John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles are the most successful songwriting team ever. In the case of All You Need Is Love, it was John who came to the band with the idea already fully formed. He was influenced by Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly and started the band in Liverpool. McCartney was a school chum and brought in George Harrison to play guitar. Pete Best was their drummer until Ringo Starr joined. John had a strong artistic streak and was fond of advertising slogans.
Lennon wrote a song to send a clear message to people of all nationalities, fitting the bill perfectly for a global television special. It is a reminder that love is everything and cannot be misinterpreted.
The Beatles performed the song live on June 25, 1967, with a 13-piece orchestra and guests such as Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Eric Clapton.