Help Album performed in its entirety April 29 at the Belly Up

SOLANA BEACH, CA (03/03/2012) Nationally touring Beatles tribute, Abbey Road, performs the iconic Help album in its entirety on Sunday, April 29 at the Belly Up Tavern at 8 pm. The band will also play a full set of other Beatles hits. A string quartet will accompany the band on ballads like "Yesterday" and "Imagine." The Belly Up is located at 143 S. Cedros in Solana Beach. Tickets are $12/$14 and may be purchased online at www.bellyup.com or by calling the box office at (858) 481-8140. The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com.

In February 1965, when the Beatles began filming their second motion picture, they had just written and recorded eleven new songs which had left them virtually tapped out of inspiration at the time. For the next three months their primary focus would be on being actors. But they knew that at some point they would be asked to write and record another song – whenever the title of the movie would be decided. They also knew that, as was the case the previous year with "A Hard Day's Night," whatever song they would write would no doubt be their next single. Therefore, the caliber of this song had to be of the highest quality. Could they pull themselves out of their dressing rooms to be up for the task?

On the very day they were asked to write the film’s title song, John Lennon wrote what became one of, if not the most, impressive songwriting achievements of their career as of that point. The result was one of the most recognizable and best admired Beatles songs of their career, “Help”.

Although they were given the title to write a song around, they could very well have written another formula pop standard the likes of which they could churn out at any given moment. Up to this time, the Beatles wrote innocent pop songs about holding hands and sharing secrets instead of meaningful lyrics about their lives. When it came to writing the hit singles, the songs that would make the biggest impact and reach the most people, they played it safe and fell back to writing standard pop classics about relationships. Therefore, as of early 1965, the general population were still treated to Beatles lyrics such as “she’s in love with me and I feel fine” and “I ain’t got nothing but love, babe, eight days a week.”

Instead, what John chose to write was the most revealing and personal inner feelings he had ever put pen to paper about. Lennon wrote the lyrics of the song to express his stress after the Beatles' quick rise to success. "I was fat and depressed and I was crying out for 'Help'," Lennon told Playboy. Writer Ian MacDonald describes the song as the "first crack in the protective shell" Lennon had built around his emotions during the Beatles' rise to fame, and an important milestone in his songwriting style.

John Lennon would later dismiss the music he wrote with the Beatles, but the song “Help” was one that he was always very proud of. “The only true songs I ever wrote were ‘Help’ and ‘Strawberry Fields,’” he stated in December of 1970. “They were the ones I really wrote from experience and not projecting myself into a situation and writing a nice story about it, which I always found phoney. The lyric is as good now as it was then. It makes me feel secure to know that I was that sensible, aware of myself back then.”

The Lennon and McCartney songwriting team was maturing and moving away from the safe lyrics. After “Help!” they dared to delve into sophisticated themes, writing compelling and personal lyrics, coupled with emotional melodies. With the inspiration of Bob Dylan, who was writing songs about his personal feelings and experiences, Lennon and McCartney matured as songwriters.

In 2004, "Help" was ranked number 29 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

With their tight harmonies, flawless note for note renditions of Beatles hits, custom–tailored costumes, vintage instruments, Liverpudlian dialect and precise attention to every detail, Abbey Road has honed their show to become one of the most musically and visually satisfying Beatle tribute acts in the world. Abbey Road recreates the magic, music, wit and charm of the Beatles, including the Fab Four’s cheeky personalities, familiar onstage banter and patter between songs.

“The show delivers” said the L.A. Times. “If you see one tribute show, see this one – smart and loads of fun,” said the O.C. Register. “This is the ticket for you,” said the Idaho Statesman. In addition to the Belly Up, Abbey Road headlines Knott’s, Harrah’s Rincon, Harrah's Tahoe, The Coach House, The Canyon Club and Pala Casino.

Three costume changes cover the full range of the Beatle experience and beyond, with authentic early black Beatle suits, Sgt. Pepper’s regalia and Abbey Road attire. Hear the piccolo trumpet solo on Penny Lane and the full orchestration of A Day in the Life. Relive the emotional intensity of Paul’s moving Yesterday solo, as well as the high energy of stadium songs like Twist and Shout and other Beatle hits. www.inmylifetheplay.com and www.facebook.com/abbeyroadtribute

If you would like to arrange an interview with the musicians or producers, would like press passes or would like more information please email andy@lajollabooking.com or call Andy at (562) 480-7951. If you would like photographs forwarded to your editor, please advise.

