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The impact that the Beatles have had on society, both as a band and as a cultural phenomenon,
can never be overstated. The Beatles not only changed the direction of music, but the direction
of society itself. It’s hard to believe that it has been over 30 years since the Beatles first set
foot in the United States and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Little did we know back then
that the band that was so fresh and vibrant in the 60’s would go on to actually change the
course of modern music today.
Equally hard to believe is the fact that the band whose music
has touched so many millions of people was only experienced live in concert by a lucky few.
A lucky few that waited in line, sometimes for days, to get tickets to see the Beatles perform
for a mere twenty minutes in a large hail with poor sound and lighting and thousands of young
fans whose screaming made actually enjoying the historic musical event nearly impossible.
Furthermore, even those lucky few that did experience the Beatles live heard only a
very small
part of the incredible repertoire that they would go on to write. The Beatles' last concert tour
was in 1966 long before the release of many of their classic albums such as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles ('the White Album'), and Abbey Road. This has left an incredible void in the music world that
would never have been filled if not for Rain, the greatest Beatles tribute to ever grace the stage.
Rain got their start in Los Angeles in 1975. Like so many other bands, Rain’s
main objective was to write their own original music, and eventually
secure a recording contract. But, unlike other bands, Rain had a second
goal. That goal was, because of their love of the music, to become the
best band in the world at duplicating the sound of the Beatles. Not just
the early Beatles, but the sound of the complete Beatles, from A to Z.
Rain wanted to be able to perform every song from every album, note for
note, live on stage.
Rain’s approach to the Beatles music is extraordinary. They treat the Beatles music with the
same respect that a classical musician does when approaching a classical piece. They do not
merely learn a song, they truly study the song. No liberties with the music are taken. Rain believes
that although almost any band can learn how to play a Beatles song, it takes a very special talent
to do it right.
The secret is in their attention to detail. Every harmony, every chord inversion, every musical
part - whether it be an orchestral part, or something as simple as a hand clap- has to be there.
When all of these ingredients are added up, what you have is nothing less than the greatest live
Beatles experience any one can ever hope for. It has earned Rain rave reviews internationally,
and won them the privilege of performing on many TV and movie projects, including the entire
soundtrack to The Birth of the Beatles, produced by Dick Clark.
In 1980 Rain joined forces with the stars of the hit Broadway show, Beatlemania, and became
not only the greatest note for note duplicators of the Beatles sound, but the strongest, most
authentic, and most exciting Beatles tribute ever. Now, not only had RAIN perfected the sound of
the Beatles, but they had the image, look, stance, and production that left even the most die-hard
Beatles' fan awe struck.
In 1990 Rain gave one of the most unique performances of their distinguished careers. They
got up on a rooftop in Seattle, and, in front of live TV cameras and a live radio simulcast, duplicated
the Beatles last public performance, as seen in their film, Let It Be. In this once in a lifetime
concert, Rain actually performed every song that the Beatles did on the rooftop of London’s Apple
Studios, in the original order, note for note, no second takes allowed. This event made them the
focus of attention in articles that were covered by CNN and USA Today.
It is not uncommon today for some the other touring Beatle bands to change members on a
regular basis. These groups are often thrown together at the last minute, totally unrehearsed, and
are, therefore, not even a band in the truest sense. Rain, on the other band, is a true band. If you
enjoyed Rain at one performance, you can rest assured that when you see the band in the future
you will see the same musicians on stage.
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