They say the formulative years of the Beatles tribute band was born out of the Broadway show Beatlemania!
It ran from 1977-1979 opening on Broadway with a cast of over 50 members including thirteen Paul McCartney's & eleven John Lennon's!
The show produced an album, a not very well received film and won a Tony Award.
After the curtain dropped on Beatlemania! the show went on the road but the Beatles Apple Corps decided to take out a lawsuit and the show closed but today you'll still find performances of Beatlemania! especially in the USA.
Now over 40 years after the opening of Beatlemania! various Beatles inspired shows including the hugely successful 'Let It Be' can be found in theatres celebrating the Beatles musical legacy.
Let's hope the Beatles appreciate it more this time around!
Beatlemania! had proved there was a market for Beatles 'tribute' bands as fans had flocked to see it's initial run of over 1000 performances and reaction on the road had proved that after the Beatlemania! show the birth of the Beatles tribute band was upon us.
Among the first was the Bootleg Beatles themselves formed in 1980 from the cast of the Beatlemania! show that had its run in London. Over the years they have established themselves as at least the most well known Beatles tribute band around the world.
They're credited with some remarkable achievements including being the first band to play behind the Iron Curtain, their annual theatre show has toured for over 20 years, they've supported Elton John, Rod Stewart, Manchester'sown Oasis at Knebworth & their famous Earl's Court shows, played Glastonbury and sold out the Budokan in Japan in their own right!
Today, there are literally hundreds of Beatles tribute bands. They range from bands who perform theatre shows, to the mates who have got together down the pub to perform to the locals. But they all have one thing in common, their love of the Beatles.
Personally I've seen many performances by Beatles tribute bands from around the world, mainly at Beatles Festivals, others at the local theatre or pub and here at beatlesnow.com we've put together an A-Z of tribute bands including 60's era bands with links to their website/gig guides so you can be there the next time the Beatles come to your town....