Beatlemania makes a much anticipated return to The Wharf Saturday, October 22, celebrating 50 years of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band — and more!

The first part of the show will be a set filled with the classics from the iconic album along with other hits from 1967, including Penny Lane, Magical Mystery Tour and Strawberry Fields.

For the second set it will be a case of punters kicking off their shoes and dancing the night away with a real party set to include She Loves You, Ticket to Ride, Help and an array of mega hits. The band not only tour extensively but have been booked to perform for Richard Branson, The Beckhams and Madonna.

Ellie Hudson chatted to Dave Peterson, who ‘plays’ Paul McCartney to find out more.

‘Beatlemania is a well coined phrase and perfect name for a Beatles tribute. When did you form and how many are in the band?’

‘It’s the best name! The band formed in 1994 and the current line up has been together since 2014 with Clark Gilmour as John Lennon, Richard Petch as George Harrison, Joe Montague as Ringo Starr and me as Paul McCartney.’

‘How did the band get together?’ 

‘Originally we were all based in the North East and started off playing in local pubs and then onto the club scene, which at the time was big business. The band just grew and grew until it got to where it is now performing all over the UK at theatres and festivals, with shows overseas too.

‘Now the line up is dotted around the UK and we’ve all been in various other Beatles tributes before.’

‘Are you actually fans of the band?’

‘We are all massive fans. I think you have to be to get everything right, it’s not just the music, but also the equipment, costumes, everything that makes this a whole show that incorporates every single aspect of The Beatles.

‘You really have to be taken in by it all and for it to become almost an obsession.’

‘Anyone got any connections to Liverpool?’

‘Clark lives in Liverpool and is booker and artist liaison officer at the world famous Cavern Club.’

‘Do you try to look like the band as well as sounding alike?’

‘We do try our best with the looks, the costumes, mannerisms and the things we say on stage.’’

‘Is it a greatest hits package that you play?’

‘We try and do a lot of the well known stuff as well as classic album tracks— along with a few surprises. There are that many great songs and well known ones that is it is more a case of ‘what to leave out?’

‘Whatever the set list, someone will always say we didn’t play their favourite but to do that, we’d be on stage all night until morning!’

‘What is it about The Beatles that appeals to you?’

‘The whole package. It’s the only band in the world where you can see their names and people know who they are. ‘John, Paul, George and Ringo’, just rolls off the tongue. The Beatles are always in our lives, our musical oxygen, like football and fish and chips!’