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Click on a link below for
hot breaking news!
6 February 2008 -
Sam to give "Talk-Ins" at newly
opened Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool starting
Monday, 11 February 2008
6 June 2007 -
Sam's Old Beatle Buddy,
Martin Creasy, To Release His First Book
2 June 2007 -
The Day John
Met Paul - A Weekend of Celebrations In Liverpool
10 February 2007 -
Sam Leach To Be
1st Inductee Into Merseybeat Hall of Fame
10 November 2004 -
Sam Leach Receives City of Culture "Hall of Faith" Award
25 August 2004 -
Sid Bernstein, Alan Williiams and Sam Leach unite for night of
nostalgia.
6 August 2003 -
Sam Leach to appear at Abbey Road On The River in
Cleveland, Ohio
1 July 2003 - Billy Fury Weekend.com in Liverpool
11 September 2002 - Sam
Leach Reports On Beatlesweek in Liverpool
16 August 2002 - BBCi
page added featuring Sam Leach with video interview.
11 August 2002 - Beatle
City U.S.A. - that's Chicago (Chicago Sun-Times Article in Showcase
Section)
30 March 2002 - Park Ridge
Herald-Advocate Article on Flashback Weekend
10 March 2002 - Sam
To Receive Flashback Weekend Award
15 January 2002 - 4W
Group Presents "A Night To Remember"
13 January 2002 - Sam
Chosen As Guest of Honor At Flashback Weekend
2 December 2001 - Fans Rock At House of Blues, Chicago
30 November 2001 -
Letters From Liverpool (Operation Big Beat)
29 August 2001 - Operation
Big Beat 2001 Gala Continues To Grow
21 August 2001 - Sam
Leach Presents American English & Special Guests
6 August 2001 - American
English Liverpool Tour News
5 August 2001 - Beatlefest® 2001, Chicago,
Illinois
20 July 2001 - Operation Big Beat and American English
21 March 2001 - Meeting Up With Sir Paul in Liverpool
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Sam Leach
At Abbey Road On The River
Cleveland, Ohio |
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A
Three Day, Multi-Stage Live Music & Art Festival honoring
John, Paul, George & Ringo -
August 8th thru August 10th, 2003
Cleveland, Ohio - The Nautica Entertainment Complex
Biggest event of its kind in North America
Click on the above image for complete
event details
Sam Leach will be in the Author's
tent for this year's three day event in Cleveland, Ohio. His
book, plus some rare posters, including a
NEW Special Numbered edition of
the FIRST PUBLISHED PHOTO of
Paul and John performing as "The Quarrymen" on 29 August 1959 will
be available for purchase throughout the weekend.
There will be live entertainment on
three stages, food, art festival, film festival and much more!
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BillyFuryWeekend2003.com
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The very
first Operation Big Beat in 2001 had been a celebration of 40
years from November 10th 1961 when
4,300 a record number of fans packed the Tower Ballroom in New
Brighton to see The Beatles.
This years
event commemorates the life and music of Billy Fury and is due
to take place between the 4th and 6th of July. Already, big
names are being confirmed.
These
Artists include Marty Wilde, Tommy Bruce, Terry Dean, and Dave
Sampson. It's an event we guarantee you won't want to miss!
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Flash! The Beatles are back
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Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, Park
Ridge, IL, USA
by Myrna Petlicki
The
Beatles disbanded over 30 years ago but that hasn’t dampened the
enthusiasm of their fans.
See for yourself at the Flashback Weekend
scheduled for April 5 through 7 at Park Ridge’s Pickwick Theatre
and the nearby Chicago Marriott O'Hare.
Highlights of the weekend will include three
concerts by American English, a highly acclaimed
Beatles tribute band, screenings of Beatles films and talks by Sam
Leach, the Liverpool promoter credited with booking the Beatles
before they hit it big.
Leach, who has made a career in recent years of
giving talks about the Beatles, spends a great deal of time in the
United States. During his latest stay here, he was looking forward
to regaling fans with tales of the quartet that performed 49 times
at clubs he owned, during a two-year period in the early ’60s.
Charming and with an accent as thick as London
fog, Leach’s latest campaign is promoting American English.
“I couldn’t believe how good they were,”
he said of his first encounter with the group. “It was like
seeing the Beatles all over again. Each individual character is
like his counterpart in the Beatles. Such a nice bunch of lads,
too.”
Capturing the world
Leach’s explanation for the ongoing interest
in all things Beatles is that “They captured the world —
especially America — at a good time.”
Leach said he recognized the Beatles were
unique the first time he saw them. That’s why he booked them in
Feb. 1961.
“I told them then that they'd be as big as
Elvis one day,” he recalled. “They were fantastic — a wild,
raw rock band. The sound didn’t just go over your head. It went
right through you.”
By the time they arrived in America, the
Beatles had refined their look and music. Leach worried that the
Liverpool locals might reject them. This fear proved groundless
when they returned to their hometown following the release of
“Hard Day’s Night.”