CALENDAR LISTING:

Abbey Road - A Tribute to the Beatles performs "Help" album in its entirety as well as other Beatles hits on Sunday, April 29 at the Belly Up Tavern at 8 pm. The Belly Up is located at 143 S. Cedros in Solana Beach. Tickets are $12/$14 and may be purchased online at www.bellyup.com or calling the box office at (858)481-8140. The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com.

Help! album performed in its entirety April 29 at the Belly Up in Solana Beach

BEATLES ICONIC "HELP!" ALBUM REVISITED AT BELLY UP
Renowned tribute band, Abbey Road, performs album in its entirely at Belly Up on April 29

SOLANA BEACH, CA (03/03/2012) Nationally touring Beatles tribute, Abbey Road, performs the iconic Help! album in its entirety on Sunday, April 29 at the Belly Up Tavern at 8 pm. The band will also play a full set of other Beatles hits. The Belly Up is located at 143 S. Cedros in Solana Beach. Tickets are $12/$14 and may be purchased online at www.bellyup.com or by calling the box office at (858) 481-8140. The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com.
In February 1965, when the Beatles began filming their second motion picture, they had just written and recorded eleven new songs which had left them virtually tapped out of inspiration at the time. For the next three months their primary focus would be on being actors. But they knew that at some point they would be asked to write and record another song – whenever the title of the movie would be decided. They also knew that, as was the case the previous year with "A Hard Day's Night," whatever song they would write would no doubt be their next single. Therefore, the caliber of this song had to be of the highest quality. Could they pull themselves out of their dressing rooms to be up for the task?
On the very day they were asked to write the film’s title song, John Lennon wrote what became one of, if not the most, impressive songwriting achievements of their career as of that point. The result was one of the most recognizable and best admired Beatles songs of their career, “Help!”.
Although they were given the title to write a song around, they could very well have written another fromula pop standard the likes of which they could churn out at any given moment. Up to this time, the Beatles wrote innocent pop songs about holding hands and sharing secrets instead of meaningful lyrics about their lives. When it came to writing the hit singles, the songs that would make the biggest impact and reach the most people, they played it safe and fell back to writing standard pop classics about relationships. Therefore, as of early 1965, the general population were still treated to Beatles lyrics such as “she’s in love with me and I feel fine” and “I ain’t got nothing but love, babe, eight days a week.”
Instead, what John chose to write was the most revealing and personal inner feelings he had ever put pen to paper about. Lennon wrote the lyrics of the song to express his stress after the Beatles' quick rise to success. "I was fat and depressed and I was crying out for 'Help'," Lennon told Playboy. Writer Ian MacDonald describes the song as the "first crack in the protective shell" Lennon had built around his emotions during the Beatles' rise to fame, and an important milestone in his songwriting style.
John Lennon would later dismiss the music he wrote with the Beatles, but the song “Help!” was one that he was always very proud of. “The only true songs I ever wrote were ‘Help!’ and ‘Strawberry Fields,’” he stated in December of 1970. “They were the ones I really wrote from experience and not projecting myself into a situation and writing a nice story about it, which I always found phoney. The lyric is as good now as it was then. It makes me feel secure to know that I was that sensible, aware of myself back then.”
The Lennon and McCartney songwriting team was maturing and moving away from the safe lyrics. After “Help!” they dared to delve into sophisticated themes, writing compelling and personal lyrics, coupled with emotional melodies. With the inspiration of Bob Dylan, who was writing songs about his personal feelings and experiences, Lennon and McCartney matured as songwriters.
In 2004, "Help!" was ranked number 29 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
With their tight harmonies, flawless note for note renditions of Beatles hits, custom–tailored costumes, vintage instruments, Liverpudlian dialect and precise attention to every detail, Abbey Road has honed their show to become one of the most musically and visually satisfying Beatle tribute acts in the world. Abbey Road recreates the magic, music, wit and charm of the Beatles, including the Fab Four’s cheeky personalities, familiar onstage banter and patter between songs.
“The show delivers!” said the L.A. Times. “If you see one tribute show, see this one – smart and loads of fun,” said the O.C. Register. “This is the ticket for you,” said the Idaho Statesman. In addition to the Belly Up, Abbey Road headlines Knott’s, Harrah’s Rincon, Harrah's Tahoe, The Coach House, The Canyon Club and Pala Casino.
Three costume changes cover the full range of the Beatle experience and beyond, with authentic early black Beatle suits, Sgt. Pepper’s regalia and Abbey Road attire. Hear the piccolo trumpet solo on Penny Lane and the full orchestration of A Day in the Life. Relive the emotional intensity of Paul’s moving Yesterday solo, as well as the high energy of stadium songs like Twist and Shout and other Beatle hits. www.inmylifetheplay.com and www.facebook.com/abbeyroadtribute
If you would like to arrange an interview with the musicians or producers, would like press passes or would like more information please email andy@lajollabooking.com or call Andy at (562) 480-7951. If you would like photographs forwarded to your editor, please advise.

