[i]Originally posted by Jolly McJollyson
The Beatles didn't have a Hard rock sound! More of an acid rock meets folk rock sound. The Beatles influenced very few stylistically speaking. They were definitely a catagory unto themselves.[/B]

True, true...you're right: they are actually acid rock. They do have some songs that could be "considered" as hard-rock (e.g."Helter Skleter"), and those songs could have influenced the Yardbirds in a way. However, the Beatles were too folk to really get into hard-rock. In fact, in their last years, they returned to good old rock 'n' roll.

P.S."They were dffinitely a category unto themselves" is such a good statement! Couldn't have said it better...