“There were one million people lined up along
the seven-mile route from the airport to the town hall,” Leach
said. “I realized how big they had become. I was very proud of
them.”
The Beatles biz
Leach has written three books about the
Beatles, maintains a Beatles web site (www.samleach.com)
and has lectured about the foursome since the mid-1980s. He will
do book signings and present three hour-long lectures during
Flashback Weekend. Leach said he enjoys coming to this area
because, “Chicago is Beatles city.”
Flashback Weekend is being produced by Dino
Vlahakis and his sister Elaine, co-owners of Pickwick Theatre,
Mike Kerz and Dave Loomos. Vlahakis said the time seemed right to
kick off special programs with a historical focus because the
theater will be celebrating its 75th anniversary next year.
“This is going to be like a 36-hour event,”
Vlahakis said, reporting that between concerts members of American
English will mingle with Flashback registrants in parties at the
Marriott O'Hare. Each of three two-hour American English concerts
at the Pickwick will cover a different Beatles era: Early Beatles
(“Hard Day’s Night”), “Sergeant Pepper” era and “Let
It Be” era.
George Harrison’s sister Louise will be a
special guest at the convention, with appearances including the
introduction of a candlelight musical vigil for George Saturday.
Photographer Jorie B. Gracen will present a
slide show and video tribute to Beatle Paul McCartney and sign
copies of “Paul McCartney: I Saw Him Standing There.” Marc
Shapiro, author of “Through Sad Eyes: The George Harrison
Story” will also do a presentation and book signing.
Two Beatles films, “Hard Day’s Night” and
“Imagine” will be screened at the Pickwick. Dealers will be
displaying and selling Beatles merchandise at the hotel.
”There’s going to be a lot of huge
surprises for everyone,” said Vlahakis, who is expecting a big
turnout. “There’s just something about the Beatles.”
Flashback Weekend events will be held April 5
through 7 in the Pickwick Theatre, 5 S. Prospect, Park Ridge, and
the Chicago Marriott O'Hare, 8535 W. Higgins Rd. Three-day general
admission passes are $55, $30 for children 12 and under. Single
tickets are $25 per day, $15 for ages 12 and under. VIP passes for
$90 include three-day admission to all events, seating in the
first 10 rows for all concerts and some surprises.Back to Top
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Sam Leach Honored
With Award
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10 March 2002
With Flashback Weekend just a few
weeks away, this event will have a special meaning for Sam Leach
when he is awarded the Flashback Weekend Lifetime Achievement
Award for excellence in Rock N' Roll promotions. Starting
with the early years promoting the Beatles in Liverpool where the
lads performed in various venues around Liverpool, to the
Operation Big Beat years, Operation Big Beat 2001, The Excalibur
Shows and House of Blues fund raiser in Chicago, Illinois and the
promoting of the Beatle Tribute Band, American English, Sam Leach
has devoted practically his entire life promoting and loving Rock
N' Rock music.
To show their appreciation,
Flashback Weekend promoters will present Sam the award on 7 April
2002 at the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, Illinois, prior to the
American English concert. In addition, Sam was chosen as the
guest of honor for the weekend festivities and will also introduce the Beatle hit movie A Hard Day's Night and
John Lennon's Imagine shown at the Pickwick Theatre.
Back to Top
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Presents
"A Night To
Remember"
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9 February 1964 will be remembered as
the day the Beatles made their first appearance on American
television on the Ed Sullivan Show. Americans tuned in to
see what all the buzz was about with these 4 lads from Liverpool
and they liked what they saw. The show would grab a record
breaking 72.7% of the market share in the ratings, and set up
another appearance on Sullivan's show on 16 February, and of
course, catapult the bands popularity into outer space with a
mania that would last throughout the decade and continue forever
after that.
To celebrate the anniversary of the
Beatle's first appearance in the United States, 4W Group presents
"A Night To Remember" at the Eastlight Theatre, 201
Veterans Drive, in East Peoria, Illinois. The program will
include a concert by American English, The Complete Beatles
Experience with special guests Sam Leach, original Beatles'
promoter in Liverpool, and Bob Bartel, producer of "A Beatle
In Benton", a video documentary of George Harrison's visit to
his sister in Benton, IL in September, 1963.
DATE: 9 February 2002
TIME: Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; Sam
Leach's book, Birth of the Beatles, and Bob Bartel's video
will be on sale. At 7:00 p.m. Sam and Bob will make
presentations and talk about their experiences. At 7:45 p.m.
American English will begin; at 10:00 p.m. there will be an
autograph and photo session for all the fans.
TICKETS: $15.00 each, open seating;
available by calling the Eastlight Theatre, 309-699-7469.
DOOR PRIZE: A one-night stay at the
Hard Day's Night Bed N' Breakfast in Benton, IL, which is the
house where George Harrison stayed while visiting his sister,
Louise, in Benton in September, 1963.
