The Beijing Beatles

More proof that the Beatles are the most universally-loved band in the history of music. From The Telegraph (via Tom). Learn more about them at their Facebook page.

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.

Continue reading.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.