Neil Harrison
Encyclopedia
Neil Harrison is a British
member of The Beatles
tribute band
, The Bootleg Beatles
, in which he plays John Lennon
.
musical
Beatlemania, which Harrison joined at the age of 28, Harrison formed The Bootleg Beatles with fellow cast members Andre Barreau
and David Catlin-Birch
. The band invested their dwindling finances in two guitars - an Epiphone
and a Gretsch
- as well as two Vox
amplifiers, four black polo-necks and a wig.
Harrison has stated that there have been three occasions when he has met original members of The Beatles.
His first experience was in 1968, when he and some friends sang Christmas carols outside Paul McCartney
's father's house on the Wirral.
The second meeting was in 1996 at David Gilmour
's 50th birthday party. Gilmour booked both the Bootleg Beatles and the Australian Pink Floyd Show
as he'd "always wanted to have the Beatles support Pink Floyd". George Harrison
was in the audience and quipped "you probably know the chords better than I do" and "Where's the Bootleg Brian Epstein
? 'Cos he's got all the money!".
The third meeting was at the Party at the Palace
for the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
in 2002, where McCartney headlined.
On the 26th March 2011 at a gig in St Albans, Neil Harrison, otherwise known as 'Bootleg John' shocked the audience after coming to the stage to perform 'Imagine' as an encore by announcing that he was leaving the group 'to bring the average age down a bit'. He sang 'Imagine' after shouts of support and thanks from the crowd and was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a further gift from the band. The Bootlegs then performed 'Back In The USSR' followed rather fittingly by the medley of songs from Abbey Road that culminates with 'The End'. The band left the stage to a standing ovation and further shouts of thanks to Neil.
", a single for Lulu
from her 1981 self-titled album and has released a solo album entitled Richmond Hill.
He also released an album in 1974 on Deram Records
called All Dressed Up and Nowhere To Go".
The album sounds very similar to The Beatles works.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
member of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
tribute band
Tribute band
A tribute act is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act - sometimes one which has disbanded, ceased touring or is deceased. Probably the largest class of tributes acts are Elvis impersonators, individual performers who mimic the songs and style...
, The Bootleg Beatles
The Bootleg Beatles
The Bootleg Beatles are a Beatles tribute band. They have performed over 4,000 times since their establishment in March 1980.- History :The band's first performance was at a small student gathering in Tiverton, Devon, England. Following more low-profile gigs, the band performed a 60-date tour of...
, in which he plays John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
.
The Bootleg Beatles
Following the final show of the West EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
Beatlemania, which Harrison joined at the age of 28, Harrison formed The Bootleg Beatles with fellow cast members Andre Barreau
Andre Barreau
-The Bootleg Beatles:Following the final show of the West End musical Beatlemania, Barreau formed The Bootleg Beatles with fellow cast members Neil Harrison and David Catlin-Birch...
and David Catlin-Birch
David Catlin-Birch
David Catlin-Birch is a British musician, most notably as the World Party bassist, including their "Is It Like Today" track from No.1 album Bang, and the original and most recent Paul for leading Beatles tribute The Bootleg Beatles....
. The band invested their dwindling finances in two guitars - an Epiphone
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market...
and a Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
- as well as two Vox
Vox (musical equipment)
Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Continental electric organ, and a series of innovative but commercially unsuccessful electric guitars and bass guitars...
amplifiers, four black polo-necks and a wig.
Harrison has stated that there have been three occasions when he has met original members of The Beatles.
His first experience was in 1968, when he and some friends sang Christmas carols outside Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
's father's house on the Wirral.
The second meeting was in 1996 at David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
's 50th birthday party. Gilmour booked both the Bootleg Beatles and the Australian Pink Floyd Show
Australian Pink Floyd Show
The Australian Pink Floyd Show, more frequently referred to as the Australian Pink Floyd, are a Pink Floyd tribute band formed in 1988 in Adelaide, South Australia. Their live shows attempt to recreate the look, feel, and sound of Pink Floyd's later world tours, employing visual aids such as...
as he'd "always wanted to have the Beatles support Pink Floyd". George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
was in the audience and quipped "you probably know the chords better than I do" and "Where's the Bootleg Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
? 'Cos he's got all the money!".
The third meeting was at the Party at the Palace
Party at the Palace
The Party at the Palace was a pop concert held in London in 2002. The event was in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II held over the Golden Jubilee Weekend 1 -4 June 2002. The concert itself was held at Buckingham Palace Garden on 3 June 2002...
for the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
in 2002, where McCartney headlined.
On the 26th March 2011 at a gig in St Albans, Neil Harrison, otherwise known as 'Bootleg John' shocked the audience after coming to the stage to perform 'Imagine' as an encore by announcing that he was leaving the group 'to bring the average age down a bit'. He sang 'Imagine' after shouts of support and thanks from the crowd and was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a further gift from the band. The Bootlegs then performed 'Back In The USSR' followed rather fittingly by the medley of songs from Abbey Road that culminates with 'The End'. The band left the stage to a standing ovation and further shouts of thanks to Neil.
Other works
Outside of the Bootleg Beatles, Harrison wrote "I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)
"I Could Never Miss You " was the fourth and final US Top 40 hit for Lulu.-History:"I Could Never Miss You" first appeared on Don't Take Love For Granted, a 1978 album release on Elton John's Rocket Records. The song was composed by Neil Harrison and co-produced by Mark London...
", a single for Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
from her 1981 self-titled album and has released a solo album entitled Richmond Hill.
He also released an album in 1974 on Deram Records
Deram Records
Deram Records was a subsidiary record label established in 1966 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom. At this time U.K. Decca was a completely different company than the Decca label in the United States, which was then owned by MCA Inc. Deram recordings were also distributed in the U.S. through...
called All Dressed Up and Nowhere To Go".
The album sounds very similar to The Beatles works.