing up hearing The Beatles or later metal musicians being exposed to The Beatles through their parents, hearing The Beatles was basically inescapable. By the time The Beatles became a recording band they had settled into the line up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Star. The vast majority of music would be written by Lennon and McCartney with occasional songs being written by Harrison.

Big Bill Broonzy

Big Bill Broonzy was an early blues guitarist/singer. Paul named him as an influence.

Big Bill Broonzy was an early blues guitarist/singer. Paul named him as an influence.

Ravi Shankar

Ravi Shankar was a classical Indian sitar player. He was a big influence on George. George said after he discovered Indian music he would only play sitar and only pick the guitar up again to do a record.

Ravi Shankar was a classical Indian sitar player. He was a big influence on George. George said after he discovered Indian music he would only play sitar and only pick the guitar up again to do a record.

Little Richard is one of the most important rock ‘n’ rollers. He played a piano led style of rock ‘n’ roll. Paul named him as an influence. John was inspired by him and did a medley of songs made famous by Little Richard on his cover album.

Little Richard is one of the most important rock ‘n’ rollers. He played a piano led style of rock ‘n’ roll. Paul named him as an influence. John was inspired by him and did a medley of songs made famous by Little Richard on his cover album.

Bill Haley and His Comets

Bill Haley and His Comets are possibly the first Rock ‘n’ Roll bands who took the jump blues style into new era with guitar led music rather than the predominately brass led instruments of jump blues. Paul named them as an influence.

Bill Haley and His Comets are possibly the first Rock ‘n’ Roll bands who took the jump blues style into new era with guitar led music rather than the predominately brass led instruments of jump blues. Paul named them as an influence.

Lloyd Price

Lloyd Price was a R&B / Rock ‘n’ Roll / Swing singer. He was covered by John on his Rock ‘n’ Roll album.

Lloyd Price was a R&B / Rock ‘n’ Roll / Swing singer. He was covered by John on his Rock ‘n’ Roll album.

Elvis is so famous he doesn’t really need an introduction. Paul named him as one of his biggest influences up till Elvis joined the Army. John also named early Elvis as an influence. John was obsessed with being like Elvis after first hearing him.

Elvis is so famous he doesn’t really need an introduction. Paul named him as one of his biggest influences up till Elvis joined the Army. John also named early Elvis as an influence. John was obsessed with being like Elvis after first hearing him.

Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry is one of the most important rock ‘n’ roll players and probably the quintessential rock ‘n’ roller. Paul named him as an influence. John was also influenced by Chuck and covered him on Rock ‘'n’ Roll.

Chuck Berry is one of the most important rock ‘n’ roll players and probably the quintessential rock ‘n’ roller. Paul named him as an influence. John was also influenced by Chuck and covered him on Rock ‘'n’ Roll.

Fats Domino

Fats Domino was did boogie, Rock ‘n’ roll and R&B. John named him as an influence and covered him on his Rock ‘n’ Roll album.

Fats Domino was did boogie, Rock ‘n’ roll and R&B. John named him as an influence and covered him on his Rock ‘n’ Roll album.

Gene Vincent

Gene Vincent was a rock ‘n’ roll player on the country side of the spectrum. Paul named him as an influence. John said one of the first songs he sang was a Gene Vincent song and one of his favorites, “Be bop a lula”.

Gene Vincent was a rock ‘n’ roll player on the country side of the spectrum. Paul named him as an influence. John said one of the first songs he sang was a Gene Vincent song and one of his favorites, “Be bop a lula”.

Carl Perkins

Carl Perkins was a country / rock ‘n’ roll player. John named him as an influence.

Carl Perkins was a country / rock ‘n’ roll player. John named him as an influence.

Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison was a country, rock, pop singer best known for some of his pop and rock hits. John was influenced by him.

Roy Orbison was a country, rock, pop singer best known for some of his pop and rock hits. John was influenced by him.

Buddy Holly and the Crickets

Buddy Holly and the Crickets were a rock ‘n’ roll band. Paul said That Buddy was a big influence on them. John covered them on his Rock ‘n’ Roll album.

Buddy Holly and the Crickets were a rock ‘n’ roll band. Paul said That Buddy was a big influence on them. John covered them on his Rock ‘n’ Roll album.

Ray Charles

Ray Charles was the pioneer of soul music. Paul named him as an influence.

Ray Charles was the pioneer of soul music. Paul named him as an influence.

Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke was an R&B / Soul singer. John covered him in a medley on Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Sam Cooke was an R&B / Soul singer. John covered him in a medley on Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Larry Williams

Larry Williams was a R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll singer. John covered him.

Larry Williams was a R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll singer. John covered him.

