My evolutionary timeline goes like this.

American Southland blues (Robert Johnson & others) -> Ledbetter -> Pete Seeger ->Weavers ->Kingston Trio -> Peter, Paul & Mary -> Dylan -> Dylan+Drugs ->Lennon ->Beatles ->nuclear musical explosion manifesting in great, scary,social and political upheavel.

For each arrow above substitute, "picked up, added to and passed along by. . ."

Simplistic! Leaves out major elements of the standard rollcall (Perkins, Everly, Berry, Holly & Presley).

I never accepted that list.

I think it was just a way of keeping interviewers from getting too personal.

In terms of what ultimately produced Revolver, etc. it was simple steps, yet it was the sum of what went before.

Beatles influenced everything, but not the four who first pranced across Sullivan's stage, that merely established the fame (ala the Kingston Trio).

It was Lennon emerging from encounters with Dylan + Drugs. Lennon, who then infected or innnoculated his partner, you pick, and the other elements simply all came together. Contributions from each element in the timeline made up the final product.

I left out Brian Wilson who affected and was affected in the same way as the Beatles but evolved in a different, though just as dangerous direction. His raising of the bar of acceptable musicianship had a profound affect on McCartney while Lennon was under the tutelage of Bob.

Though not a succesful as the Beatles it should be noted that he was forced to be his own George Martin, and did not enjoy the loyalty and support from within that was Lennons.

David Crosby said the beatles were the product of the coming together of great music, born of US Southern gospel/blues, great lyrics, born in NYC circa early 60's, great stuff to sing about born out of Rosa Parks and the death of JFK) amid the catalysts of war and drugs.

He should know, the Byrds were an essential part of that explosion, with drugs the fallout.

Of course I know that drugs and liquor were key elements from the beginning, but the point is, to compose lyrics that expose as much of yourself as Dylan convinced Lennon was necessary, a higher level of support became essential.

I've heard some describe writing at a level that personal, as cutting yourself and letting the world watch you bleed.

Thats what it took to let the world know this was more than just words and business.

Which it has now become!

Which explains why Joplin and others perished as a result of that influence (thread title), but not so much anymore.

Anyway I lived through most of it, know the tunes of the key players and that's how I see it.