Interview: Gavin Pring as George Harrison in THE FAB FOUR

With so many Beatles' tribute bands around, it's sometimes difficult to try to figure out which one is most authentic and who is sincere in their desire to keep the Beatles' music alive. One such band, THE FAB FOUR, has been travelling all over the world and proving time and time again, that the Beatles are a one-of-a-kind band and the amazing nod THE FAB FOUR is giving, is as alive as the Beatles' Music in the 21st Century. BWW had a chance to chat with one of the members of the touring group recently. Gavin Pring had a head start above many others who perform Beatles' music because, not only does Pring hail from Liverpool, England (the Beatles hometown), but his uncanny resemblance to George Harrison will have you wondering if it really is Harrison himself.

How did you get interested in performing?

I come from a small town in Northwest England called Liverpool and the place is famous for a band called the Beatles. I've grown up with the Beatles my whole life. When I was younger, people told me I looked a bit like George Harrison. So, it just piqued my interest in the Beatles and later on, after I learned to play guitar, there was an audition for people who looked like the Beatles. It was like a Netflix type documentary. It ended up on Netflix and it was called, "The Best of the Beatles" about Pete Best. That's how I got started, really and then I got into the tribute scene after. I've been in tribute acts since 2000 - 18 years. It's 18 years of playing George Harrison.

When did you first get involved with the FAB FOUR?

I met the FAB FOUR in 2004 in Liverpool but, I didn't join until a couple of years afterwards about 2006. I started in the Las Vegas show and then we traveled around. There were two teams back then. I ended up on the "A-Team." I've been travelling with them on the road since 2010, so the last eight years.

What was it like growing up in Liverpool?

The main thing that happened when I was a kid that there was a Beatles' Week every year. It started off quite small in the 80's and it's just gathered momentum. In 2008, I think, Liverpool got an injection of money from Europe because it became the European capital of culture. Since then, they've invested a lot more into the Beatles. I just recently went back about two weeks ago. It was the first time I'd been back to Liverpool in five years. There are a lot more tours that go to the houses of the Beatles and there's "The Beatles Story" and "The Cavern Club" and a lot of money in a hotel called, "A Hard Day's Night Hotel." So, Liverpool has really embraced it. When I used to live there before 2006, there were only a couple of things related to the Beatles but now it's an industry over there. It's quite busy.

Tell us about what it's been like to play George Harrison for so many years.

It's been great for me. I don't consider meself [sic] a great singer. I sing all the George stuff but it's kinda cool for me to be in the middle because I can see Ron who plays John and Ardy plays Paul and they're really great singers. I can sit in the middle and sort of listen to them and then play solos. Their harmonies are really tight a lot like the Beatles too. Sometimes, they think (the audience and booking agents) we just gotta play. But, you've gotta play, you've gotta be able to sing well, you've gotta be able to act. So, you gotta look like the person and dress like them. And accents. I teach the guys - three of the guys are American. Sometimes they will ask, "How would you say that?" The great thing about our show is the demographics. It's children and parents, parents of those parents and some parents of even those parents are coming over. That's the great thing about our show is that it can reach people of all ages. It's something they all can do together.

If you had not gotten into performing, what do you think you would be doing now?

That's a tricky question. I think I'd be famous in some way. I like to talk to people and meet people. They said the art of good business is to bring two entities together and I've always been good at bringing things that people want to the people who have things that people need. So, I think about television presenter, interviewer. If I didn't do music, I think I would like to have done acting of some sort in an ideal world.

We look forward to your visit to San Antonio and the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

The last time I came to San Antonio, I was walking on the Riverwalk and looking for an Irish Pub since I'm half Irish, I found a place called Waxy O'Connor's and I went in and the guy who was entertaining was from Liverpool. It ends up that he actually played in a band with my uncle. So, the chances of walking into a pub at the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas and seeing someone who played with your uncle from a small town; the chances are a million to one. So, go to Waxy O'Connor's and see a good friend of mine, Joe Walmsley. The guy plays all Irish and Beatles on acoustic guitar. I love San Antonio. It's good music. The British are set on going to the pub. You go to the pub to drink. You go to the pub to meet your wife. You go to the pub to have business meetings. Everything is centered 'round the pub.

Don't miss your chance to see THE FAB FOUR perform live at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas on October 5, 2018. Tickets are very limited but can be purchased at www.tobincenter.org

PHOTO CREDIT: Asher Photography

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