1996
June: George Martin is honored with knighthood and becomes Sir George Martin. Martin is also honored with a Grammy.
Fall: "The Beatles Anthology," a 10-hour video set with the story of the Beatles told by the Beatles themselves, is released. The set is highlighted by rare and unreleased footage.
Dec. 30: It is announced that Paul McCartney will become the first of the Beatles to be honored with knighthood and will henceforth be known as Sir Paul McCartney. (The actual knighthood ceremony is held March 10, 1997.) In a statement, Paul said he accepts the honor "on behalf of all the people of Liverpool and the other Beatles, without whom it wouldn't have been possible. So I hope I can be worthy of it.'' (George and Ringo jokingly call him "His Holiness.") Two other people with connections to Beatle history are also honored with OBE's (Order of the British Empire) -- singer Cilla Black, once managed by Brian Epstein and now a popular British TV personality, and poet Roger McGough, a former member of the Scaffold with Mike McGear (McCartney) whose work was featured in the Mersey Beat newspaper.