MUSIC:

Cheap Trick to play the Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’ live at Hilton

Technology helps bring landmark 1967 album to live concert stage

Publicity Photo

Cheap Trick is planning to perform the songs from the landmark 1967 Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album in a live concert setting in September at the Las Vegas Hilton.

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 7:21 p.m.

What: “Sgt. Pepper Live” featuring Cheap Trick
When: 8 p.m., Sept. 13-15, 17-19, 21-23
Where: Las Vegas Hilton Showroom
Tickets: $65 to $95 Information: 702-732-5755
The Album:

- "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

- "With a Little Help from My Friends"

- "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds"

- "Getting Better"

- "Fixing a Hole"

- "She's Leaving Home"

- "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!"

- "Within You Without You" - Harrison

- "When I'm 64"

- "Lovely Rita"

- "Good Morning Good Morning"

- "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)"

- "A Day in the Life"

The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Cheap Trick
Rolling Stone story: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (11-1-2003)

It took almost 40 years but technology finally caught up with the Beatles.

In 1967 the legendary group released “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” a definitive album that was said could not be produced live.

That was then and this is now.

The power pop rock group Cheap Trick will be performing the songs from the album, as well as other Beatles music, in a concert setting at the Las Vegas Hilton in September.

If negotiations are successful “Sgt. Pepper Live” will be performed on a recurring basis in the future, perhaps alternating with resident headliner Barry Manilow, who is in his own negotiations with the resort. His contract ends in December.

The “Sgt. Pepper’s” concert will not be a tribute, says producer Bill Edwards, it will be Cheap Trick performing the Beatle’s music.

“By letting this band stay who they are and perform the music of the 'Sgt. Pepper’s’ is historical in my mind,” says Edwards.

The production was performed twice in 2007, the 40th anniversary of the release of the album – at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and at a fund raiser in New York City for the Michael Milken Foundation for Prostate Cancer.

A DVD from the New York City concert is to be released this year.

The production will feature an orchestra of between 26 and 30 pieces, a four-or-five piece group of Indian musicians playing sitars and other instruments and guest vocalists.

The show will be divided into two parts – the first segment will be a guest vocalist (a list is being developed) performing with the orchestra. The second segment will be Cheap Trick singing all of the songs of the “Sgt. Pepper’s” plus other Beatle’s numbers, including songs from the “Abbey Road” album.

Cheap Trick will be touring with Def Leppard and Poison now through September, including a stop on Sept. 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Rick White, director of marketing for the Hilton, says the music and the band are a perfect combination for the resort’s demographics.

“We look for a broad spectrum appeal, and nothing is more broad than the Beatles,” he said. “If things work out they will be here on a high-frequency basis – more often than Santana at the Hard Rock.”

Geoff Emerick, who was producer and engineer of the original “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (along with George Martin), is supervising the sound for the “Sgt. Pepper’s Live” production.

He, and Martin, produced Cheap Trick’s 1980 hit “All Shook Up.”

“Technology had to catch up to be able to reproduce the ('Sgt. Pepper’s”) music live,” Emerick said.

Emerick says the show has already proven its worth.

“At the end of the Hollywood Bowl concert people left in tears,” he said. “The 'Sgt. Peppers’’ album means so much to them, from a very early age. Memories come flooding back.”

Emerick says Cheap Trick is the perfect choice.

“To my way of thinking, I don’t think anyone else can do it,” he said.

Emerick said when the Beatles came to him to create “Sgt. Peppers’” he was shocked when they said it would be their last album and they would not be touring.

“John said he was fed up with making soft music for soft people and they were going to make an album that was going to have sounds on it,” Emerick said. “He said, 'We’re going to enjoy ourselves.’”

All of the instruments in the orchestra on the album had mikes, creating a sound that couldn’t be taken on the road.

“There was no technical equipment to reproduce it on the road,” Emerick said. “Now we can.”

“Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,” which was recorded over a 129-day period, was released on June 1, 1967, at Abbey Road Studios, London. It was the eighth studio album for the Beatles.

Cheap Trick was formed in the '70s by Robin Zander (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick Nielsen (lead guitar, backing vocals), Tom Petersson (electric bass, backing vocals), and Bun E. Carlos (drums, percussion).

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By gold1020

6/11/09 at 10:09 p.m.

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They probably left The Hollywood bowl in tears because the show sucked. I find it hard to believe that anyone will spend money or even care to see Cheap Trick sing Sgt. Pepper.
By 54patsfan

6/12/09 at 4:24 a.m.

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Cheap Trick is no cheap trick. They are a highly polished hard working group of professionals, and I have to agree with the writer - no other band in the world today could possibly pull off doing "Sgt. Pepper's" live. Cheap Trick has the musical talent, and most importantly, the vocal harmonies, to make it happen with some sense of class and honor towards the original artists. It'll be an awesome show. I hope contract negotiations go well, I'd really like to see this one.
By James_P_Reza

6/12/09 at 7:03 a.m.

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It should be pointed out that the Fab Faux has been performing the entirety of "Sgt. Pepper's" live, without tape effects, for years, to much critical acclaim:

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php...
By Askaround

6/13/09 at 10:57 a.m.

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Cheap Trick's version of "Magical Mystery Tour", which is on their "Greatest Hits" album, is better than the Beatles' original in my opinion.
They should do a great job with Sgt. Pepper. I hope I have a chance to see them.
By Zuzy

6/17/09 at 6:26 p.m.

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Cheap Trick is the MOST AWESOME BAND IN HISTORY!!! I am so thrilled that I will get to see them more than once this year!!!
By kjc2581

6/21/09 at 12:15 p.m.

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I saw Cheap Trick/Sgt. Peppers at the Hollywood Bowl in 2008, and it was a show I will never forget. Kudos to CT for having the inspiration and musicianship to organize and play the concert. Anyone who thinks about going to Las Vegas for the show: GO!! You won't be disappointed.
By lindalou64

9/1/09 at 11:12 a.m.

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I have been a Beatles fan my entire life. When I discovered Cheap Trick as a young teen I was thrilled. They were the Beatles of my generation. So being a fan of both bands, this is a dream come true. I have my tickets for the Hilton performance on Sept 17th and I can't wait. I am flying in from Wisconsin and meeting family and friends that are coming in from LA and Austin Texas.

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