Beatlemania lives in Vegas

By Jerry Fink

Friday, Feb. 8, 2008 | 2 a.m.

It was 44 years ago today that the Beatles made their first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

The Beatles’ first full-blown tour made its second stop at the Las Vegas Convention Center for two sold-out concerts Aug. 20, 1964. Tickets here went for $2.20 to $5.50. Already trapped by their stardom, the Beatles saw little of the Strip and spent the night holed up at the Sahara; they had a slot machine brought up to Room 2344 so they could get a little bit of the Vegas experience.

If you look around Las Vegas, you’d never guess the band stopped performing Aug. 29, 1966, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

The really big Beatles show is Cirque du Soleil’s “LOVE” at the Mirage. One of the many touring tributes is making a stop at the Cannery and two tribute bands — one established and one struggling to its feet — are based in Las Vegas.

Here’s a look:

“LOVE”

The Cirque production, which debuted in 2006, features artful remixing of the Beatles music by their producer, George Martin, and his son, Giles.

The remix has been nominated for two Grammys — best compilation soundtrack album for motion picture, television or other visual medium and best surround sound album.

“LOVE” will receive international exposure at the Grammy Awards show Sunday night when cast members perform to a version of “A Day in the Life.”

Details: 7 and 10 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays with additional shows Wednesday, Feb. 13; Mirage; $137.50-$165; 791-7111

On TV: “LOVE” cast members perform at the Grammy Awards ceremony; 5 p.m. Sunday; CBS (KLAS-TV Channel 8)

“Get Back”

The Cannery loves the Beatles.

“Our demographics are the Baby Boomer audience, so we do a lot of stuff from the ’60s,” says Bryan Cory, the Cannery’s director of special events. “But it’s amazing. You’ll see audiences ranging in age from 21 to 71. The Beatles really cross generations.”

So the Cannery will have a Beatles show at the drop of a hat — one year it honored Ringo Starr’s birthday, and it’s celebrated the band’s debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show” each of the past four years.

This year it’s “Get Back! Cast of Beatlemania,” which has been touring the country for 20 years but is making its first Las Vegas stop. The show’s roots are in “Beatlemania,” the Broadway show that ran for 1,006 performances from 1976 to 1979.

“We do a strong look-alike and sound-alike show,” says Jack Petrilla, who portrays Paul McCartney. The two-hour concert has three acts — “mop top” period, “Sgt. Pepper” phase and “Abbey Road” era.

“We’re doing songs the Beatles never performed live. They didn’t tour for the “White Album.” They never performed “Sgt. Pepper” live — though McCartney did on his own tour,” Petrilla says. “We do what we feel the characters would do, what they would look like, what they would say.”

Details: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; the Cannery; $10; 856-5100

“Fab Four Mania”

Even though “Fab Four Mania” was doing well at Planet Hollywood, the musicians wanted to move.

“They wanted to go to the Sahara because the Beatles stayed there in 1964,” producer David Saxe says. “It was their dream, and they are really into authenticity.”

There are two “Fab” shows — “Fab Four” is based in Los Angeles and “Fab Four Mania” is based in Vegas. “Fab Four” played the Las Vegas Hilton first in 2001 and again in 2003. “Fab Four Mania” came to the V Theatre at Planet Hollywood in 2005 before moving to the Sahara in November.

The cast pays close attention to the most minute details, from body movement to vocal inflections.

“There are hundreds and hundreds of groups, but these guys sound more like the Beatles than any of them,” Saxe says. “They are so into the exact sound, the vocals, the voices. It’s a little creepy.

“Nobody else would know the Beatles didn’t do something a certain way, but the guys would know. They know exactly where the Beatles stood, how they interacted with everything. They knew the voices changed a bit over time. They use the same exact kind of amps and guitars the Beatles used. They aren’t just a bunch of musicians putting on a wig and playing the music.”

Details: 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; the Sahara; $53.90- $86.90 for adults, $24.20 for children; 737-2515

Benefit: Saturday’s show benefits the Nevada Cancer Institute; $24.95

“4 Lads From Liverpool”

This group still is an unknown commodity. Producer Gary Ballen calls the show a work in progress.

Since it opened at the Canyon Club in the Four Queens in November, the Beatles tribute has changed names, lost its original producer and replaced several members.

The current incarnation of “4 Lads From Liverpool” has been around for about two weeks. The cast (as of the interview) includes David Leon, who was John Lennon in “Beatlemania”; Carmine Gripp as Ringo Starr, a role he has played for more than 15 years; Todd Rainey as Paul McCartney; and David Brighton as George Harrison.

“We’re still putting it together, but what we have is pretty amazing,” Ballen says. “I feel like our players sing, look and play better than almost anyone. We’re just trying to work out of a bad situation.”

Details: 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; Canyon Club at the Four Queens; $43; 387-5175