Musicheads discuss...The Beatles!

Yes.

...And they will continue to be one of the few bands that has influence over generations of musicians and music lovers AFTER us.

Beatlemania hasn't bitten the dust just yet. I believe they continue to be a huge influence on music. They built rock 'n'roll's template!

I love the Beatles. They tried so many different things, and remarkably, succeeded almost every time. Amazing musical ability. In this week's Rolling Stone, David Crosby is interviewed about a CSN "covers" project they are working on with Rick Rubin: "I can tell you what's very damn hard to try: a Beatles song. You wrap yourself around one of their songs and make an arrangement and try to do it. And then you go and listen to the
Beatles' record of it and go, "Ah...no." It's too amazingly good. (RS Sep 17, 2009).

I'm not sure it's possible for music to STOP having an influence - even if an artist today has never ever HEARD an influential artist, someone they HAVE heard has heard of him, or has heard someone who heard him, etc etc.

That said, I think among the type of people that would spend their time listening to a show called Musicheads, the Beatles will ALWAYS loom large on the musical landscape. I've argued with people before who think the Beatles are more or less irrelevant today - my point is that you have to consider not only the MUSICAL impact they had, but the SOCIAL impact. They completely dominated the cultural landscape for so long, it is IMPOSSIBLE for that impact to be completely subverted.

The Beatles may not make it to every current artist's list of Top Ten Influences, but just because you don't know who built your house doesn't mean they didn't build it all the same.

"Do you think The Beatles continue to have the influence today that they did for previous generations of musicians and music lovers?"

This is a tough question, and I'm answering as personally and clearly as I can:

I certainly hope so.

Their influence is deeply personal. I wouldn't wish missing out on that experience on any generation.

That nature of their artistic impact may change for future generations, but the imprint (realized or not) from listening to their music is undeniable.

Future generations may find a different perspective on their work... I just hope they find as much joy and discovery as I did.

Since the Beatles are considered to have, in Mr. DeVille's words, "... built rock 'n'roll's template!", all bands are either directly or indirectly influenced by the Beatles.

Speaking from personal experience, I would rather musicians look forward than backward.

Yep. I concur. The Beatles "Rock Band" just came out this week on xbox 360. I watched the trailer. I have Guitar Hero 1. The way I see it, Bob Dylan Influenced the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones in about 1965-66. The Beach Boys were big about that time too. That was a magical year for Rock and Roll. Punk, Metal, Reggae, and Ska were all invented or reinvented about that time. Elvis, and Buddy Holly were great..The Beatles made Rock and Roll popular and great for 8 years or so..maybe 1964-2009--45 years..some people discount them because they are not still touring like the Eagles..I think they influenced almost everyone since

I remember playing my Dad's Beatles cds on my first stereo. I would play them in my room after school. I suppose I was about 12 or 13. I really enjoyed the melancholy sound of Eleanor Rigby for some reason.

absolutely. nearly forty years after their split, they still maintain reverence and relevance. definitely something to aspire to and admire.