Tribute shows
The Electric Light Orchestra was formed way back in 1971 by Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood and Bev Bevan as a side project to The Move. After the first album, Roy left and Jeff turned it into the World-beating classic band that it became, releasing massive-selling albums throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. Jeff then became a superstar producer of such acts as Tom Petty, George Harrison, The Beatles, Bryan Adams and Roy Orbison - as well helping to launch the Traveling Wilburys. In 2013, he was persuaded to perform a few songs for a Children in Need concert by the organiser Gary Barlow, and he even borrowed Gary's backing band. It was such a successful venture that he didn't give them back for 12 years! In this time, three albums and 3 World Tours brought the band - now re-christened as "Jeff Lynne's ELO" into arenas and stadia.
Guy's show is an affectionate tribute to the reincarnated band, and features all of the songs played in their most recent tours - plus a few new fan favourites! Duration is up to two hours.
Squeeze - often labelled as the archetypal English band - formed in Deptford, London in 1974 around singer/composer Glenn Tilbrook and rhythm guitarist/lyricist Chris Difford. They came to prominence during the "New wave" era, amassing 23 chart hits including consecutive number 2 hits "Up the junction" and "Cool for cats".
Although the big hits dried up during the mid 1980s, their 2015 album "Cradle to the grave" was their best selling original album. Their peers compared them to Lennon and McCartney, and their iconic songs - including "Hourglass", "Another nail in my heart" and "Some fantastic place" have all been cited as influential by other British songwriters.
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This show is proud to feature a 45 minute soundalike tribute to their best-known hits, followed by a set of songs written by some of their English contemporaries including songs penned by Paul Weller, Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson.
There are hundreds of Beatles tributes around. Do we need another one? In this case, yes!
Guy has produced this show to be different. Here is the story in his own words:
"Imagine this if you will. It's 2025. All four Beatles - John, Paul, George and Ringo - are still alive. They still split in 1970, and all had pretty brilliant solo careers. So much money has been offered over the intervening years to reunite them, but so far they have not taken the bait. Now, though, they could be tempted if they could find the right venue. Maybe your venue?
"They decided not to play anything that they played in front of a paying audience before - so nothing before 1967. "
Audiences never got to enjoy "Magical mystery tour", "Sgt Pepper's lonely hearts club band", or "Free as a bird" before, but they will now. Plus "Imagine", "Band on the run", "My sweet lord", and "Photograph" . All on one night!
This show is an affectionate tribute to what might have been the best concert never played!
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