Are you The Walrus?

Monday 8 February 2010, 3.54 PM
By Holly Shorland | Posted in People

For many of us, Friday night means freedom. And for the next two weeks, it also means great music in the city as the Summer Covers series of free concerts continues.

Rubber Soul is the  Beatles covers band playing at Summer Covers on Friday 12 February and we catch up with Rubber Soul – The Beatles Show guitarist, David Gillard.  We haven’t spied a yellow submarine parked outside one of the band’s shows, but these guys really do go the extra mile to reprise the excitement of those Beatlemania days.

Have you ever been tempted to add your own ‘improvements’ to original Beatles music?

Rubber Soul – The Beatles Show keeps everything as faithful to The Beatles’ original sound and arrangements as possible. That’s what we’re about. We don’t just cover the songs. We try and bring the same sounds, atmosphere and excitement to our live shows. What you hear on the records is what we aim to achieve on stage. As Beatles fans ourselves, that’s what we’d want to hear at a Beatles show.

During the Beatles’ 1964 Australian tour, Paul McCartney played the grand piano in the Melbourne Town Hall. Have you ever wanted to sneak in and tinkle those ivories yourself?

Did he? I didn’t know that! I guess if you were walking past the piano there you’d have to have a go! I would.

Do you ever get sick of the Beatles and wish you were in a Rolling Stones cover band instead?

No and no. If a Beatles tune comes on the radio, I still turn it up! The recordings and songs still sound fresh after all this time. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearing them. I’m a fan. Nothing against The Rolling Stones, I like them too. And sometimes if somebody asks which Beatle I am, I’ll answer, ‘Keith’, as in Keith Richards.

If you had a time machine, what year in Beatles history would you travel back to, and why?

If I had a time machine where would I go? Are you sure you’re not imbibing in some of those psychedelic Beatles substances? I could think of a few other periods in time I would like to travel to first, but if it had to be a Beatles period I’d say 1965–66 and possibly even 1967. Why not stay awhile?

That period is right in the middle of all the creative changes. The Beatles were still doing a lot of hands-on playing but the songs were starting to lean into a more creative and interesting psychedelic area.

I’m having a bet each way here, one foot on the early side and one foot on the latter.

If you were to meet a Beatle today, what would you most like to ask him?

I’d probably ask for a photo and autograph. Be happy with either one – would love both. What else can I say? I’m a huge fan. We all are!

Make sure you check out Rubber Soul – The Beatles Show’s brand new ‘Sgt Pepper suits’ making their stage debut at Summer Covers. Sumer Covers is a Summer Fun in the City event, proudly presented by the City of Melbourne.