Paul taught himself bass, and since he was left-handed, strung it upside-down. He taught himself the instrument. Musically talented, no doubt. Inherited, probably. Classically trained, not hardly. None of the boys could read music. There is definitely traces of skiffle music, English Music Hall, pop, in all their music, but also a lot of rockabilly, Elvis, the Blues, C&W, the Hollies, Everly's, Little Richard, soul, and other trends from across the pond. Listen to the White Album. It is a tribute to their musical inspirations, many which came after the Beatle Debut ("Back in the USSR" is clearly a salute to the Beach Boys!). "I Will" is a good-natured parody of their own early work.

Zen? maybe after their flirtation with the Maharishi, years later. And Ringo planned to open a chain of beauty parlors if the 'music thing' didn't work out. And what if they all were born during WWII? So was my wife. I don't think any of them remember it. She doesn't.

I'm not sure what you're trying to tell me, but I meant no profound philosophical dissertation. The Beatles were the last of the old music, and their roots lie there. They are also the sole source of the new music, everything that followed owes them a great debt. They did it with style, humor, and songs that still are shower-hummable, if not downright breathtaking. Did they set in motion a cultural revolution, or simply exploit one that would have happened anyway? Does it matter?

Who knows, maybe they did both, simultaneously. After all, that comes under the category of questions that cannot be answered, even if they must still be asked. All I know is that the world was different before they came than it was after. And I think it changed for the better. And after they were gone the world changed again...perhaps for the worst.

But that's only my opinion. I'm grateful for the immense body of work they left us, but I miss them terribly.