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Beatle
fans will be able to enjoy a Spring Break Getaway and spend a
weekend with American English, the best Beatles tribute band ever,
on April 5-6-7, 2002. There will be activities for the whole
family.
We are honored to have Sam Leach - the original promoter of the
Beatles as our Guest Speaker. Sam will be discussing the Beatles
early years and his book "The Birth of the Beatles". Red
Muldoon and Steve Jones, renowned hosts of WCKG’s “Breakfast
with the Beatles” will be our emcees.
They will help us provide a positive atmosphere and a good time
for all.
Beatles
films and rare newsreels will be shown and Beatles merchandise
will be available in our Dealers Room. Afternoon events will take
place at the Chicago O’Hare Marriott on Cumberland Road near
I-90 and Higgins. Discount room rates will be available. The date
when reservations will be
accepted will be announced.
Extended
evening concerts by American English will take place at the
historic Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, Illinois.
There
will be many other guest speakers, late night parties, and more
surprises. Please continue to check the Flashback
Weekend site for more information.
Flashback
Weekend Staff
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HOUSE OF BLUES,
CHICAGO
FANS ROCK AS THEY PAY
TRIBUTE TO GEORGE HARRISON |
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1 December 2001 was originally
organised by Sam Leach and the Rainbow Foundation to raise money
for charity while giving the music fans of Chicago a morning and
afternoon they could remember and cherish. With the death of
George Harrison the week before, it was fitting that all those
involved pay tribute to George throughout the performance.
Joining in the tribute were a group
of musicians, some who knew George personally and others that were
familiar with the talents of George, while a Beatle and after
their breakup. Rather than say anymore, let's take a look
back at that memorable day through the images we have
captured. Click here to see
for your own eyes what took place that day, George's day of
remembrance.
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LETTERS FROM
LIVERPOOL |
| Comments, articles and letters in
regards to Operation Big Beat 2001 have started to arrive and I
would like to share some of them with you. Here is one that shares
the excitement and enthusiasm that OBB brought to the Beatle fans
in the Liverpool/New Brighton area earlier this month.
Best regards,
Sam
An
article written by Mave Atherton
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 As
the Operation Big Beat
2001 celebration in New Brighton begins next week, the line-up of stars
and events continues to grow daily. For a detailed
schedule of events that will take place from 5 November through
11 November,
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Sam
Leach Presents
American English
with Special Guests
at
The House of Blues!!!!!! |
| Through the
hard work of Sam Leach and his associates, December 1st, 2001 will
be a day to remember as American English takes the stage with
special guests:
Pete Best, original Beatle drummer,
Joey Molland, formerly of Badfinger, Denny Laine, former McCartney
Musician, formerly with Moody Blues, and now with World Classic
Rockers, Jim Peterik, formerly of Survivor/Ides of March, Fergie
Frederiksen, formerly of Toto and now with World Classic Rockers,
Spencer Davis of Spencer Davis Band, Howie Casey, former
McCartney session musician, Thaddeus Richard, former McCartney
session musician, Steve Howard, former McCartney session musician
and now with Edgar Winters White Trash Horns, Kevin Chalfant,
formerly of The Storm, Kelly Keagy who sang Sister Christian, and
Randy Jackson of Zebra.
You won't want to miss this
celebrity line up of talent perform classic Beatle music and then
come together for the reproduction of Paul McCartney's Grammy
award winning song 'Rockestra.'
The Rainbow Foundation, a charity
dedicated to the financial support of families in crisis, would
like you to be at The House of Blues in support of their mission
to help families negatively affected by life altering
circumstances or illness. Your ticket is tax deductible for
charity, and a great way to give to those in need while receiving
the gifts of the finest music of all time!
This is an ALL AGES SHOW! Hope to
see you there! No Cameras are allowed!
A special note to those who had
early bird tickets from Beatlefest.... The seating for the front
row has been changed due to the overwhelming response. We cannot
accommodate all of the ticket holders with seating on the main
floor, as it will limit the ticket sales. All Early Bird Ticket holders from August
pre-sales will be seated in special opera box seats and in the
special VIP area near the performers!
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Things
are moving fast in preparation for the upcoming Operation Big
Beat's 40th Anniversary Celebration in Liverpool this coming November.
Click on the image to the left for all the details about how you can
be a part of it all!
ul
replied. "I'm working on one right now..lets see...`Sam Leach...I love you well..' then he said "Sammy's here."
and called me over to tell the press that I was an early promoter of the
Beatles and that I'm a nice guy. Then during a TV interview I'm standing
right behind him, like a bodyguard. So it was quite a nice day and great
to see Paul looking so happy and relaxed. That's what LOVE does !!
inside and spent a good five minutes talking
to her and ensuring she was okay. In fact he could have signed many
more books in the hour allotted to him for the signing but spent at
least two minutes talking and being genuinely interested in each customer.
That says everything about my old mate Paul. I'm very proud of him......and
George and Ringo. They're a continual source of credit to themselves and Liverpool.