One of the longest-running battles of the bands is the debate between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. For over 60 years, that battle has gone on, but now, it’s headed to the Bristol Riverside Theatre as the two bands will throw down on-stage in a musical showdown of sorts.
From June 25 to 29, tribute band Abbey Road, one of the county’s top Beatles tribute bands, acts as the Fab Four, while the bad boys of the British Invasion will be represented by Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show.
The Beatles, known as pioneers in the music industry, are often referred to as the most influential band in popular music. Rising to cultural dominance in the 1960s, the Beatles were trailblazers in several regards—the Beatles revolutionized music production, album narration, songwriting, and much more.
The band was among the first to utilize 4-track recording (the industry had previously been dominated by two-track recording), helped form the early years of popularized rock and roll, and grew to draw influences from near and far, from Chuck Berry and Little Richard to international influences from the far East. Blending the sounds of people and lands helped establish the early makings of popularized Western rock and roll.
“Without Beatlemania, the Stones might still be a cover band in London,” said Chris Overall, who plays Paul. “There’s no question that the Beatles set the standard.”
The Rolling Stones, however, are also frontrunners in the influential category. Carrying the torch for early rockers in a similar way to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones brought the Blues to a brand new audience, taking influence from artists like Muddy Waters and even their rivals in this matchup, though, between their years as friends, enemies, and something in between, it could be argued their inspiration came from a place of competition more than anything else.
“Music fans never had a chance to see the Beatles and the Rolling Stones perform on the same marquee,” said Chris LeGrand, who plays Mick Jagger in the show. “Now, music aficionados can watch this debate play out live on stage.”
The show is appropriate for all ages. For tickets or more information, visit beatles-vs-stones.com.
