The Blue Meanies

Jimmy and Tony are two young brothers who grew up listening to the Beatles with their Dad. Now at 26 and 20 years old respectively, the young lads have made quite a leap from strumming guitars in their living room of their parent's house. Their first gig happened by chance!

Talking to the landlord at the Foresters Lodge in Fazakerley one day, he told the lads that they could 'have a go' that very night. Not wanting to put it off any longer, they agreed. So, Jimmy on rhythm guitar, Tony on bass, Stuart (23) on drums, Gavin (26), lead guitar and Jay (20) on keyboards took to the stage for the first time, but there was one problem… they didn't have a P.A. System!! Ken Simpson, Stuarts Dad jumped to the rescue and that night (after a lot of running around and panic) the first night of their career as 'The Blue Meanies' was underway.

Anyone being an avid fan of The Beatles will know that The Blue Meanies were the baddies in the animation cartoon video on the Yellow Submarine Album.

This year sadly George Harrison passed away after his fight against cancer. A tribute was paid worldwide, and back in his hometown of Liverpool the stage of the Empire Theatre was alight with artists paying and playing their respects to him. This was one of the best nights of the Blue Meanies careers although the circumstances were a little bizarre. Rumours had it Sir Paul McCartney was going to be there, but they were only rumors. Imagine (pardon the pun) suddenly turning around and seeing him standing there!!! The rumours soon turned into reality and the night just got better and better. Many tribute bands could wait a lifetime for an opportunity to meet their idol. And it is often a dream that most never fulfil. This occasion, and after only four years of playing as the World's Famous four things turned out very different, and it is one that Jimmy, Tony, Stuart, Gavin and Jay, will never forget! And as Sir Paul McCartney rightly commented "George would have loved it"

In 2000 they were featured on Northwest Tonight. The programme was all about the Beatles Festival and the lads had the opening and closing numbers on the programme. Their career is taking them pretty much on the same route as their idols. In July this year not only are they playing the Royal Pier, they are all staying in the same rooms in the same hotel that the fab four slept in Weston-Super-Mare.

They have played in Amsterdam, they will be off to Iceland in the near future and on the 1st of June they are Top of the Bill at the T.T.Races in the Isle of Man.

Their Album 'The Bubbles Burst' was recorded at studio 33 thanks to Ronnie O'Keefe. If it wasn't for his help they wouldn't of gotten to No.1 in the Unsigned Bands Charts with Virgin Records in Clayton Square.

If you missed them last year you can catch them at the Mathew Street Festival again, they will be taking to the Main Stage in Chavasse Park on the 27th August. Their future aim is to play Theatres and LIPA. Good luck lads!

The Buz Magazine - Liverpool Edition May 2002