48 HOURS
If you see him walking down the street, he's just Ron McNeil. But
when he steps onto the stage, McNeil becomes one of The Fab Four --
John Lennon.
He and his three fellow musicians will be playing the music of the
Beatles, everything from "I Want to Hold Your Hand" to songs from the
legendary group's self-titled "white album," Sunday at the Starlight
Bowl.
Unlike other Beatles tribute groups, they strive for authenticity.
They really play their instruments and recreate the songs as they
were originally arranged, without tapes or backing tracks, McNeil
said. Taking it to the extreme, Ardy Sarraf, who plays Paul
McCartney, relearned to play the bass guitar left-handed for his
role.
The group will expand its repertoire when it performs with a
65-piece orchestra in a gala concert marking the 40th anniversary of
when the Beatles first came to the United States to appear on "The Ed
Sullivan Show" on Feb. 9, 1964. The concert will be in February at
the Orange County Performing Arts Center.
"We're the only four-piece [Beatles tribute band] that does it all
live," he said. "Songs like 'Eleanor Rigby' has cellos, violins and
violas."
So, having the orchestra will allow the group to play selections
they can't do with just four members.
Of all the music, McNeil's favorite song to perform is "Imagine."
Even though Lennon did the song after he went on to a solo career,
McNeil said the four members sing it together.
"You can go and see Paul but you don't get John and George songs,
and people miss the Beatles. They miss the four guys," he said.
This is The Fab Four's third Starlight Bowl appearance. Each year,
McNeil is amazed at the number of youngsters at the show.
"People who grew up with the Beatles come to the show and bring
their kids and sometimes their kids," he said.
The audience ranges in age from 8 to 80.
"It's a family-oriented show," he added. "You can bring your
grandmother and she is still going to enjoy it."
McNeil and Sarraf, along with Rolo Sandoval (Ringo) and Michael
Amador (George), have been a group for six years. But McNeil was
performing as Lennon four years before he joined The Fab Four.
Growing up in Southern California, he was a big fan of the Beatles,
and he likes to imitate people.
"I do resemble John a lot," he said. "The stage makeup and acting
helps in our ability to portray the guys we're playing on stage."
While they are celebrities on stage, he said, off stage they can
go about their lives without being disturbed by fans.
