Darren, Steve, Craig and Simon - not quite as catchy as John, Paul, George and Ringo. But what's in a name?
The Beatles Experience are just one of many tribute bands who have taken to the stage in Cardiff recently. Some of the capital's coolest venues have been playing host to grown men pretending to be rock stars.
So, what's the appeal?
Experience
Anyone who went to the Beatles Experience gig at The Globe last week saw just how experienced these 'Beatles' are. Complete with Beatle wigs, scouse accents and a Paul you'd be forgiven for mistaking for the ex Mr Heather Mills, this tribute act is the whole package.
They've been together in their current line-up for about eight years, giving them plenty of time to perfect their homage to the godfathers of pop music.
"People don't actually need to know us personally. I think they just think, oh it's a Beatles tribute band . . . they kind of know what they are going to get" said Simon, the band's Ringo.
He thinks part of their popularity lies in the collective reputation of all Beatles cover bands.
"A tribute band draws a certain amount of people; they know what they're going to get . . . we don't necessarily have to have a following".
This reputation gets them some high profile gigs; they regularly play alongside original Sixties acts such as Gerry and the Pacemakers at Bultins weekends dedicated to the decade of free love.
Paying ten pounds to see professional musicians play songs they've perfected over the course of a decade seems good value for money.
Listen to Simon and Darren (Ringo and John) talk about the Beatles tribute community
Time travel
At least half of the crowd at the gig weren't even born when John Lennon was shot outside the Dakota building. Going to see a tribute band can be an opportunity to get a taster of the music of the past.
"I wasn't even born when the Beatles had any of their hits, but everyone knows them all, even little kids" said Tom, a 21 year old student.
"I came to see the band tonight because all my mates were coming . . . . it was bound to be a good night out, good music. Obviously I never saw the actual Beatles".
Tom would need to set his time machine to December 12th 1965 to see the real Fab Four. It was the last time they played in Cardiff.
Watch the Beatles Experience perform I Want to Hold Your Hand at The Globe
Location, Location, Location
The Beatles aren't the only band you won't see in Cardiff any time soon; Led Zeppelin recently quashed rumours they would reunite for a tour. Over twenty million people applied for tickets for their one-off reunion gig at the O2 in London. If you were lucky enough to be allocated a ticket, you still had to fork out £125 to see them.
The Point, in Cardiff Bay, regularly features rock based tribute bands, like Whole Lotta Led. It's a lot easier to book them than to convince Page and Plant to reform. And to play a gig in Cardiff.
AC/DC are playing the O2 on the 14th April, and Live/Wire are playing The Point on the 14th February. One may be an imitation, but both are extremely popular. Emily works at The Point -"Some bands, like Live/Wire, have their own following. They sell out in their own right".
"Some of our clientele are of a certain age and don't have the time or motivation to travel far to see bands. "
The Point played host to the UK Guns N Roses in the same week Axl Rose released the long awaited Chinese Democracy. Emily said it went down really well - Cardiff fans of eighties rock are unlikely to get the opportunity to see Rose's rehashed version of the band, let alone the original line-up. The UK Guns N Roses features a Slash look- and sound alike on lead guitar.
Emily said "Tributes of bands who are still together aren't likely to do well - Coldplay put an album out every few years and will tour with it, so it's likely they'd play in Cardiff. There isn't the demand for a Coldplay tribute".
Money Money Money
The Rolling Stones still tour, but their gigs are not accessible to everyone. They brought the 'A Bigger Bang' tour to the Millennium Stadium in 2006, and the most expensive tickets were £150. You can see The Rollin' Stoned for £10 at The Globe on the 23rd January, or The Rollin' Clones for £11 on the 9th May at The Point.
In times when most of us are tightening our belts, a night out to see a tribute to one of your favourite bands seems like a good way to save some cash.
The ticket price is considerably cheaper, and the travel costs are minimal. And it may be another fifteen years before Jagger decides to strut his stuff in Cardiff again.
Cardiff venues hosting tribute bands - click for directions
View Larger Map
Scroll along to see which tribute bands are playing in Cardiff soon
Related Links:
Click here for more videos of the Beatles Experience at The Globe
Tribute band reviews
Posts
