The Pete Best Band are now seasoned veterans of the American roadway. Returning to Vienna, Virginia, for their third appearance at Jammin' Java on Tuesday, June 19, 2007, the casual fan may notice that the PBB have undergone a personnel change. No need to worry, the PBB are back better than ever.

     Now sharing lead vocal chores and backing vocals are Tony Flynn and Phil Melia (both on guitar) and Paul Parry on bass. The Best brothers, Pete and younger sibling Roag, deliver their coordinated beat for the group. Former lead vocalist Chris Cavanagh announced his departure from the PBB earlier this Spring.

     After a solid introduction, the PBB launched their set with "Slow Down", sung by the confident Tony Flynn. Smartly dressed in black attire, Pete Best came forward to greet the audience and encouraged them to be 'rowdy'; "What are we!". "Rowdy!", came the crowd replied loudly.

     PBB performances alternate a few of the early Lennon & McCartney compositions that featured Best behind the drums from four decades ago. Timeless Merseybeat classics like "One After 909", "Hello Little Girl", and "Like Dreamers Do", as well as the Harrison-Lennon instrumental, "Cry For A Shadow", are all popular stage favorites.

     During the concert, Pete Best was introduced and stepped forward behind the mike to recall and reminisce about his tenure as a Fab. Best spoke about "My Bonnie", a 1961 German single featuring Tony Sheridan on lead vocals with The Beatles providing the musicianship, that was the first spark to ignite interest in The Beatles in Liverpool.

     Beatles fans surrendered during the musical eruption of the Fab Four in February 1964. As their original drummer, Pete Best participated as a Beatle for a duration of two years, keeping the beat in The Beatles. In August 1960, Best joined the Fabs as drummer for several tours in Hamburg. Best is an enchanting musical tour guide, revising the embryonic sound that emerged from the Cavern Club.

     The Pete Best Band continue to labor at the Casbah Coffee Club recording studio on their forthcoming effort. The new PBB studio album is now projected for a 2008 commercial release. The group already has about eight songs finished and will return to the studio following their current tour.

Vienna setlist: Slow Down * What I'd Say * One After 909 * Please Mister Postman * P.S. I Love You * Roll Over Beethoven * Besame Mucho * Hello Little Girl * Like Dreamers Do * Till There Was You * Long Tall Sally * Rock And Roll Music * Money * Cry For A Shadow * My Bonnie * Ain't She Sweet * Sweet Georgia Brown * Some Other Guy * I Saw Her Standing There * Twist And Shout * Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey * Encore: Johnny B. Goode

RockonTour   Issue #69
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Revised and ready for the road
The Pete Best Band reinvent themselves

by Timothy Tilghman