- Title: PHILIPPINES: BEATLES TRIBUTE BAND CELEBRATES FORTY YEARS
- Date: 15th March 2004
- Summary: AUDIENCE SINGING "LET IT BE" (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAR OWNER AND SINGER RICHARD MERCK SAYING: "The best thing about being a Beatles fan and follower is that you can be a Beatles fan anytime."
- Embargoed: 30th March 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- City:
- Country: Philippines
- Topics:
- Reuters ID: LVADENXXHQBZJO9KPWGG727N2EKX
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Filipino Fab Four celebrates forty years of Beatlemania in Manila.
For Beatles fans in the Unites States 2004 is a year for celebration, marking the 40th anniversary of the first time the Liverpudlian legends crossed the pond and exploded on the American scene.
In a packed bar in Manila, fans of the Fab Four celebrated a different 40th this year as they gathered to watch the Philippines' answer Paul, John, Ringo and George "Twist and Shout" one more time.
As the Beatles were taking the U.S. by storm in 1964, brothers Vic and Raul Generoso decided to quit school and try their hand at bringing Beatlemania to the Philippines by forming a tribute band.
40 years later and the Dynasouls are the Philippines' best-known Beatles cover artists - with popular albums of Beatles songs in both English and Filipino.
Sporting satin Sgt Peppers costumes and carefully styled wigs, the Dynasouls try to recreate the Beatles sound and look down to the last detail - even using original VOX amps and vintage Rickenbacker and Epiphone guitars.
Fans crowded into local bars to watch the band on their anniversary tour - some, like popular radio DJ Brother Wayne, have been Dynasouls supporters from the beginning.
"I saw the band when they started out - fantastic! Age of course, voices change and all that, but it's still there, the magic is still there. The costumes nowadays they probably just add up a little bit to people who never experienced the real thing," he said.
The band has given thousands of performances all over the Philippines and around Asia, with a repertoire of some 60 Beatles hits - giving fans a taste of the real thing.
Club owner Richard Merck, himself a famous Philippine jazz singer, said he was nine when he watched the Beatles perform in Manila.
"The best thing about being a Beatles fan and follower is that you can be a Beatles fan anytime."
In fact the Beatles one and only Philippines tour in 1966 was a disaster when they accidentally snubbed first lady Imelda Marcos after failing to turn up for a private audience they hadn't been informed of, and had to fly out to escape from an angry mob.
But as Vic, Raul and their bandmates can testify - Beatlemania is still alive and well in the Philippines.
"I wish someday we will be invited to London, so that they see what we can do as the Philippine Beatles," said Vic. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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