In 1964, four young and brash working-class musicians from Liverpool, England crossed the Atlantic Ocean and changed pop culture for ever.
After they appeared live on the Ed Sullivan Show in front of 70 million Americans, the Beatles performed at stadium venues across the United States where their music could scarcely be heard amid the rabid screams of adolescent fans – female in the main.
But the Beatles’ tunes, melodies and lyrics live on, unlike those of thousands of other pop bands that have been unable to stand the test of time.
Fifty years later, the Beatles’ songs are still played incessantly in every corner of the globe. And dozens of tribute bands still draw in audiences of all ages, most on a nostalgic mission to be taken back to the Swinging Sixties and an era that saw liberated young people abandon many of their parents’ longstanding social taboos.
Although Beatlemania never overwhelmed Mexico in the same way as in other countries, the Beatles’ music is widely cherished south of the border, no more so than in Guadalajara.
A major benefactor of this “love-in” has been one of the original Beatles tribute bands, GetBack, formed by cast members of the show “Beatlemania,” which debuted on Broadway back in 1977.
Next week, GetBack returns to Guadalajara for the eighth occasion – to their favored venue, the Teatro Diana.
And, say band members, they have some surprises in store, including (possibly) a real “yellow submarine” on stage.
“We’re performing a day before the anniversary of John Lennon’s death, so this will be a special remembrance to him,” the group’s “Paul McCartney”** told the Reporter on the phone from Nashville this week.
“Even after all these years we try to bring in new elements and perfect our act,” he said.
Imitating the Beatles has always been “a labor of love” for left-handed guitarist “Paul.”
“We were all fans and had the haircuts. We did a lot of studying to pick up their mannerisms, the way they walked and talked.”
During the show, group members talk in Liverpudlian accents, learned, “Paul” said, from a friend from Liverpool who coached them in the early days.
Nonetheless, he said people are usually surprised to meet them after shows and find out they are not British. “That’s because we never drop the accents on stage.”
With so much quality material to choose from, GetBack makes frequent changes to its repertoire. When pressed, “Paul” revealed that his favorite Beatles’ album is “Rubber Soul,” released in December 1965.
“It has all the fullness of a four-piece band. I think this was them at their best, in the studio without adding anything else. The music is clean and beautiful, with terrific songs like “Michelle” and “Girl.”
Although “Paul” has never met his alter ego, he has crossed paths with drummer Ringo Starr, and believes the surviving Beatles have reconciled themselves with the tribute band phenomenon as the decades have passed. “I’m sure they are flattered by us now,” “Paul” said.
Over the years – “I stopped counting after 20,” “Paul” said – the band has toured more than 30 countries but are keen to stress that one of their favorite places to come is Guadalajara.
“I love Tapatios, they are so warm and get involved from the start. If they love you, they’ll tell you,” “Paul” said.
With so many tribute bands now in circulation, GetBack has always managed to stay ahead of the pack, garnering review after review confirming their status as the “most authentic” Beatles’ emulators in the business.
According to the band’s manager, the Saturday, December 7 show at the Teatro Diana will be GetBack’s biggest production here to date, including additional costume changes, repertoire and multi-media effects. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets cost 250-500 pesos, available from the Diana box office or from Ticketmaster at (33) 3614-7072 or www.ticketmaster.com.mx.
The Diana is located at Avenida 16 de septiembre 710.
* The reason “Paul” does not use his real name in the media, he said, is “not to spoil the illusion … otherwise people in the audience would yell our real names, instead of the Beatles’ names.”