Friday, March 29, 2024

Beatlemania could erupt

Posted

America met The Beatles 55 years ago when Ed Sullivan gave his now-famous intro, “Ladies and gentlemen…the Beatles!”

It’s estimated 73 million viewers were tuned in to Sullivan’s television variety show the night of Feb. 9, 1964.

The mostly female audience was shown screaming, jumping and even hyperventilating.

Beatlemania could erupt at Granbury Live when tribute band, The Return, comes to town for three shows Feb. 9-10.

Band founder Michael Fulop said there could be a few who scream from the audience, probably trying to recreate the era.

“It’s a fun, high-energy show,” he said. “We encourage singing, clapping and dancing.”

The Granbury show will mostly feature songs from 1963 to 1966.

Fulop didn’t grow up listening to the Beatles. Heck he wasn’t even born. He played in a couple of rock bands while in high school, then went in a different direction.

He became curious about the Beatles when he noticed the number of musicians who said they were influenced by The Beatles.

Fulop was 17 in 1995 when he started the Beatles tribute band, The Return. He plays the role of George Harrison.

Drummer Adam Thurston joined in 1996 and fills the role of Ringo Starr.

Richard Stelling plays John Lennon, while the role of Paul McCartney is filled by Mike Vargo who joined the band two years ago.

With their clean-cut suits, ties, mop-haired wigs and the right makeup, “We do look like The Beatles,” Fulop said in a telephone interview from his home in Griffin, Georgia, near the Atlanta area.

All band members are longtime musicians, married and have children. “There’s 10 kids between us,” Fulop said.

The Return has performed all over the country and across the world.

Beatles fans are everywhere, Fulop noted. During a multi-week tour in Japan, The Return performed 20 shows in 15 cities.

What song draws the biggest reaction?

“Twist and Shout” is always a crowd-pleaser, Fulop said.

“If people are a little laid back during the show, they do get involved when we play that song. And if people are already singing and dancing, they take it up a notch,” he said.

Get ready to twist and shout with shows at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets range from $32 to $40 and can be purchased at https://thenewgranburylive.com.

dschneider@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 255