The Bootleg Beatles charge £10,000 per show. They've been around since 1980. And they're anything but a joke.
Co-founder Andre Barreau has played George Harrison longer than Harrison played himself. His advice to new tribute acts? "Get a good wig. Not for comfort — for believability."
The Bootleg Beatles were early movers. In 1980, people didn't get it. "They said: why are you doing this? They'll probably reform." They never did. And the tribute scene kept growing.
In the late eighties, Australian acts like Björn Again and the Australian Pink Floyd Show gave the industry a massive boost. Since then, the market has only expanded.
Music critic Simon Price sees a clear trend: "As the greats of rock and roll gradually die off and fewer living legends remain, the tribute industry will grow and grow. The rock canon will be treated like public domain — just like Shakespeare."
Promoters notice the audience is changing. Younger fans are showing up. "It's no longer seen as just a cheesy night out," says promoter Emma Busk. "People recognise the musical authenticity. The Stones still tour, but tickets are expensive and you might be half a mile from the stage."
Some tribute acts go further than others. T-Rextasy is officially endorsed by the estate of Marc Bolan. Frank Zappa's son Dweezil tours his father's music. And Tim Owens went from a Judas Priest tribute band to fronting the real thing — later immortalised in a Hollywood film.
The Bootleg Beatles keep the illusion strictly on stage. Barreau: "I don't go to the supermarket with the wig on."
Want to bring The Beatles to your event? Tributeworld books Sgt. Pepper — the professional The Beatles tribute act for festivals, theatres and events across the Netherlands and Belgium.