ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the early Beatles in terms of male homosociality, a hierarchical structure in which men compete together 'as a team', whilst simultaneously policing themselves and others against and by accusations of effeminacy. It tracks the development of the Beatles, focusing on the early 1960s, a time when the group were peculiarly open to influence – absorbing and experimenting with different musical styles in response to different audiences. The Beatles, like many popular music groups, and especially rock groups, can be viewed as a male gang, with John Lennon as their leader. The chapter discusses the phenomenon of Lennon as the leader of a homosocial group and argued that this interpretation allows us to re-evaluate the meaning of the Beatles and Lennon's role in them. In both music and audience, feminine voices were increasingly prominent, especially girl groups, and the chapter considers whether or how such influences problematize the 'homosocial authenticity' of the group.
