Members of Rain
The Beatles toured for four-years, playing over 1,400 concerts (“Can’t Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain and America by Jonathan Gould (2008). Their final concert appearance was in San Francisco on August 29, 1966. The band went from the live stage to the studio, creating some of the most influential and experimental albums in popular music history.
They changed music.
And for the last forty years, fans have been trying to recapture the magic that was The Beatles through compilation albums, collections, documentaries, remastered mixes and the often told stories of “I first saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan” as they wistfully remember that iconic first live television appearance broadcast on February 9, 1964.
“If you look at their career, it spanned a very short period of time from 1963 through early 1970 however during that period they released twenty-three albums,” said Mark Lewis, manager and band member of Rain, a Tribute to the Beatles.
“And each of those albums, each of those songs means something to millions of people around the world. Say 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' and people immediately think of the mop-top band. Say 'Sgt. Pepper' and there is an image of the album cover, the flowers and the sweeping instrumentals. 'Michelle,' a beautiful ballad. 'Helter Skelter,' a song credited with influencing the birth of heavy metal. ”
“But consider how different each song, each album sounded. And then consider the sheer volume of music they produced. This is what made The Beatles special.”
Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles appears Friday, June 25th and Saturday June 26th at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap, bringing the history, magic and music of The Beatles to life via a stage production that begins and ends with the music, but that also includes costuming and lighting worthy of the Broadway stage to which they are headed for eleven performances during the fall of this year.
While not the only Beatles tribute band to emerge, Rain has outlasted and out performed all the rest. For the band members, the journey to touring large venues, and soon to be appearing on Broadway, began in the L.A. clubs during the mid-1970s when Lewis and his band Reign began mixing Beatles songs into their sets.
“When we began, we were not a Beatles tribute band, but we did Beatles songs,” Mr. Lewis said. “After awhile we became known, and were being booked, to do all Beatles shows and our name morphed into “Rain,” the title of a rather obscure song that was recorded as the B-side to “Paperback Writer.”
From amusement park performances and corporate events to becoming the present day representatives of the Fab Four, the members of Rain – Joey Curatolo/Paul (vocals, bass, guitar, piano), Joe Bithorn/George (vocals, lead guitar, guitar synthesizer), Ralph Castelli/Ring (vocals, drums, percussion) and Steve Landes/John (vocal, guitar, piano, harmonica) who joined the band in 1988 after the passing of original member Jim Riddle in 1997 and founding member Mark Lewis (percussion and keyboards) who takes the stage as the fifth Beatle – have spent the last thirty-five years perfecting the look, music and vocal sound and performance style of The Beatles.
“The band has worked to emulate the sound of their voices and their harmonies are perfect,” Mr. Lewis said. “It takes serious musical chops to be able to play and sing their music correctly. And at the same time, we have the willingness and desire to be actors, to perform in character. We have fun. Our audiences have fun.”
Mr. Lewis shares that they use makeup, costuming and lighting – “every trick you can get” he said, to recreate a band that stopped performing when the members of Rain where still very much pre-teens.
“Had the Beatles stayed together, if they were still performing today, they would be performing as an older band however the longevity of a musical career is one where the musician can improve their craft with age,” Mr. Lewis said. “Rain is a real band, with real musicians that have dedicated themselves to creating an authentic experience. We are a one-band show with fabulous production values.”
“But you have to remember, as we do, that we are a band first. Not a concept piece that was created by a producer, such as Beatlemania was. What we do on stage is the accumulation of years of work and it is rewarding at this stage of our lives and it feels good. “
Head to Wolf Trap Friday and/or Saturday night, take your friends, or your children, and “Get Back” to an era long past.
Jacquie Kubin is a 15-year, award-winning veteran of travel and culinary writing. Today Jacquie edits and directs a staff of writers for Donne Tempo Magazine and is always looking for new talents who wish to expand their horizons. Email Jacquie with ideas, questions or to share your writing dreams. Follow Donne Tempo on Twitter and Facebook.
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