If you were to wonder why anyone would want a career impersonating someone else, you’re probably not a Beatles fan. Quite possibly the most famous band to ever exist, the Beatles have numerous tribute bands paying homage to their music and likeness, but none quite as popular as RAIN.
Formed in the mid-1970s, the members of RAIN have been together longer than the Beatles themselves, and are still going strong. (The Fab Four debuted in the U.S. with their 1964 appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” completed their final U.S. tour in 1966 and disbanded in 1970.) RAIN is comprised of Joey Curatolo (Paul McCartney), Steve Landes (John Lennon), Joe Bithorn (George Harrison), Ralph Castelli (Ringo Starr) and founder/offstage keyboardist Mark Lewis. Interestingly, RAIN doesn’t attempt to “cover” the Beatles as many others do. But rather take their music to a higher level, performing live, note-for-note songs that even the Beatles never performed live.
Like his bandmates, Curatolo doesn’t approach his role in RAIN as an ordinary cover musician. And understandably so, since he has big shoes to fill as McCartney — one of the most successful pop musicians and songwriters in history. If you believe in destiny, it’s safe to assume Curatolo was fated to play him. Even before he joined RAIN in 1983, he sported the same haircut as McCartney and had a similar artistic sensibility.
“When I was younger, I was very much a fan of the Beatles and gravitated to Paul McCartney’s style of singing and playing. Over the years, it evolved into imitating him as well as I could. My voice kind of matched his naturally, so [it’s] a natural experience for me.”
So natural, in fact, that in 1976, his friends entered him into a Beatles sound-alike contest (a Beatlesfest) without his knowing. His impression of McCartney won and caught the attention of the producer of Beatlemania, a first of its kind Broadway production. He declined the offer to join the cast, opting to complete his schooling instead. A year later, while working a summer job as a messenger, he delivered a package to the studios where Beatlemania was holding auditions. Before he could put his packages down, the production manager looked at him and assumed he was there to try out for the role of Paul. So he did. And, once again, won the part. This time he accepted, and shortly after was sent to Los Angeles for the show. He performed with the cast until 1981.
“Ever since I can remember, there was a calling for me with the Beatles and it has surrounded me and my life. It’s something that is very much a part of me,” Curatolo says. “I attribute my abilities to the Beatles.”
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, RAIN should make the Beatles proud. Not many groups can do what they do, so well and for so long. All the music is performed live. There are no pre-recorded tapes or sequences. Everything song they approach is studied and applied, then practiced and performed to a level of perfection that no other group can boast. Their repertoire features more than 200 Beatles songs.
“[We approach] this music as a classical musician would the greats of Mozart or Beethoven,” Curatolo says. “Only, they have manuscripts to read from the greats that were written on paper — we depend on our ears and our interpretation … because you have to be able to sing it, and you have to be able to play it night after night, after night.
“But I have to say it’s not ‘put on’ night after night, because we are fans first and foremost, so for us it’s a gift. It’s exciting to get up there and do what we love to do. … People ask us, ‘How long can you do this?’ [We respond,] ‘As long as we like,’” Curatolo says. “The music, obviously, will never die.”
Get caught in the downpour, as RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles showers the Fox Theatre, Oct. 6-11.
