The Bootleg Beatles

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The Bootleg Beatles
Tribute to the White Album
Background information
Origin	West End, London, England
Genre(s)	Pop
Years active	1980 – present
Website	BootlegBeatles.com
Members
Hugo Degenhardt Neil Harrison Andre Barreau David Catlin-Birch
Former members
Rick Rock Paul Cooper

The Bootleg Beatles are a Beatles tribute band. They have performed over 4,000 times since their establishment in March 1980.

Their 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 the Soviet Union; further tours followed in Israel, the Far East, the Middle East and India. In February 1984, they were invited to perform in the United States, to commemorate The Beatles' initial US tour 20 years earlier.

UK success continued to prove elusive. In 1990 the Bootleg Beatles booked 10 shows in cities in which The Beatles had performed in their final UK tour in 1965. Audiences were small but enthusiastic, and another tour was booked for the following year. This proved more popular, and as each year went by so crowds grew, the tours expanded, and the venues got larger. Finally, a gig in Southampton caught the attention of Oasis, leading to the Bootleg Beatles supporting the Britpop band at Earls Court. This gave the band a contemporary audience and increased their credibility, launching them onto the premier European festival circuit and shared stages with Rod Stewart, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, The Corrs, Manic Street Preachers and Iggy Pop.

The Bootleg Beatles continue to prove a popular attraction in the 21st century. Recent achievements have included playing at Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace in 2002.