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player ready...“The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute” has satisfied the craving of Beatles fans internationally.
The pop-music extravaganza has played countries that include Australia, Japan, Brazil, Germany and France.
The quartet that dishes the hits of John, Paul, George and Ringo is now slated for an 8 p.m. Friday show at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville.
“We try to capture their individual personalities on stage,” said Ron McNeil, who portrays John Lennon in the Fab Four — a dispenser of classic rock such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “A Day in the Life” and “Hey Jude.”
The onstage banter by the Beatle imitators adds to the atmosphere of a Beatles concert in the 1960s.
“We pick on Ringo a little bit; John’s making sarcastic quips here and there,” said McNeil, a resident of Huntington Beach, Calif.
Essentially based in Los Angeles, the Fab Four believes it stands out from the slew of other Beatles tribute bands because of “precise attention to detail.”
McNeil said a tool he uses to mimic the legendary Lennon involves imagery.
“I try to get a mental picture of John,” the musician said. “I think we look more, and sound more like the Beatles than other groups.”
During performances, McNeil not only sings and plays guitar, but also handles keyboard work, while serving up some sounds on the harmonica and bass guitar.
In addition to touting “uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles songs,” the Fab Four is able to point to a triumph on public television because of its Emmy Award-winning PBS special.
The credibility of McNeil’s band isn’t hurt by the fact that Gavin Pring, who portrays George Harrison, hails from Liverpool, England — the home of the Beatles.
The Fab Four is rounded out by Erik Fidel, who portrays Ringo Starr, and Ardy Sarraf, who plays Paul McCartney.
McNeil said Sarraf is naturally right-handed, but learned to play bass guitar left-handed for the Fab Four in order to accurately represent McCartney, a southpaw.
McNeil also noted that Sarraf has the vocal range to match the lofty pitch McCartney had in his prime.
“He actually sings higher than Paul McCartney,” said McNeil, a founding member of the Fab Four.
The band’s show follows the Beatles’ story chronologically as it launches from the 1964 mania surrounding “The Ed Sullivan Show” appearance.
The psychedelic phase of the Liverpool lads also is remembered, as the show then slips into their late-years “Abbey Road” era.
McNeil and company have no less than three costume changes.
Although “The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute” basically delivers well-known, mainstream fare, McNeil said his band occasionally dips into lesser-played gems such as “And Your Bird Can Sing” and “Dig a Pony.”
Millions and millions of Beatles fans have never gotten the chance to attend a Beatles concert, so tribute acts like the Fab Four fill a huge niche that yearns for live Beatles fare.
“I think the music deals with things that are universal,” said McNeil, trying to explain the lasting appeal of a band that split up more than 45 years ago.
It’s not hard for tribute acts like the Fab Four to comfortably fill a show with recognizable songs. John, Paul, George and Ringo notched more than 40 Top 40 hits on Billboard’s pop chart during their reign from 1964 to 1970.
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“The Beatles have so much great material,” McNeil said.
Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance writer.
‘The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute’
Where: Star Plaza Theatre, 8001 Delaware Place, Merrillville
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Tickets: $28 and $38
Information: 219-769-6311, ext. 5463; www.starplazatheatre.com http://www.starplazatheatre.com