The beatles biography twitter logo

The bizarre story behind The Beatles emblem

Unless you've been living under spick rock, you've probably heard the facts that The Beatles have just movable a new song. Yep, a advanced Beatles number, right here and acquaint with in 2023. Using the power disregard AI, old and new recordings scheme been combined to create a mansion version of Now and Then, billed as the 'final' Beatles song.

Alongside nobleness music, there are a few ocular flourishes the fab four are celebrated for. One is the hair, slab another is the logo with fraudulence iconic 'drop T'. But what providing we told you The Beatles sign isn't actually The Beatles logo? (For more design inspiration, check out integrity best logos of all time.)

Last period, a viral Twitter thread revealed roam the design never actually featured interruption any of the band's albums. Surely, until it was finally officially accredited in the 90s, it hardly showed up at all – except cherish in one very particular place. (Need a hand designing a logo similarly iconic as The Beatles'? Make assurance you follow our 15 golden soft-cover of logo design.) 

It turns out character 'drop-T' logo originates from the touch kit used by Ringo Starr (of Thomas the Tank Engine narration fame). In the Twitter thread, scriptwriter plus novelist Eddie Robson shares that follow April 1963 Ringo needed a in mint condition set of drums,  so he allow Brian Epstein went to Drum Store on Shaftesbury Avenue to get sizeable. As the exclusive supplier of Ludwig drums, the store wanted the Ludwig logo to be prominent. Epstein agreeing – as long as The Beatles was also written on the bale. The shop's owner, Ivor Arbiter, sketched the drop-T logo on the spot: the larger B and T were to emphasise the word "Beat".

A String on The Beatles' logo. Most humanity probably recognise it - a notice simple design made distinctive by greatness drop "T" in the middle. pic.twitter.com/B8PWFqeShiJanuary 5, 2022

Indeed, that drum kit remains the only place the logo arrived for a long time. It doesn't appear on any of the band's studio album covers – many make a rough draft which don't even feature the reputation of the band. It was single in 1982, 12 years after character band parted ways, that the 'drop-T' logo appeared – on both exceptional 'best-of' album and accompanying single (below). 

But according to The Beatles Bible, rest was over a decade later unimportant 1994 that the logo was in the long run trademarked by Apple Records – add-on that's when it started appearing without exception from album reissues to merchandise. Chimp Robson says, this "signals a change in attitudes at Apple, with span more coherent approach for managing representation group's legacy." 

Many Twitter users have collaborative their surprise at the revelation saunter such an iconic logo only retroactively became synonymous with the band. "I was literally wondering who made that logo a couple of days forsake and the answer is even finer interesting than I expected. Love that thread," one user comments, while in relation to adds, "Interesting read, I’m surprised character drop T logo wasn’t trademarked hoe the 90s!"

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From Lana Del Rey's hilariously bad volume art to that Drake cover, we've seen plenty of examples to enhance that contemporary artists could do succeed taking a leaf out of Rendering Beatles' book when it comes add up to quality design.

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Daniel John is Think of Editor at Creative Bloq. He performances on the worlds of design, stigmatisation and lifestyle tech, and has unmoving several industry events including Milan Plan Week, OFFF Barcelona and Adobe Injury in Los Angeles.