CALENDAR LISTING:
Abbey Road - A Tribute to the Beatles performs "Help!" album in its entirety as well as other Beatles hits on Sunday, April 29 at the Belly Up Tavern at 8 pm. The Belly Up is located at 143 S. Cedros in Solana Beach. Tickets are $12/$14 and may be purchased online at www.bellyup.com or calling the box office at (858)481-8140. The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com.
PHOTO TAG: "ARGoofy" shows (l-r) Chris Overall ("Paul"), Jesse Wilder ("George"), Axel Clarke ("Ringo") and Greg Wilmot ("John")

"A Hard Day's Night" performed in its entirety Feb. 12 at the Belly Up in Solana Beach

"A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" FILM ALTERED POP HISTORY

Beatles tribute band, Abbey Road, performs album in its entirely at Belly Up on Feb. 12

SOLANA BEACH, CA (01/30/2012)— A low budget film which was intended as a device to sell soundtrack albums in the United States, the Beatles 1964 film,"A Hard Day's Night", became an astounding critical and financial success and is credited with inspiring the 60's spy movie craze, the popular television show "The Monkees", MTV and they way record companies market pop artists today. Beatles tribute band Abbey Road performs the iconic soundtrack album in its entirety on Sunday, February 12 at the Belly Up Tavern at 8 pm. The film will be shown throughout the night. The band will also play a full set of other Beatles hits. The Belly Up is located at 143 S. Cedros in Solana Beach. Tickets are $12/$14 and may be purchased online at www.bellyup.com or by calling the box office at (858) 481-8140. The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com.

Although the Beatles were virtually unknown in the United States in October of 1963, United Artists knew the Beatles would become popular. The Beatles' record label, Capital, was refusing to release their music in America. This is where the United Artists' plan went into action. "Our record division wants to get the soundtrack album to distribute in the States," said Bud Ornstein in 1963 who was the European head of United Artists,"and what we lose on the film, we'll get back on the disc." The plan was to produce a low-budget "exploitation" movie, which was very commonly done to promote recent hits by popular artists like Elvis Presley, and obtain the rights the release the soundtrack album in the United States.

With a mere budget of $500,000 and a working title of "Beatlemania", this highly respected "mock documentary" was filmed in less than a week and subsequently nominated for two Academy Awards, made the Time Magazine list of all time great 100 films and was described as "the "Citizen Kane" of jukebox musicals by the Village Voice. Film critic Roger Ebert described the film as "one of the great life-affirming landmarks of the movies." Contrary to United Artists' expectation of losing money, the black and white film was a huge commercial and United Artists produced a larger budget color Beatles film, "Help", a year later.

"A Hard Day's Night" also cemented the Beatles popularity in ways that were not imagined at the time."The film showed fans four distinct Beatle personalites, the success of which changed the way bands were marketed," explained Abbey Road's manager Tom Maher, who managed Guns N' Roses and now manages Motorhead and Anthrax. "Previously the Beatles were marketed as a group, but it became clear that fans loved seeing their differences and identified with them individually," he continued.

"This model continues to be used from acts like the The Spice Girls to the Backstreet Boys," said Maher.

The title of the album was the accidental creation of drummer Ringo Starr, who described a late night as "A Hard Day's Night." The title was "an off-the-cuff remark by Ringo. You know, one of those malapropisms - a Ringo-ism, where he said it not to be funny...just said it," explained John Lennon in a 1980 interview with Playboy. "So [director] Dick Lester said, 'We are going to use that title" Lennon continued.

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The "A Hard Day's Night" soundtrack album contains some of the Beatles most famous songs, including the title track with its recognizable opening chord. The album was number one on the Billboard album chart for 14 weeks, longer than any other album in 1964.

