The life of the Beatles was filled with edge-defying celebrity extravagance. They were proponents of the swinging 60s, and even in appearances, the young moptops were setting the style of a generation. But there was more to the four of them than effortless cool – their success also demanded a hardworking stamina that extended beyond the stage and into their personal lives. Whether it be the long hours spent in the studio, or the discomfort of countless press interviews, the band members faced it as one. However, entertaining the idea of the Beatles ‘fixing’ themselves brings a curious topic into the conversation. Did the Beatles get their teeth fixed?
The answer to this question is a simple one. Yes, the Beatles did get their teeth fixed. While the standard for oral health care in the 1960s was lower than it is now, it wasn’t rare for people to get cosmetic dentistry. For the Beatles, the commitment to look good was so strong that they invested in extensive and costly dental treatments.
One of the most expensive cosmetic changes to the Beatles’ teeth was the process of bleaching. While bleaching was a relatively established treatment when the Beatles were coming onto the music scene, it was no less expensive then, as it is now. Band members underwent a lengthy series of sessions in order to lighten the color of their teeth.
Modern dentistry and plastic surgery can seem like younger industries, but cosmetic treatments existed in the 1960s and the Beatles used them to make themselves look better on television. It was a shrewd bit of publicity. The band would often go to the same dentist in order to get treatment so their looks would be uniform. With the whitening of their teeth, the chances of a glossy film on the big screen were much higher.
The band members weren’t perfect however, and John Lennon famously kept an old gap between his two front teeth as a throwback to his childhood. The gesture was an intimate one – a nod to the band’s beginnings and an acknowledgement of their demographic. Without this signature gappy smile, the Beatles’ image wouldn’t have had the same impact on the world.
While bleaching was the more expensive option, the four members also tried out a number of cheaper treatments. The band would often opt for veneers, a process which involved the thin application of porcelain sheets to the surface of existing teeth. The process was much simpler than bleaching, and often cost less.
In the more recent years, the four band members have also experimenting with dental implants, a procedure which replaces then entirety of a missing tooth. The Beatles weren’t able to benefit from such a advanced treatment in the 1960s, but the increase in modern technologies has extended opportunities to the band, proving the power of currency and influence.
Choreo-Dance for the Beatles
Behind the scenes, it was the choreographer Robert Helpmann who was responsible for developing the Beatles’ dynamic stage presence. Helpmann was one of the most influential directors of musicals and ballets, and his academic experience allowed the band members to develop their own special flavor of dance.
Rather than the established and sophisticated movements of a classical ballet, Helpmann focussed his efforts on the relatively new art form of choreo-dance. The style was characterised as ‘freestyle’, and focussed on exaggerations of conventional movements. As the Beatles’ mimed and sang their way through their performances, the use of choreo-dance made them household names.
Helpmann’s style wasn’t as famous as the moptops, but in helping the band establish their style of spontaneous movements and flamboyant performances, he became part of the Beatles’ legend. In helping them become showmen of their craft, it was this mix of music and dance which made them epoch-defining figures of their generation.
The Beatles’ Reception in America
It was the success of the Beatles in America which cemented their place in the industry. The Beatles not only sold out stadiums on their arrival to America, but they also opened up the media to new waves of journalism that focused on the impact their music had on the people of the country.
In 1964, the Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan show was considered one of the most important television moments in American media. At the time, the show broadcasted to 30-million viewers, an audience the Beatles were able to captivate through the power of their music. The impact of their performance was astonishing, and the band were able to convert the country into a fan base of elated enthusiasts in a matter of days.
The band’s impact was so enormous that it wasn’t seen since the advent of Elvis Presley’s ‘shake, rattle and roll’. It was said that the Beatles influenced a huge proportion of people in America, regardless of race or age, showing the power of music as a uniting force. For many, the Beatles’ accomplishments in America was seen as proof of their global expansion and a celebration of culture.
The Beatles’ Influence on Music
The Beatles had an undisputed impact on the world, especially in the realm of music. Their songs were not only popular, but also radical. The Beatles pushed the envelope when it came to musical themes, blurring the boundaries between political, social and personal topics in their lyrics.
The Beatles gave the world their unique take on the genre, introducing us to a wheel of new instruments, sounds and vocal harmonies. So many of our most beloved classic songs were written by them – from ‘Let it Be’ to ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Yesterday’. Classical rock anthems, like ‘Revolution’ and ‘She Loves You’ pushed the age-old genre to become more than just a party starter, but a tool for expressing contemporary themes and contexts.
The Beatles also showed the world how to market and promote yourself. The band worked on their own terms, creating a personal narrative which was difficult to replicate. From the use of simple black and white drawings for their album artworks, to their heavy investments in advanced technology, the Beatles set the tone for what it meant to become a real music superstar.
The Beatles’ Mental Health
The Beatles’ impact is evident in the sheer number of albums, songs and tour performances they managed to produce in the span of their decade-long career. However, the strain of their sudden rise to fame wasn’t easy, and the four band members experienced bouts of nervous exhaustion and acute mental wellness struggles.
The band members often turned to drugs as a means of coping with the stress of their new found life, and this growing dependency was highlighted in many of their songs, becoming a theme for the band’s later period.
John Lennon, in particular, was open about his mental struggles, often expressing his thoughts in interviews. In one instance, he famously said ‘Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see’. This quote provided detail to a side of Lennon which the world was reluctant to try and understand. Lennon struggled with drug dependency and suicidal thoughts, and understood first hand the intense loneliness that came with his newfound fame.
The remaining band members had moments of resilience, but it was Lennon’s openness which allowed us to see the Beatles were as sensitive as they were successful. They had needs and wants, fears and anxieties, as any other person of their time.
The Beatles’ Legacy
In their wake, the Beatles made sure to leave behind the mark they had strived for, and few music acts have had such explosive and enduring success. The Beatles not only left us with some of the most beloved rock anthems, but they also helped to define an era.
Their lyrics, performances and the incredible impact of their substance emphasized the power of ‘the rock’n’roll dream’. With the success of the 1980s musical ‘Beatlemania’ and the tours of Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, the world kept the band’s sound alive, reminding us of why they were so special.
The Beatles understood that the struggle is a necessary part of the process. In their journey to change the musical landscape, the band members underwent an expensive dental transformation, and struggled with mental wellness issues. But it
