Beatlemania and Beatlejuice - Live Spring 2001

I have seen 'Beatlemania Live' twice, most recently from the second row. I would recommend them to anyone. They play 35 songs in chronological order and have three costume changes. The first set is like an actual Beatle concert. Although they don't look exactly like the originals, they are very good. Once they change from suits into Sgt Pepper costumes, the overall effect diminishes a bit. I think it's because the Beatles never actually played live in anything but suits. The last costume change is into the later years, or the 'hippy Beatles' as they refer to it. Again, we only have a few video performances to relate this to.

One thing that as a musician I found troubling was the lack of authentic instrumentation. In the beginning, it was fine - Paul played the Hofner of course, George, the Gretsch Country Gentleman and John, the '63 Rickenbacker 325. What was disturbing was when they did songs that were originally played on acoustic guitars; John kept the Rickenbacker and George the Gretsch. Later, John did change to an Epiphone Casino and Paul to a Rickenbacker Bass, but the George character played that Country Gentleman for the entire show. The irony is that George Harrison changed guitars more than either of the other two. In a Hard Day's Night, he played a Rickenbacker 360-12; in Help, a Gretsch Tennesseean; on Paperback Writer, a Gibson SG and later on Magical Mystery Tour, a Fender Strat and on Revolution, a Gibson Les Paul. I would have liked to see these changes.

On the positive side is every sound you hear is created live onstage through the use of two synthesisers. They use no sequencers or midi or tape loops.

I also saw 'Beatlejuice' recently. If you don't know, they are a Beatles tribute band headed up by Brad Delp, (the former lead singer of the band Boston). To their credit, they don't try to imitate the look and moves of the Beatles. They are a five-piece group and musically are better that any that I have heard. Delp is strictly a singer. He wears an acoustic guitar around his neck, but it is more of a prop that anything else. He does strum a few chords occasionally, but I don't think that he was even plugged in. The lead guitarist is absolutely the best I have seen. His full time job is 'classical guitarist'. The bass player is formerly with 'The Fools' and the drummer is a guy named 'Muzz' formerly of 'Farren'. The fifth member of the group alternates between rhythm guitar and keyboards. I believe that they do use sequencers and midi.

Delp has stolen Paul McCartney's voice! He sounds as much like him a Paul himself. He does a very good job of the John songs and the harmonies are quite accurate. Muzz is a little too hard and crisp, although he does play all of the parts accurately; Ringo was just a lot subtler. Muzz shouldn't be playing rim shots on all of the backbeats. This belies his background as a metal drummer.

So if you are interested in a complete Beatle experience, I recommend 'Beatlemania Live'. If you are interested in pure accurate sound, go for 'Beatlejuice'. Of course, you can always see them both!

Jim Fraser
TWIL Issue Four May 2001