If you would like to arrange an interview with the musicians or producers, would like press passes or would like more information please email andy@lajollabooking.com or call Andy at (562) 480-7951. Manager Tom Maher’s number is (310) 871-1520 and his email is tommaher@aol.com. If you would like photographs forwarded to your editor, please advise.

CALENDAR LISTING:

Abbey Road - A Tribute to the Beatles performs "A Hard Day's Night" album in its entirety as well as other Beatles hits on Sunday, February 12 at the Belly Up Tavern at 8 pm. The film will be shown throughout the show. The Belly Up is located at 143 S. Cedros in Solana Beach. Tickets are $12/$14 and may be purchased online at www.bellyup.com or calling the box office at (858)481-8140. The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com. The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com.

PHOTO TAG:

Both photos attached (one with Abbey Road logo) show (l-r) Christian Hernandez ("Paul"), Greg Wilmot ("John"), Jesse Wilder ("George") and Axel Clarke ("Ringo")

Some additional information about the "A Hard Day's Night" album:

A Hard Day's Night is the first Beatles album to feature entirely original compositions, and the only one where all the songs were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Normally, McCartney and Lennon would contribute a roughly equal number of songs to each album, but A Hard Day's Night is the one Beatles album on which Lennon's dominance as songwriter is by far the greater, being the primary writer of 9 of the 13 tracks on the album, and co-writing only one song with McCartney (I'm Happy Just to Dance with You).

The album was the first by the Beatles to be recorded entirely on four track tape, allowing for good stereo mixes.

And some additional information about Abbey Road:

With their tight harmonies, flawless note for note renditions of Beatles hits, custom–tailored costumes, vintage instruments, Liverpudlian dialect and precise attention to every detail, Abbey Road – A Tribute to the Beatles has honed their show to become one of the most musically and visually satisfying Beatle tribute acts in the world. Abbey Road recreates the magic, music, wit and charm of the Beatles, including the Fab Four’s cheeky personalities, familiar onstage banter and patter between songs.The musicians in the band are between 22 - 33 years of age and are age appropriate for the original artists when the Beatles were playing.

“The show delivers!” said the L.A. Times. “If you see one tribute show, see this one – smart and loads of fun,” said the O.C. Register. “This is the ticket for you,” said the Idaho Statesman. Abbey Road headlined Beatles Festival 2010 and headlined Knott's Berry Farm on New Year's Eve.

The musicians in Abbey Road also perform in a nationally-touring Beatles musical called "In My Life", which played to a sold out crowd at the Canyon Theatre Guild in May of this year."In My Life" traces the trajectory of The Beatles, seen through the eyes of their manager, Brian Epstein. With multimedia projections, elaborate costume changes and classic Beatles hits, the show conjures the nostalgia of one of the most popular bands in rock's history and is widely considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades. Frank Mendonca of the Beatles tribute band, The Fab Four, will join the band as "Paul" on February 12.

Three costume changes cover the full range of the Beatle experience and beyond, with authentic early black Beatle suits, Sgt. Pepper’s regalia and Abbey Road attire. Hear the piccolo trumpet solo on Penny Lane and the full orchestration of A Day in the Life. Relive the emotional intensity of Paul’s moving Yesterday solo, as well as the high energy of stadium songs like Twist and Shout and other Beatle hits.

And some additional information about manager Tom Maher:

The band is managed by Tom Maher, who was part of the management team for such world class acts Guns N' Roses, Slash, Blind Melon, Zakk Wylde, Danzig, Leon Russell, John Jorgenson and My Little Funhouse. Maher is still currently in management for Motorhead, Anthrax, Sepultara, Zebrahead, My Vitriol, as well as up and comers Orange, the UK's Obsessive Compulsive, and Finland's Icon Crash.

Beatles vs. Stones Redux

by Lindsay Huge

Note: The Beatles vs. Stones Show - A Musical Shoot Out performs at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA on Dec. 9.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beatles-vs-Rolling-Stones/207085546009654

My continued attention to apples-and-oranges comparisons/contrasts drew me to revisit this most essential rock music question: Beatles or Stones? On one level, senseless to compare or to certainly rank. On another, it's fun and revealing. Considering 'Beatles vs. Stones' takes us to the core of the 20th century rock music canon. As a middlebrow, I abide the canon. Still for me, the preference is not even close. Left with these two choices, I'm all for the Stones.

