Glenn Fry on the Eagles

The Eagles were not pioneers.  The Eagles were settlers.  But I do believe that we did a pretty good job of cultivating the land that we settled.  We put ourselves into it and made it uniquely our own.

~ Glenn Fry, founding member of the rock band Eagles

(From "Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles," 14:30 mark)

Paul Jones on the Beatles debut on the Ed Sullivan Show (1964)

Why [Ed] Sullivan found it necessary to aid in the phony promotion of four rock 'n roll exponents, all of whom represent Moe of the Three Stooges, is beyond comprehension.  Any why he felt it necessary to "load" the theater with screaming teen-age girls when he normally restricts his audience to grownups, is also a mystery.

It was obvious to those who say the Beatles, four fellows from Great Britain, that they have not attained their present notoriety on the basis of their musical talents, for the sounds emanating from their mouths were anything but melodic.

Shorn of their mop-like hairdos they would look and sound like many other inferior rock 'n roll groups which are still attempting to keep alive the fad which died when Elvis Presley joined the armed forces.

~ Paul Jones, "Sullivan Wasted Time with Beatles," February 11, 1964

London’s Decca Records: “The Beatles have no future in show business" (1962)

The Beatles have no future in show business... Groups are out; four-piece groups with guitars, particularly, are finished.

~ An executive at London’s Decca Records as he turned down the chance to sign the Liverpool group in 1962 before signing up Brian Poole and the Tremeloes instead