Former Wings Member Denny Laine
Stamford, CT – Celebrate the music of The Beatles and 60’s pop music at Liverpool Productions’ “BEATexpo 2010,” a convention for fans on Saturday, November 27 and Sunday, November 28th, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Stamford, 700 E. Main Street in Stamford, Connecticut.
After a 12 year hiatus, the convention returned to Connecticut last year where it was such a resounding success that it is back again in 2010 with a great line-up of very special guests of honor and speakers, concerts by tribute bands, a rock & roll flea market/memorabilia marketplace; rare video shows and feature-length films; special exhibits and displays; art galleries and many other features, events and attractions.
In the 80’s and 90’s, Liverpool Productions’ shows were the first (and, in some cases, only) U.S. conventions to host such Special Guests as original drummer Pete Best, John’s first wife Cynthia Lennon, John’s sister Julia Baird, “Love Me Do” drummer Andy White, “A Hard Day’s Night” actor Norm Rossington, Brian Matthews and Bernie Andrews, Joey Molland of Badfinger, early Beatles promoter Sam Leach, Woodstock legend and George Harrison’s friend Richie Havens, Davy Jones and Peter Tork of The Monkees, Beatles bodyguard Horst Fascher, Liverpool’s Billy J. Kramer, Hamburg’s Tony Sheridan, Lennon associate May Pang and many others. This year, once again there are some guests appearing who have never been to a convention before.
Special guests of honor at BEATexpo include:
Tommy Roe & The Beatles circa 1963
TOMMY ROE Tommy Roe played on the same bill as The Beatles and he is coming out of retirement to join us at BEATexpo. This isn’t only his first BEATexpo — it’s the first convention he’s appeared at — ever! The international hit-maker wrote or co-wrote and recorded six Top 10 hits between 1962-69, more than any other single artist/songwriter during this period of the sixties. Four were certified gold records. Two of his hits, “Sheila” and “Dizzy,” topped the Billboard chart at #1. “Sweet Pea,” “Hooray for Hazel” and “Jam Up & Jelly Tight” were his other pop rock classics.
On March 9, 1963, The Beatles began their first British tour opening for Tommy Roe (and Chris Montez). In that month, they played 21 dates throughout England, including a showcase concert at Liverpool’s Empire Theater. Tommy is coming out of retirement to make this very rare appearance to meet fans, talk onstage, sign autographs and play a few songs.
DENNY LAINE Originally with the Moody Blues (“Go Now”), Denny Laine is beloved by fans as the longest member of WINGS along with Paul and Linda McCartney. He co-founded the band in 1971 and stayed with Paul for 10 years, along the way co-writing one of the largest-selling singles of all time, “Mull of Kintyre.” Albums included “Red Rose Speedway,” “Band on The Run,” “Venus And Mars,” “Wings at the Speed of Sound,” “Wings Over America,” “London Town” and “Back to the Egg.” Denny was scheduled to make his first-ever convention guest appearance in Trumbull, CT back in the mid-80’s and couldn’t get into the U.S. at the time, but his ex-wife, Jo-Jo, and his children Laine and Heidi attended. After several convention appearances in Liverpool and at such shows at ROCK CON, it is an honor to have Denny finally make his first Connecticut convention appearance where he will meet fans, talk onstage, sign autographs and play a few songs.
RICHARD LANGHAM Richard Langham was the Second Engineer at EMI/Abbey Road Studios where he worked with The Beatles on their “Please Please Me’ album, the “From Me To You” single sessions and so many more. All the way from his home base in London, we are delighted to have Richard join us for his first-ever convention appearance – anywhere! He is looking forward to telling stories and reminiscing about The Beatles’ early EMI recordings, meet fans and sign autographs.
CARLOS ALOMAR Carlos Alomar is the guitar virtuoso who co-wrote “Fame” with John Lennon and David Bowie. He has performed or recorded with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Mick Jagger, Chuck Berry, James Brown and others. In all, Alomar has played on a total of 32 gold and platinum albums, including John’s “Double Fantasy” and Paul’s “Press to Play.” This is his first-ever appearance at a convention for Beatles fans, and he will meet fans, talk onstage, sign autographs and hopefully jam on a few songs.
JULIE GRANT Julie Grant is a special addition to BEATexpo, and this is her first-ever convention appearance ever! Julie was signed to Pye Records in England and toured with many stars of the time including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Animals, Searchers and Yardbirds. Julie also appeared on “Top of The Pops,” “Ready Steady Go” and “Thank Your Lucky Stars.” She released 15 singles, 5 of which made the top 20.
