Wednesday, October 08, 2014

China loves the Beijing Beatles, yeah, yeah yeah!

Sixties supergroup the Beatles were an international phenomenon, but in Communist China, which was in the grip of the Cultural Revolution, few would have been aware of their existence.

Fast-forward 50 years however, and a group of expats known as the Beijing Beatles are spreading the love for the Fab Four right across this vast country.

The tribute band – who go by the stage names John, Paul, George and Gringo – have played close to 250 gigs in 20 Chinese cities since forming in 2010.

Frontman Ian Burns (John), who hails from Billingham in north-east England and runs a graphic design company in China, explained that the group was set up after they spotted a "four-headed gap in the market". It slowly started building up a following among Chinese and expats fans alike.

 The Beijing Beatles (thebeijingbeatles.com) are so realistic that some Chinese believe they are the real Fab Four. Burns, 49, said: "It’s quite surreal to be honest. We played a gig a few days ago in Guangzhou and as I walked off the stage a Chinese guy asked me to sign his shirt! What do you do?’’ Full story...

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