What does it take to be a die hard Beatles fan?

Q: What could possible support such a statement?

A: A listen to Dave Edmunds, Albert Lee, Ry Cooder, Richard Thompson, and dozens of other better guitarists. Prior to Sgt. Pepper Harrison was a favorite of mine, his solo in "Nowhere Man" is in my all-time top 10 (even though it is very similar to James Burton’s in Ricky Nelson’s "Young World", another favorite of mine). He was never again that good, and in numerous interviews talked about not even picking up a guitar for years.

Unlike some, I don’t mind others having an opinion divergent from mine. It’s all about what we listen for in music. Why should we expect to agree on everything? For some reason I admit to not understanding, people become very defensive when it comes to The damn Beatles.

And with that final comment (made in violation of my vow to rpeluso), I bid you all adieu. I have obviously overstayed my welcome. ;-)

@nakam I included “I Should Have Known Better” from A Hard Day’s Night.  
“This Boy,” which I included, was released just 2 months prior (only 1 month prior in the US) to the A Hard Day’s Night sessions.  
“If I Fell” from A Hard Day’s Night is one of my all-time favorite Beatles/John songs, but Paul wrote the absolutely brilliant stand-alone intro section (a significant contribution, which Paul referred to as a ‘preamble’) so I didn’t count that one as a full-on “John song.”  

“Any Time at All” is another great John song off that LP, but Paul wrote the really cool instrumental bridge section, so I didn’t count that one either.
I suppose I should have included John’s “A Hard Day’s Night.”  
Personally, that’s never been a song I was particularly smitten with.  
I’m pretty lukewarm towards “You Can’t Do That” (similar song to the title track) but I should have included that one too.
John’s A Hard Day’s Night song “Tell Me Why” is pretty good.  
I probably should have thrown that one in there too.
 

@bdp24 You didn’t answer the question.
I’ll ask it another way:
how can playing sitar “ruin” a guitar player’s guitar-playing ability?
 

@hoosierinohio   Very well put!

@tylermunns: The fact you ask that question is evidence you know nothing about being a musician. In interviews Harrison candidly admitted he had not continued in his pursuit of guitar playing after picking up the sitar, as I already said stating he had not picking up a guitar for a number of years (’67-’69?).

When he went on tour in the mid-70’s, George hired Robben Ford (whom I saw and heard numerous times while he was living in San Jose, before he moved down to L.A.) to play guitar, George himself concerning himself with embarrassing stage "theatrics" (videos available for painful viewing), perhaps in an effort to distract from his dreadful vocals. I don’t take pleasure in dissing George; he was always my favorite Beatle. As far as I’m concerned, The Traveling Wilburys was the best post-Beatles work any of them did.

And then there was was John Lennon, who subjected us to his "Primal Scream" therapy recordings (how anyone can listen to his first album is beyond me), crying about his mommy abandoning him. Oh for God’s sake John, have you no shame?

And McCartney, whom, freed from John’s acerbic input, was set free to sing his sappy, corny, British Music Hall ditties (which infect the Sgt. Pepper and White albums). Plus, he had his wife Linda "singing" in his band (have you heard the live recordings of Wings?!). Did Paul feel obligated to do so, as John had Yoko Ono "singing" in his band? By the way, when John needed a backup band, whom did he hire? Elephant’s Memory, a truly pathetic group. From The Beatles to Elephant’s Memory, quite a downgrade in bands.

At least Ringo had the good sense to head to Nashville (for his Beaucoups Of Blues album), to record Country music with the cream of that cities studio musicians (most of whom had already been heard in Dylan’s fantastic mid-60’s recordings). And when Ringo recorded his 1973 self-titled album, he enlisted members of The Band, about whom I need not heap praise (everyone already knows Eric Clapton dissolved Cream after hearing Music From Big Pink, thereafter traveling to West Saugerties in hopes of The Band asking him to join. Uh, no thanks Eric, we already have Robbie Robertson).

As even you @tylermunns can see, I’m WAY ahead of you. Now stop wasting my time.