Beatles tribute band 1964 … The Tribute may perform the only rock concert you can ever take your grandparents to and still look cool.
“One of my favorite things is that you can look out and see three generations of families out there sitting together, laughing and having fun,” said Mark Benson, who portrays John Lennon.
1964 … The Tribute consists of Benson as Lennon, Gary Grimes as Paul McCartney, Tom Work as George Harrison and Terry Manfredi as Ringo Starr. The band recreates an early ?60s live Beatles concert, complete with period instruments, vintage costumes, onstage mannerisms and more.
1964 started as a side project for the members, who wanted to work on recording original material. They quickly became asensation in the college circuit, which Benson says surprised the members because “we thought the kids wouldn?t be into The Beatles music.”
The group eventually started touring. “With the type of show we?re doing, we can?t spend too much time in the same area,” Benson said. “There wasn?t much of an option but to go on the road.”
Today, 1964 is one of the highest grossing and most authentic tribute acts in the world. Rolling Stone Magazine dubbed the band “the best Beatles Tribute Show on Earth.” They sold out the 10,000-seat Red Rocks venue near Morrison, Colo., 15 miles away from Denver, as well as New York?s Carnegie Hall, three times and are booked through August 2007.
Benson said that the people he encounters on the road continually surprise him with their knowledge of The Beatles? music. “It?s a real uniter, we?ve been so many places on the planet that you wouldn?t think would have any major type of Beatles history, but everybody everywhere has some kind of a Beatles story,” he said.
“More than a mere concert, 1964 … The Tribute recreates every facet of a Beatles performance in the mid-?60s,” Sam Orlando, press agent for the band, said. “From the whitty onstage banter, to the vintage costumes and perfectly recreated instruments there is no better way to keep the memory of The Beatles alive than to see 1964 … The Tribute for yourself.”
If you go
1964 … The Tribute
» Venue: 1st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore
» Time: 7:30 p.m.
» Cost: $20
» www.1964thetribute.com
