1967

January 5 - During a recording session for Penny Lane, the Beatles recorded a 14 minute piece of "avant-garde" music titled "Carnival Of Light" for an event by designers Binder, Edwards and Vaughan titled "Carnival Of Light Rave" and held on January 28 and February 4, 1967. The five hour session was punctuated by George Martin commenting to Geoff Emerick, "This is ridiculous. We've got to get our teeth into something a little more constructive."

February 13 - the US single "Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane" is released (February 17 in the UK) and hits US #1 and UK #2. The songs mark a totally new direction the band is taking in both writing and recording.

March 11 - the band is awarded three Grammy awards for "Michelle", "Eleanor Rigby", and the LP Revolver.

April 2 - the LP Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is completed.

April 19 - the Beatles form a partnership called Beatles & Co.

May - EMI announces that the Beatles have sold over 200 million albums worldwide, while John announces that the band will not tour again, following the disastrous Candlestick Park concert.

June - the epic LP Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is released to worldwide acclaim.

June 16 - Paul publicly admits to taking LSD, the first Beatle to do so. In an effort to curb the negative reaction, Brian Epstein also admits he has taken the drug.

June 19 - Paul defends his revelations about his drug use, stating that he "was asked a question by a newspaper and the decision was whether to lie or tell the truth. I decided to tell him the truth but...if I'd had my way I wouldn't have told anyone because I'm not trying to spread the word about this."

June 25 - the band records "All You Need is Love" during a worldwide concert on TV.

July 7 - The UK single "All You Need is Love/Baby, You're a Rich Man" is released (July 24 in the US), eventually reaching US and UK #1.

August 25 - the group, at the urging of George and John, sets off on a "transcendental meditation" with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

August 27 - the band's manager Brian Epstein is found dead in his home.

August 30 - Brian Epstein's funeral is held. None of the Beatles attend.

August 31 - the Beatles announce that they will manage themselves following Epstein's death.

September - the film "Magical Mystery Tour" is filmed on location in England.

November 24 - the UK single "Hello Goodbye/I Am the Walrus" is released (November 27 in the US) and hits US and UK #1.

December - the album Magical Mystery Tour is released in the US as an LP, as two EPs in the UK, reaching #1 in both places.

December 7 - the Beatles store, The Apple Boutique, opens in London.

December 25 - Paul announces he and Jane Asher are engaged.

December 26 - the film "Magical Mystery Tour" is shown on UK TV in black and white and is scorned by critics, who claim that there is no plot and the whole movie is uneventful.