“Beatles Night at Shea” by Bill Greenberg  Copyright 2005   (page 1 of 2)                                            FocusonFame.com

The New York Mets celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the historic Beatles Concert at Shea Stadium on August 16th, 2005 with “Beatles Night at Shea”. The group chosen to perform the pre-game concert was the Beatles Tribute band “Strawberry Fields”. The performers are: Tony Garofalo: John Lennon impersonator (rhythm guitar, lead guitar, piano, and lead vocals), founder and producer of Strawberry Fields, Tony brings to the stage a lifetime of musical background and stage performance experience; Billy J. Ray: Paul McCartney impersonator (bass guitar and lead vocals) since 1978 and original Broadway "Beatlemania" cast member; Mark Vaccacio: considered the world's foremost George Harrison impersonator (lead guitar, lead and backing vocals), is an original Broadway Beatlemania member, as well as its cast director since 1978. He is better known as "Farquar" to his friends; Gerard Barberine, Jr.: Ringo Starr impersonator, brings to the stage many familiar Ringo mannerisms, as well as the flawless drumming musicality so familiar to the hardcore Beatle Fan which has become their standard audience for over twenty years. Strawberry Fields was scheduled to perform the exact set of songs performed by the Beatles themselves on August 15th, 1965.

Sid Bernstein and his Business   Partner Joey Gargano

Sid Bernstein, who promoted the original concert, was invited to participate in the event which started at 6:30pm and ended in time for the New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game, which was scheduled to commence at 7:10pm. Along with Sid Bernstein, Joseph Gargano (dear friend and business partner) and his son Robert; myself Bill Greenberg (Sid’s personal photographer), all were greeted by Kevin McCarthy, Shea Stadium Operations Director, and invited into his office. Once inside, Kevin informed us that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr had each sent congratulatory sound bytes to be broadcast in the first two innings of this evening’s baseball game. We were then joined by Jason Ressler and Evan Strome (creators of the documentary “Sid Bernstein Presents”), and Vito Salamone, of the New York Mets Group Sales.  Kevin led us all to the “Green Room”, where we shared this waiting/dressing area with the band Strawberry Fields. From the Green Room, our VIP party of six walked through the tunnel directly onto the field. We met Radio Personality Gerry Martire from Q104.3, who was going to do the introductions for Strawberry Fields and Sid Bernstein. From time to time The Diamondvision video screen lit up “Beatles Night at Shea” with a picture of the Beatles while the main scoreboard lit up an original complete yellow Beatles Shea Ticket from August 15, 1965.

At precisely 6:30pm, Strawberry Fields was introduced and entered the field from the tunnel with their vintage guitars in hand (as the Beatles did). Tony with his Rickenbacker 350 (long scale 325), Billy with his left-handed Hofner Violin Bass, and Marc with his Gretsch Tennessean. Their British tan Shea jackets, black pants, trademark “Beatle boots”, period style wigs, and even the “Wells Fargo Agent” badges all mirrored the look of the original Beatles that hot night in August of 1965. The stage was set with a Ludwig “Black Oyster Pearl” drum set, and on guitar stands were the Rickenbacker 360/12 and the Gibson J160E electric-acoustic guitars. After Strawberry Fields took their positions on stage, Sid Bernstein, the man who first brought the Beatles to Shea Stadium 40 years and one day ago, was introduced and honored with the scoreboard lighting up THE METS WELCOME SID BERNSTEIN simultaneously with Sid’s live picture on the Diamondvision video screen in left field. Escorted by Joseph Gargano, Sid walked from behind home plate to the right corner of the makeshift stage located in front of the 1st base dugout. The two men stood alongside photographers as the band started playing. Their “Fab Four”-like sound could be heard through the Vox amplifiers and the stadium’s PA system, reminiscent of what the Beatles experienced back in 1965. History states that 55,600 screaming fans may have drowned out the four lads from Liverpool, but even the occasional jet which flew overhead didn’t interfere with Strawberry Fields fine efforts to recreate the exact sound of 40 years ago. The songs played were: Twist and Shout, She’s A Woman, I Feel Fine, Dizzy Miss Lizzie, Ticket to Ride, Can’t Buy Me Love, Baby’s In Black, A Hard Day’s Night, Help, and I’m Down. The two songs Act Naturally and Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby were excluded due to time limitations. After the concert, Sid and the band exited through the tunnel, and posed for a dozen photos for the press in the corridor that connects the tunnel to the Green Room. After exchanging good-byes with the band, Sid and his entourage thanked Kevin McCarthy, Vito Salamone, and Stadium Operations crewmembers.           >>> next page