Julie befriended the Beatles in 1963 and became a back-stage staple and part of their inner circle. Julie was a guest at countless Beatles shows and has endless stories to tell, including the performance where Julie watched the lads from behind the scenes accompanied by Paul’s Dad. Julie dated Mike Pinder of The Searchers and they double-dated with Paul when he was together with Jane Asher. She was close friends with The Beatles, but because she was managed by The Rolling Stones’ manager at the time, professionally Julie was to the Stones as Cilla Black was to The Beatles. She will tell stories of The Beatles’ earliest years, meet fans and sign autographs.
SID BERNSTEIN Sid is the legendary promoter who worked with Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein to bring The Beatles to America. He produced their historic 1964 Carnegie Hall concert and both their 1965 and 1966 Shea Stadium shows, the first stadium concerts in history. He imported the British Invasion to the shores of New York City and helped build the dreams of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, the Moody Blues, the Kinks, James Brown, Ray Charles, John Denver, Joan Baez, Miles Davis, the Rascals, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley, Barbara Streisand, ABBA, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and the list goes on and on. He is always happy to meet fans and sign autographs.
GARY VAN SCYOC (ELEPHANTS MEMORY) Gary’s professional performances, experience & knowledge of the music/recording industry has continued for over forty years. His concert and recording credits include such notable artists as John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Jerry Garcia, Neil Sedaka, Keith Moon, Paul Simon and others. He is featured in John Lennon’s “Live in NYC,” and TV performances with John include the Mike Douglas show and the Dick Cavett show as bassist for John’s 70’s NYC band, Elephants Memory. He will talk about his time with John, meet fans and sign autographs.
DENNIS FERRANTE Grammy award winning recording engineer returns to BEATexpo to talk about his years of producing and engineering John Lennon’s albums from “Imagine” thru “Rock n Roll.” Ferrante worked closely with Lennon throughout the ’70s on such classic albums as “Imagine,” “Some Time in New York City,” “Mind Games,” “Walls and Bridges,” and “Rock ‘N’ Roll.” He will meet fans, answer any questions and sign autographs.
JUMA SULTAN Juma Sultan was Jimi Hendrix’ percussionist (Juma played at one of the most historic concerts in history, Woodstock!). Hendrix was the 1st artist to cover “Sgt. Pepper” live onstage, which blew away The Beatles. It’s Jimi’s birthday on 11-27-42, so the timing couldn’t be better for Juma’s first BEATexpo appearance. He will be more than happy to meet fans and sign autographs, and perhaps play some bongos.
LADA EDMUND The lovely Lada is the famed 60’s Hullabaloo TV “Caged Go-Go Dancer.”She was a pop sensation and recording artist who posed in photos with The Beatles and sang on the bill for Murray The K’s show at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre. She will be on hand to talk about the sensational 60s, meet fans and sign autographs, including a great shot of her with The Beatles.
Special Guest authors include JUDE KESSLER, who penned the historical fiction book “Should Been There” and the brand-new “Shivering Inside;” DAVID BEDFORD, author of the great Beatles book on Liverpool called “Liddypool,” and fellow Liverpudlian KEVIN ROACH, author of “The McCartneys: In The Town Where They Were Born.”
There will be a video room where rare films and footage will be screened, including a new feature-length film on John Lennon making its New England premiere, “Let Him Be.”
Performing both on Saturday night and Sunday as official convention band will be the New York Beatles tribute group“The MerseyBeat,” making their first-ever BEATexpo concert appearance. Also performing a set of Beatles music will be the team of Ian Lloyd and John Ford. Ian Lloyd was the lead singer of The Stories (“Brother Louie”) and John Ford of The Strawbs. who lived at – and recorded at – John Lennon’s Tittenhurst Park for two years.
“Ticket to Ride” All-Day Passes for Sunday, November 28 (Noon-8pm) are only $15.75 in advance or $20.00 at the door (if the event isn’t sold out in advance). There is an early-bird V.I.P. admission which gets fans and collectors in at 11am for first crack at the vendors ($30.00), and they may stay on all day. There will also be a Special Pre-Show Concert Event on Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 8pm with special guests, bands and attractions. Tickets $15.75 in advance or $20 at the door (if not sold out in advance). . Advance tickets available online at www.ToursAndEvents.com/BEATexpo.htm. It is this Special Pre-Show Concert Event where Tommy Roe and some of the other special guests will be performing live on stage in the ballroom.
Parking for this event will be free at the Holiday Inn Downtown Stamford, 700 E. Main Street in Stamford, Connecticut and a special $84 per night “BEATexpo” convention rate is being offered until November 1st.
For updates and further information, call (203) 795-4737. You may also e-mail LiverpoolTours@aol.com. Website is www.ToursAndEvents.com/BEATexpo.htm.
