Mitch & Cast of Beatlemania-1978

[Lennon4ever1]

Mitch was the best Paul McCartney impersonator I've ever seen in a Beatles cover band! -I wish I could say the same for the other 3

[msrdrummer]

Beatlemania performed at Camp Winadu in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in July, 1978.

[msrdrummer]

I saw Beatlemania perform at Camp Winadu in July, 1978. As the sound check began, "Ringo" had not shown up yet so I walked on the stage and started to play "Let It Be" with the band. One of my friends had taken a Polaroid of me on stage with them but I lost it years ago. I've been playing drums for 40 years and that was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had as a drummer.

[danieldelanus2009]

JAJAJAKJAJA!!!

[JeffersonDinedAlone]

Why is the vid so shitty? We had clear reception in '78.

[mcrtnyfan]

@JeffersonDinedAlone This was not off my television. Somebody sent this to me. Back then our antennaes didn't work so well and that's what the person who sent this to me told me.

[conuregirl007]

Mitch is a great Paul! He's very good looking.and has the mannerisms down pat. Something about Joe Pecorino is so appealing and I think he does a fine 'John.'

[danlektro]

Thank you for posting this! I got to see Farquar and Mitch perform as Rubber Soul around 1994-1995 at the Westchester County Fair. (Not sure who played George and Ringo then) True gentlemen, wonderful performers and nice enough to give me an autographed picture.

[Velvet4U]

look at 2:33 thru 2:37 Is that Sonny Bono in the audience , in the middle??

[bmajor981]

I saw who I think was the best Lennon, Marshall Crenshaw. Even his own recordings sound alot like John.

[Monstermack40]

That really wasn't Mitch Weissman, Mitch Weissman was killed in a car crash in 1966 and was replaced by a look a like

[WannaBeatle]

@Monstermack40

that's hilarious hahaha!!!

-your friendly neighborhood Weissman look a like ;)

[CavenEdwards]

Wow There just as good as the authentics!

[kevykev38]

There is waaay to many tribute bands

[partsat99]

Mitch and the original cast were the best...

[cathymaid]

I met joe in 1981 at the their show in Kingston Ontario, The thing that I remember most was the fact that he was shorter than myself, I'm 5'6" so a lot shorter than Lennons height of 5'11",just looking at a few other posts here, I'm planning on seeing rain, who are playing here in Toronto July10.

[peppercasper]

I saw this original cast twice...can't beat Mitch Weissman and Joe Peccorino....they made an excellent Lennon/McCartney!!!!

[money0395]

I whish this was on dvd

[cpo122455]

Lenny Colacino is a better McCartney and lefty as well. Cantamassa as Lennon can give Joe a run . Teely is the best Harrison by far. He's touring with rain now.

[mcrtnyfan]

Mitch was the first, he played left I think a few times, I can't say anything about the rest because I only saw Mitch.

[babystinky]

But None is good John except for Gary Gibson! Truthfully, Gary Gibson looks more like John then anyone, but no-one really has that Lennon sound down yet.

[cjmaybee]

@cpo122455 Teeley is not very people friendly, as a performer, he is OK. I would rather see Jimmy Pou, whom is also with Rain.

As for Mitch, he is very good, better than Colacino. If you can, check out Graham Alexander (he's a lefty!!), he also tours with Rain as McCartney. Joey Curatolo is a good McCartney, like Mitch, is a righty.

If there were a contest between Mitch, Joey, and Graham, it would be very hard to choose a winner.

[scottericksonmusic]

@cpo122455 Mitch plays both Lefty & Right. He also looked JUST LIKE McCartney back in the day. Lenie is VERY good, but Mitch was better. Glen Burtnik however, has the edge as a play & singer over both Mitch & Lenie. Carlo is a fantastic John, but for my money David Leon was the best. Of course, Let's not forget about Mark "Farquar" Vaccacio or Marshall Crenshaw as John. Les Fradkin can play circles around Teely. But Teely was a great George as well. OK, I've said my piece...

[DoctorLawyerWhatever]

@scottericksonmusic Well, if the guy plays lefty, which is accurate, why the hell would he play righty? Doesn't make any sense, does it?

[nilshot13]

There are many better Beatle look and sound a like bands today but back in the 70's, this was really a novelty. Remember, these guys pretty much had to learn parts by ear because there wasn't that much video readily available to copy from.

[WannaBeatle]

@nilshot13 this was the first lineup of the show. many later casts had some better look a-likes, they also scattered many players from different casts.

if you look up the movie version of the show, they cast the best look AND sound a likes for that cast. That cast was Mitch Weissman, David Leon, Tom Teeley and Ralph Castelli as Paul, John, George and Ringo.

[52Teleman]

Many Beatle impersonators I've seen, but this is the first one to actually scare me....

[Gush089]

mitch played paul mccartney at my bat mitzvah.... lmao

[TheColts99]

Cool!

[badekargeneral]

The Paul copy is nearly perfect. But the George lookalike would do better as a Bee Gees impersonator. But they sing as the Beatles and play like the Beatles and that is the most important.