Bobby Freeman

Bobby Freeman was an R&B / pop singer. John covered him on his Rock ‘n’ Roll album.

Bobby Freeman was an R&B / pop singer. John covered him on his Rock ‘n’ Roll album.

Jerry Lee Lewis was on the country side of the spectrum of rock ‘n’ roll. He was a piano player ans singer. John named him as an influence.

Jerry Lee Lewis was on the country side of the spectrum of rock ‘n’ roll. He was a piano player ans singer. John named him as an influence.

Ben E. King

Ben E. King was an R&B singer. John covered his song “Stand By Me” on his cover album.

Ben E. King was an R&B singer. John covered his song “Stand By Me” on his cover album.

Lee Dorsey

Lee Dorsey was a R&B / Soul / Funk Singer covered by John on Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Lee Dorsey was a R&B / Soul / Funk Singer covered by John on Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Your’re not wrong, Jimi Hendrix wasn’t playing till after The Beatles were. Jimi didn’t just influence the people after him but the older musicians as well. Paul said after seeing Jimi he went out and bought a guitar that would feed back to get a …

Your’re not wrong, Jimi Hendrix wasn’t playing till after The Beatles were. Jimi didn’t just influence the people after him but the older musicians as well. Paul said after seeing Jimi he went out and bought a guitar that would feed back to get a more Hendrix type sound.

There are influences not listed here that are often named in biographies, but as stated before, I’m not using anything that I haven’t heard the band say themselves.

Paul said when he was growing up country and was very popular in Liverpool, that and Irish folk were also an influence on him.

Paul said he was influenced by American stuff from Phil Spector, Motown, Stax, and Blues. In another interview he talks about liking disco and reggae.

Paul was influenced by his dad’s piano playing. He said he learned how to harmonize from him. He said growing up he didn’t hear much classical music. His dad was a jazz player and would turn off classical music when it came on the radio. He did say he listened to Bach when he was in The Beatles though.

John Lennon did a cover album Rock ‘n’ Roll full of favorite songs from people who influenced him. He said many of the songs were ones he was singing as a teenager.

George says he is strongly influenced by Indian music. He also talks about not wanting to write a ton of meaningless songs which probably has a lot to do with him writing a relatively small amount of songs. Other than that I haven’t found him talking about earlier influences.

Bands influenced by The Beatles!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

One of the most influential bands on heavy metal.

One of the most influential bands on heavy metal.

Influential rock / hard rockers

Influential rock / hard rockers

Blues Rock Texans

Blues Rock Texans

The gleefully important hard rock / heavy metal Scorpions.

The gleefully important hard rock / heavy metal Scorpions.

The Metal Gods!

The Metal Gods!

Legendary!

Legendary!

Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Legends

Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Legends

Influential NWOBHM

Influential NWOBHM

The Beatles were the whole reason Ozzy ever wanted to sing.

The Beatles were the whole reason Ozzy ever wanted to sing.

Industrial Metal Pioneers

Industrial Metal Pioneers

Bay Area Heavy Metal

Bay Area Heavy Metal

Ronnie James Dio named The Beatles as one of his favorites when he was young.

Ronnie James Dio named The Beatles as one of his favorites when he was young.

German fathers of Power Metal

German fathers of Power Metal

German Speed, Power and more

German Speed, Power and more

Fronted by Thrash Father Dave Mustaine

Thrash legends, Alex was inspired by The Beatles.

Thrash legends, Alex was inspired by The Beatles.

Phoenix Thrashers

Phoenix Thrashers

Bay Area Thrashers

Bay Area Thrashers

Fathers of Sludge

Fathers of Sludge

Sludge classic

Sludge classic

Classic Death Metal.

Classic Death Metal.

Fathers of Groove

Fathers of Groove

Industrial groove

Industrial groove

Heavy and Power metalers.

Heavy and Power metalers.

Metal-core with a mix of other influences.

Metal-core with a mix of other influences.

Forerunners of new wave thrash

Forerunners of new wave thrash

Melodic Death rooted before evolving to a more modern style.

Melodic Death rooted before evolving to a more modern style.

Progressive Death

Progressive Death

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xjo1eEgeew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CQ0XSVIIg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEbXPnQ435A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub_Ndas3Fgw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzxoTCNnMSs
https://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4145016-paul-mccartney-discusses-his-inspirations-guitars-and-ram-with-mansuns-paul-draper-part-2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9_77OjVmlU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8YQk-5oHcg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IQ-5l7ERHs
https://daytrippin.com/2018/10/08/john-lennons-lifelong-obsession-with-elvis-presley/
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-early-beatles-hit-john-lennon-said-was-his-crack-at-a-roy-orbison-song.html/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KDBOxCRT_M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA33K0YbGgg