Two christmases ago, I went to see The Bootleg Beatles. I had heard a little about them from a friend that had been before, but had no idea of what to expect. I had an idea that it was just going to be a band playing Beatles songs, which was fine by me, but I was SO wrong!! The show opened with video footage of the early 60s; news reports, pictures etc. The lights went down, 4 silhouettes came onto the stage, the lights came up and there were the Bootleg Beatles! They had the famous grey high collared suits on. For the next half hour they played songs from the early era of The Beatles. They went off stage during the 15 minute interval, when an orchestra was arranged on stage. Then, a giant mock-up of the Sgt. Pepper album cover was dropped down, to be used as a background. It had people such as Eric Morecambe, Groucho Marx, Margaret Thatcher, Clint Eastwood, and others on it. The video screen came down again, and this time My Generation by The Who was played whilst the screen showed images of bands and famous people of the time. We saw the Bootleggers come onto the stage and they had the longer hair, moustaches and uniforms of the Pepper era. This went on for about another half an hour, where they played songs mainly from the Sgt Pepper album. Then a third backdrop was brought down, this time of the yellow submarine surrounded by brightly coloured stars. Their Pepper suits glowed under the UV lights and they looked magical. They then played a medley of songs from the magical Mystery Tour album. Another set change approached, and this time the backdrop changed to the famous Apple. The video screen showed clips of the Vietnam war, and the man on the moon. The Bootleggers came out again dressed as the Late Beatles - "John" in the white suit and long hair, and "George" with the moustache and shoulder length hair. They then played songs from The White Album. In half an hour they were gone. The crowd were cheering non-stop and they came back out and did a 15 minute encore. Then they were gone for good.
I can safely say that not only do they look like the Beatles with the way they are costumed, they have also mastered to mannerisms and voices, and every single note and "Ooh" or "Yeah" you hear in an actual Beatles song, you will hear with The Bootlegs. I can't believe I haven't been before, but I will definitely go again, and I would recommend it to anyone. There was so much love in the room last night, everyone shouting out for whichever Beatle they wanted. "Ringo" got brilliant applause after With A Little Help From My Friends, and "John" was being so witty and dry, taking the piss out of Yoko and Oasis.

They're as near to the real Beatles as you're going to get.

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