But recently I saw that local rock music critics Kot and Derogatis wrote an entire book on the debate, published in 2010. The conversation can't be put to rest, and now there is a published guide.

So I thought it worthwhile to share some angles and information from "The Beatles vs. The Stones: Sound Opinions on the Great Rock n' Roll Rivalry."

K & D both begin by saying, while admiring the Beatles of course, they too both prefer The Stones. As to who was cooler in their Sixties comparative heyday, they agree that there is no contest: The Stones. However, as to which band had more far-ranging influence, the question is less settled.

The Stones, of course, had greater influence on the punk movement which succeeded their heyday, Keith Richards as The Godfather of punk and all that. (It took 20 more years for Neil Young to gain Godfather status w/ Grunge, which might be seen, in retrospect, as punk, part 2, merely more marketed...)

As to marketing, the authors point out that it is easy to assume that, at their beginnings in the early 60s, The Beatles were the more carefully marketed band. And while the Stones consciously positioned themselves as sneering bad-boys from the start, the individual Beatles actually had rougher upbringings. Mick Jagger was from a middle-class London family, and Brian Jones was even better off, a grammar-school boy from the London provinces, while The Beatles were lower-class kids from the working-class environs of Liverpool. And remember that the Beatles learned their chops at underworld clubs in Hamburg. The early Beatles had as much leering attitude as the Stones. Brian Epstein smoothed this out of the Beatles, while the Stones manager, Andrew Oldham, ten years younger, pushed the Stones to be bad boys. They were aggressively packaged from the start. D & K note that Malcolm McLaren, the Sex Pistols manager, had little on Epstein and Oldham.

Oldham was more a post-war contemporary of his band, while Epstein was like an uncle to the Beatles, he managed a record store and preferred classical music. Epstein brought the Beatles to George Martin and pushed out Pete Best. Oldham pushed for Charlie Watts (who would become polished and Saville Row-suited much later). Personally, I've always distilled the comparative musical quality of the two band to their drummers. While Ringo Starr may be commonly underrated, Charlie Watts is clearly a superior drummer. And for Rock to rock, you need good drums.

To push buttons and further the rebel image, Brian Jones once wore an SS uniform for a publicity photo. We are aware of the sources and inspirations: while the Beatles covered Fifties American rock stars at the outset, the Stones did the same but also avidly covered Chicago blues, by no means mainstream American music. Still, there is evidence the early Beatles resisted Epstein's marketing push toward wholesome pop/rock (Epstein also realized the Stones were better bad-boys and had that market licked). When Lennon quipped his famous remark at their performance before the Queen in 1963: "The people in the cheap seats clap your hands; the rest of you just rattle your jewelry," he intended to say "fucking jewelry", but was successfully censored by management. While Lennon defined the Beatles' mission early on, Brian Jones led the Stones at the beginning. Jones was a decided blues practitioner when Jagger and Richard first met him, and he'd already fathered a couple kids. It was he who named the Stones after the Muddy Waters song. The Stones realized that going to the south side of Chicago to hear Muddy Waters was just a bit dangerous, and the mission remained and the image fit. Jagger began wearing eye make-up, and intuitively realized that the Stones couldn't top the Beatles by emulating them, so they had to play their opposites.

The early Stones exhibited genuine misfit behavior upon which Oldham capitalized. Jones couldn't keep a day job because he kept stealing stuff and Richards started a lot of brawls in clubs. But more importantly than their images, consider their early sound, and song selection and performance. The Stones went to Chess Records to record the first chance they got upon landing in America in 1964. The session is mythological, but generally, it is reported that the five kids from England won the begrudging respect of the Chicago bluesmen when they played. Chess talent, on a very basic level, was impressed that these kids had devotedly learned their music from so far away. This is long before the Internet, and the scene in Richards' recent biography of meeting Mick Jagger on a subway platform in London, Jagger carrying Chicago blues albums which he had mailed away for, is explosive cultural history. Cite them for aping, call them derivative (which they clearly were), but the Stones evolved from the start as a British blues band, but one with panache, originality and a consistent edge. They played well, rough-edged and with heart and soul.

