SHORT TAKES : Martin: Would Fab Four Fit ‘90s?

Pop impresario George Martin said Wednesday that the Beatles might not have become superstars had they started out in the 1990s.

He was speaking after presenting the John Lennon songwriting awards to three students at Salford College of Technology near Manchester, the day after what would have been Lennon’s 50th birthday.

“John was not all that keen on education,” said Martin, Lennon’s and the group’s producer. “If he had been around now, I don’t think the Beatles would have broken through.”

Martin described Lennon as “a rebel who did not want to be bothered with small details like music and reading and writing. He wanted to get down to the real nub of things.”

“John could not read or write music,” Martin said, “and I think if he had tried to get this award in 1990, he would not have stood a chance.”