[upwards11]

Wow! I remember when the Beatles first came to the US-they could have sang the phone book and we would have been happy!!

[Ranchclaw]

john, george & ringo dont look like the real ones, but holy crap the paul one look JUST LIKE PAUL

[koldcell]

Damn I was born in 78!!!! Respect for the drummer!!!!! Cheers!!!

[Bloke1962]

Thank You !

[Ihy744ppp]

I really dont think they look like the real thing, also counting of in German is also not very Beatles-like.

[Fastfritz63]

They got their start in Hamburg, Germany in the early sixties in a place called The Star Club...They played to German crowds several sets a night! Counting down songs in German was something that they did back then!!!

[johnny10301968]

Even though Mitch did'nt play bass the same way Paul did he was the spitting image of him.

[henrynevins]

Does anyone know where Mitch Weissmann is today? He attended Rutgers Prep School in NJ, my sister knew him. I saw the show at the Winter Garden in NYC in 1978. It was the most memorable, enjoyable Broadway performance I have ever seen. Like a woman interviewed on the street after the show said in the TV ad "Its like the Beatles are really up there, almost" I agree. The show should be revised again. It took me through my youth as the Beatles themselves evolved.

[mcrtnyfan]

Mitch is in L.A.

[WannaBeatle]

yeah, he's here in LA. I see him and/or call him quite often these days.

really super nice guy, he is.

[lmfaolpits]

hey everyone i love reading this stuff because joes my dad (: yeah im not lying funny to see all stuff written about him an all.. anywayy we have alot of footage taht you all cant get so ahah.. sorrry no. hes still in the music bizz and just played a show at BB Kings in NYC with Beatlestock. i went, it was fantastic. he sounds better now than in that video and really you gotta appreciate the beauty of live music. joe does sound better live.. hess soo talente i love him (:

[BandSpread]

When they played: Boston i went to every show and had front row seats center. Mitch would sit on the edge of the stage and play yesterday. the first show blew my mind. they had four screens in the backdrop.visual effects i thought they were all lip syncing to the music. the sound & notes were perfect i bought 4 more tickets and let me tell you they were the real thing. It was like seeing the Beatles live. I would like to know ..? did the show's producers get sued by apple for infringement..?

[westfield90]

Mitch was amazing. But really Leslie Fradkin looks nothing like George and Joe Peccorino looks nothing like John. Also Joe doesn't even sound like John. Listen to Help. It sounds like some NY guy singing Help. Not like John Lennon

[expatbritingermany]

Have you come across a British performer called Stevie Riks on YouTube? He impersonates all the Beatles, and I think you'll find he can make himself look like them, but above all he's got the voices off perfectly. (Of course he can't play all of them together live ;-) I especially love his 'John Lennon' rendering of 'Real Love' under the title 'Happy 67th Birthday'. Stevie is also a great singer, comedian and musician.

If you like this sort of thing, it's maybe worth checking out his videos.

[mcrtnyfan]

Yep I know all about Stevie Riks. Thanks for letting other's know.

[rockologo]

personally, i think that stevie looks and sings as paul. Sing exactly as george too, looks like john lennon BUT, doesn't sings like him. A very talented man.

[JP5466]

Really ashame that Mitch never learned how to play left handed... even on the close-ups he looks like the real Paul.

[3994446]

This is great!!! I seen Beatlemania in 1980,it was crazy!!! The best time ever!!! Very memorable!!!

[dafunkydrummer]

This was the original cast (Mitch Weissman - Paul, Joe Pecorino - John, Leslie Fradkin - George and Rick Bloom - Ringo) with the exception of "Ringo". The original Ringo was Justin McNeill.

[QVrat123]

he looks exactly like paul especially with the body movements

[driverblue1]

Except he dont play left handed.

[CaffeineJittersDeux]

Mitch makes a great Paul. I don't know who the guy is playing George, but he looks more like one of the Ramones to me.

[BOZO32851]

@CaffeineJittersDeux The guy playing George here is Les Fradkin.

[dickiefickle]

did you ever go to a show ? its amazing they transorm thru the years suit and ties nero shirts bead etc shows a history thru the years

[scarletspidey5]

LOL mitch as paul very good choice looks a lot like paul!

[TheBetterKirk]

Beatleologist, you got me laughing on that one.. (no offense to the George guy ofcourse)

[BlackjackDSapolis]

Does anybody know if there are any videos of Marshall Crenshaw in Beatlemania? I have heard that he was the best as John Lennon.

BTW...

Is that Nigel Lithgow on lead guitar (as George)???

just kidding... lol

[bwworld]

I'd love to see some footage of MC as John as well, but from what I understand he was only with the show for a relatively short time.

[mjm4222]

David Leon was also concidered to be one of the best John's from the show too.

[organboi]

it's sad they couldn't find four look-a-likes. nowadays, i believe they could.

[WannaBeatle]

actually, the best look a likes were some of the cast members from the show.

The movie version was pretty much the best looking ones from all the cast members at the time

[cherylrk]

is that joey pecorino as john? what ever happen to him?

[mcrtnyfan]

Yes, that's him and he's still around

[cherylrk]

how do u know that?