You could easily laud the Beatles for being the more original band. Tellingly, they gave the Stones their first original single, "I Wanna Be Your Man," written by Lennon & McCartney. Still, we see decidedly more schmaltz in the early Beatles records, Burt Bacharach covers, etc. But don't overlook their early peaks, like Lennon screaming on "Twist & Shout", Rock if ever there was Rock. Meanwhile, Mick Jagger was trying to sing like a black man (look at a great black soul singer covering a Stones song, Otis Redding singing "Satisfaction" in the Monterey Pop film, and you can readily see, as if you needed this evidence, that Jagger's whole career was largely an attempt.

K & D note that the Stones were taking another generation's music and selling it to their peers, and there was a good deal of excitement in the process. They helped a lot of kids discover Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf, not to mention the all-influential Chuck Berry. The Beatles, of course, covered the likes of Berry also, and who can forget Lennon's tribute: "As for rock n' roll, you might as just well call it 'Chuck Berry'."

The Beatles were very much a pop group from the outset. The Stones first great hit was "Satisfaction" , in 1965, which melded R & B and blues influences with giant pop hooks and rattled the windows of postwar suburbia. "Satisfaction" was subversive Rock at its best, and the Beatles never presented such an overt agenda. The Stones in the mid-Sixties were still doing covers, but cooler covers, like "Hitch Hike" by Marvin Gaye and "Good Times" by Sam Cooke. The Beatles, even early on, exhibited a broader range, where the Stones knew what they wanted to do and what they did best and focused. And Oldham continued to market their darker image. The famous "Would You Let Your Sister Go Out with a Rolling Stone" was a headline written by him for Melody Maker.

G & K both acknowledge and say the Stones knew and they resented at that time, that the Beatles records by the mid-60s had far superior sound. The Stones had no George Martin or Abbey Road. By the end of 1965, "the scope of the Beatles' sonic invention is blowing the Stones away..." The Stones were more of a singles band until 1966, when they released Aftermath, their first great album beginning to end and the first on which Jagger and Richard wrote all the material. But the Beatles at the same time released Rubber Soul, a nod to the folk movement, again outpacing the Stones in studio innovation. Shortly after that, the Stones relinquished attempts to gain great strides in studio technique and dedicated their efforts to mood and attitude. Rock at its best should be simple, direct and that's where I believe the Stones succeeded beyond the Beatles as a rock band. Kot writes: "The Stones had no patience for [studio manipulations]. Can you imagine Keith Richards massaging backward tape loops for days at a time? The Beatles almost over-compensated for their dissatisfaction with live performance by going nuts in the studio..."

The last time you might compare the two bands playing live is to watch clips of their Ed Sullivan performances in the mid-60s. The Stones show far more rock energy, tension and dangerous sexuality. Sullivan disliked them, but had to book them because of their popularity. Considering the bands on film further, understand that the Beatles' best film was "A Hard Days Night" (a great movie), but the Stones' best movie has to be "Gimme Shelter". Different types of films, no doubt, but in terms of sheer coolness (not to mention eeriness), not much comparison. The Stones trump the boys from Liverpool again.

Comparing the two groups at the end of the Beatles' career, the late sixties, early seventies. At this point, the Rolling Stones, with "Beggars Banquet", "Let it Bleed", "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main Street" achieve the greatest four-album run in rock history (and not included is their superb live release "Get Yer Ya Ya's Out"). Though the Beatles are winding down and breaking up at the time, the Stones, hitting their stride, doing what they do best, leave them in their dust. Despite what's incorrectly called the greatest rock album, "Sgt. Pepper", released around this time, the Stones rock and soar while the Beatles whine and prance in the studio. To me, "Exile on Main St." is about the best rock album of all time, and the Beatles produce nothing anywhere close.

Still, it's always a good debate.

Lindsay

Chicago, 2011

PS A Beatles vs. Stones Musical Shoot Out, featuring renowned tributes Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash, will be performed Dec. 9 at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA. www.thecoachhouse.com

Free Beatles concert Saturday, Aug. 20 at Ports O' Call Marketplace

SAN PEDRO, CA (08/12/2011)— A free Beatles concert will be performed on Saturday, August 20 at noon at Ports O' Call Marketplace Berth 77, 1199 Nagoya Way in San Pedro by renowned tribute band, Abbey Road. The concert is a promotion for In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles, the smash hit, award-winning retelling of the Beatles story through the eyes of manager Brian Epstein featuring Abbey Road. Radio station. The musical is considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades. In My Life performs on Friday, August 26 at 8 p.m. at the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 West 6th Street, San Pedro, Ca 90731. Tickets are $20 - $40 and may be purchased online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/186166 or by phoning 800-838-3006. The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com. The show is family-friendly.

