Lakeport >> For decades, the battle has raged: Beatles or Stones? Through their heyday, fans accused London”s Rolling Stones of stealing ideas—even entire albums—from their Liverpool counterparts. At the same time, the Beatles secretly envied the Stones” “bad boy” image and attitude, often copying their style. Both bands are unmistakably great, scoring an array of hits that changed musical history, but only one can be the best.
Fifty years after the Stones released their first record, the most infamous rivalry in rock and roll never played out in a public arena—until now as Beatles vs. Stones: A Musical Shoot Out performs at the Soper Reese Community Theatre in Lakeport on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. The show is appropriate for all ages.
Were the Stones yelling for “Help” to fight the songwriting prowess of Lennon/McCartney? Or were the Beatles crying “Gimme Shelter” from the relentless sonic barrage of Jagger/Richards classics?
While fierce competition fueled the creative output of both bands during the 1960s, tension between the tribute performers is equally palpable.
“The Beatles cornered the rock market on cute suits and fluffy hairdos, but then they stood still on stage and modeled them,” that according to Young Hutchison, who plays a dead ringer for Keith Richards in both swagger and ability. “The Stones rocked the stage, and worked as hard as the bluesmen they modeled their stage show after, generating the smoldering sexuality that came to be a hallmark of great rock-n-roll acts. The Beatles? Well, they were cute. The Stones were the original punks, outsiders at best. Beatles took tea with the bloody Queen—how rock-n-roll is that?”
As for the Beatle response? “We got our Sgt. Pepper jackets made a little long so the Stones would have no problem riding our coattails!” Mocks drummer Axel Clarke as Ringo. “That Mick Jagger sure can move! It”s a shame he has to work twice as hard to be half as good.”
Would you let your daughter marry a Rolling Stone, or your son come home with a Beatle haircut? This ultimate battle of the bands pits the mop tops against the bad boys. London against Liverpool. Guitars will weep and dice will tumble, and in the end, when the whip comes down, only one band shall emerge victorious. Whoever wins, the unique tribute show and competition features the familiar sounds, the iconic wardrobe and spot on performances down to the onstage banter, missed notes and flubs heard on the original records.
The show tours nationally and recently concluded a three month residency at the Harrah”s Reno showroom. The October 26 show in Lakeport is part of a 110 city tour of the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The show has been touring since 2011.
Members of both Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash have taken great care to recreate the experience of seeing these incredible bands live so as to please casual fans and purists alike. That ”All You Need is Love” spirit appears to be lost on Hutchison and Clarke, who continue trading barbs.
“The Beatles wrote Let It Be, but the Stones countered with Let It Bleed.” snarls Young.
“Listen, mate,” counters Axel. “The song John and Paul gave to the Stones (”I Wanna Be Your Man” in 1963) was one they let Ringo sing … that says it all!”
Ouch.
Beatles or Stones? You decide.