[WannaBeatle]

He still plays the Beatle circuit around here and there...mainly the tri-state area. There's a couple of vids here and there on YT that show him playing at Disneyworld not too long ago

[Gush089]

mitch played paul mccartney at my bat mitzvah, too funny

[westfield90]

Mitch was probably the best McCartney but I cannot believe how off they were in their George and John selections. Leslie Fradkin looks nothing like George.

[mcates101]

I agree on the Mitch part. Leslie and Joe may not look like their characters, but they sing and play just like them and that's what it really boils down to.

[allmod2]

Best John Lennon was without a doubt Jim Riddle the original John in the group Rain (was he also in Beatlemania?). Too bad he passed away from brain cancer much too young. Also the guy who plays John in the Mahoney Brothers is a really good John, especially when he was younger.

[WannaBeatle]

I've only caught Jim Riddle on TV here and there, but he was good.

Yeah, Riddle was in one of the many Beatlemania bunks

[PuffinStuff43]

Actually,the "original" line-up for RAIN was Ed Lineberry,Chuck Coffey,Bill Connearney and Steve Wight....The second line-up was Bob Williford or David Leon,Chuck Coffey, Bill Connearney and Bobby Taylor....Andy Fox played John for several shows

[pika23]

I don't think John or George look like the real Beatles....they are good singers, not great look alikes though

[javimari]

Franklin looks like Freddie Mercury.

[WannaBeatle]

yeah, I hear Les hears that a lot.

from what I remember, Joe Pecorino actually wanted to try out for the Paul part..don't ask me how I know everything about the show haha

[PuffinStuff43]

Hey Mike.....The perfect "union" between STAR TREK & The British Invasion:.........'You've Got Your Tribbles, I've Got Mine'!!!:)

[WannaBeatle]

wow, ya really know me well.

[WannaBeatle]

er...since ya know me pretty well...who is this...could be anyone, I let everyone know I'm a huge Trek dork too...ok, a huge dork all around (and proud of it, too)

[rokrol9]

YES I DO MEAN OTHER THAN THE MOVIE

[mcrtnyfan]

Nope, sorry can't help ya, maybe some of the boys could........boys?

[amcbrown02]

Sorry there is no other footage that was released or will be released. The only other footage or 8mm or otherwise was just rehearsals and we are not permitted to release that without the written consent of ALL of the show's cast members due to legal issues.

Thanks

[rokrol9]

i was just wondering if anybody carries footage of beatlemania at the winter garden theatre in 1978

[mcrtnyfan]

you mean other then the movie?

[babystinky]

Crap, now that is 30 years ago. What the frig is happening to time!@!!!???

[mcrtnyfan]

Thanks for that info!

[WannaBeatle]

if my B'mania memory serves me correctly, but, didn't Joe first want to audition for the Paul part until he saw Mitch and got scared so he went for the John part.

[westfield90]

Amazing footage. Mitch was really the only one that resembled any of the Beatles. Justin and Leslie look nothing like John and George

[mjm4222]

Cool!!!!! The original cast -1. Where was Justin McNeil? He still should have been with Bunk 1 in 1978. Although Rick is a good fit. Still have the record!!!

[mjm4222]

Pretty cool seeing footage of the Original cast(except Rick Bloom). Where was Justin McNeil on drums? Thought he was with the original bunk for more than 1 year.

[mjm4222]

WOW, The original cast of Beatlemania!!! Didn't think anyone had any footage left. Isn't Justin McNeil the drummer in this?

[jsejordana]

Rick Bloom's my uncle. Awesome to see this - thank you so much for posting. Where was it shot?

[mcrtnyfan]

Your very welcome. I think this was shot in New York in the Ed Sullivan Theater which is where David Letterman has his show and where The Beatles debuted. But don't quote me on that, maybe you can ask your uncle!

[babystinky]

Just a question for you, of all the Beatle bands out there, who did the best "JOHN", was it Gary Gibson? I know he looks like him. It seems I have heard some very good Paul's but John is difficult, Gary seems the best. Anyone else?

[Rickenbacker350V63]

With all the numerous Beatles' tribute bands nowadays, it seems too easy find clones of the Fab Four. When the casting call went out for BEATLEMANIA, the show's producer was looking for musicians who can play the instruments, sing and resemble the lads. Couldn't help but giggle a bit at the Ringo character. He plays the drums like Animal from the Muppets! Great vintage video. Rock on mates!

[Bloke1962]

Thank You---------------but Ringo was an animal on drums (Pre-Rubber Soul.But always in control.

Rick Bloom

Beatemania 1978 (Drums)

[Rickenbacker350V63]

Wow! I am honored that you replied personally to my comment. Thank you for having a very good sense of humor ...just like Ringo! You are so right, always in control! Rock on mate!

[WannaBeatle]

Hey Rick,

I don't think I've seen you perform before (do you still do Beatle gigs??)...other than Jamie's video here. But, you certainly are a human metronome.

[apeman63]

Joe always looks like he's mad at the mic in that version of "HALP!"

Love this old stuff though!

[WannaBeatle]

that's awesome, Jamie...all of them are so damned young...