In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles is the award-winning musical biography of the Beatles through the eyes of manager Brian Epstein and features the live music of renowned tribute band, Abbey Road. The show broke attendance records at the Warner Grand in January 2010 under the former title, "Ticket to Ride", and is widely considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades. The musical plays on Friday, August 26 at the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 West 6th Street, San Pedro, Ca 90731. Tickets are $20 - $40 and may be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/186166 or by phoning 800-838-3006.The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com.

The show premiered to sold-out audiences in April 2008 at a small Orange County theatre and a number of nights were added to keep up with demand. The show received rave reviews from Los Angeles Times, Backstage West, San Gabriel Valley News, Pasadena Star-News and Whittier Daily News. The show also earned a prestigious Roar of the Crowd award and was rated higher by online audiences than any other stage production in Southern California during the week of April 26, 2009. The production now tours nationally in regional theatres, including playing to a sold out audience last March at Cerritos Performing Arts Center. In January, 2010, the show drew the largest crowd in eight years at the Warner Grand.

More than just a Beatles tribute concert, In My Life gives the audience a chance to “be there” at pivotal moments in the extraordinary career of the Beatles: Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club, The Ed Sullivan Show, Shea Stadium, Abbey Road Studios and the final live performance on the rooftop of their Apple Corp offices. With manager Brian Epstein serving as narrator, In My Life allows the audience to get a glimpse inside the world of the Beatles from their point of view, as well as hear some of the greatest songs ever written. Historical settings such as the Cavern Club are established on stage with videos and images which play behind the actors and musicians on a a video screen.

Four Beatles tribute musicians and actors were cast to portray the Fab Four in the musical. With their tight harmonies, flawless renditions, custom–tailored costumes, vintage instruments, Liverpudlian dialect and precise attention to detail, they recreate the magic of the Beatles, including the Fab Four’s cheeky personalities and familiar onstage banter. In My Life takes the audience back to February 1964 when America watched the Beatles for the first time on The Ed Sullivan Show, playing “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Progressing through their various musical stages, the audience re-experiences the psychedelic era of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the creation of the haunting “Blackbird” and the raucous rock and roll of “Revolution.”

"There have been so many different Beatle band concert shows over the years, but in “In My Life,” we get a chance to see the Beatles, up close and personal, and hopefully gain a deeper insight into who they really were," said Tom Maher, one of the show's producers.

The four musician/actors cast to play John, Paul, George and Ringo were selected from 120 Beatle tribute musicians, most of whom showed up for auditions in costume and in character. The band features Benny Chadwick ("Paul"), Tyson Kelly ("John"), Robert Bielma ("George") and Axel Clarke ("Ringo").

The band is managed by Maher, who was part of the management team for such world class acts Guns N' Roses, Slash, Blind Melon, Zakk Wylde, Danzig, Leon Russell, John Jorgenson and My Little Funhouse. Maher is still currently in management for Motorhead, Anthrax, Sepultara, Zebrahead, My Vitriol, as well as up and comers Orange, the UK's Obsessive Compulsive, and Finland's Icon Cras

PHOTO TAGS: "John" shows Tyson Kelly ("John"); "Sullivanoneguitar" shows (l-r) Benjamin Chadwick ("Paul"), Axel Clarke ("Ringo"), Tyson Kelly ("John") and Robert Bielma ("George"). "Sgtpepper" shows Kelly, Clarke, Chadwick and Bielma.

CALENDAR LISTING:

A free Beatles concert will be performed on Saturday, August 20 at Ports O' Call Marketplace beginning at noon, Berth 77, 1199 Nagoya Way in San Pedro. The concert is a promotion for In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles, the smash hit, award-winning retelling of the Beatles story through the eyes of manager Brian Epstein featuring renowned tribute Abbey Road. Radio station KLOS 95.5 will be giving away free show tickets and t-shirts at Ports O' Call beginning at 11 a.m. The musical is considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades. In My Life performs on Friday, August 26 at 8 p.m. at the Warner Grand Theatre 478 West 6th Street, San Pedro, Ca 90731. Tickets are $20 - $40 and may be purchased online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/186166 or by phoning 800-838-3006. The show's website is www.inmylifetheplay.com.