BIOGRAPHY
The Bootleg Beatles have been performing note-perfect renditions of the Fab Four’s outstanding
repertoire since 1980. But who are the guys under the wigs?
Adam Hastings plays JOHN LENNON
Adam added his raspingly accurate Lennon-vocals to the BB’s line-up in 2011, replacing founder
member, Neil Harrison. Adam hails from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and comes from a musical
family, his father is a respected musical arranger and session bass player (who played on the
famous Pearl & Dean cinema theme tune), and who taught a 9 year old Adam how to play the
bass to A Hard Day’s Night. This was the start of a life-time love of The Fab Four.
The Bootleg Beatles were the first band that Adam ever saw perform live – he met Neil and got
a signed poster after a gig at Newcastle City Hall. Adam recalls, “I had three posters on my
bedroom wall – Nirvana, one of the real Beatles and the autographed Bootlegs poster – in my
mind as a lad they all had equal status, so having joined themis amazingly ridiculous!”
Moving from bass to guitar, Adam studied jazz at Leeds College of Music, and formed his own
Beatle band after he graduated. His ‘leather-tonsilled’ vocals, musicianship and ability to
recreated Lennon’s mannerisms have meant Adam has been in high demand and he has played
in a dozen different theatre shows and Beatle bands around the world. With all this experience
Adam was thrilled to join what he calls “the best Beatle band there is”.
Away from music, Adam is a passionate supporter of his beloved Newcastle United. As a
teenager, he narrowly missed a trial for the club having broken his leg 2 days prior. He was also
offered a trial at Sunderland, which he turned down... because it was Sunderland! Still,
footballs loss is the Bootlegs’ gain.
.
Andre Barreau plays GEORGE HARRISON
Andre’s love affair with The Beatles remains as strong today as the day his grandmother gave
him a Twist and Shout EP and started his legendary record and memorabilia collection. (He’s
still searching for AB&C bubble gum cards numbers 2 and 9, by the way!).
In 1979, Andre answered an ad in The Stage and auditioned for the part of George Harrison in
the west-end show, Beatlemania, which had come to London from Broadway. After the show
completed its run, Andre and fellow cast members (Neil Harrison & David Catlin-Birch) formed
The Bootleg Beatles. The rest, as they say, is history!
Since the formation of the BBs, there have been many memorable moments, including
supporting Oasis at Wembley and playing the Queens Golden Jubilee concert and performing as
George in front of the man himself at Dave Gilmour’s 50th birthday party. But for Andre, the
Bootlegs’ recreation Apple building rooftop gig in 1999 (30 years to the day after the Fab Four
did it) is one of the best.
Andre’s musical talents have not been confined to the BBs however, he played lead guitar and
sang on Robbie Williams’s mega-hit Angels and his association with Robbie continued through
his 3rd album. Andre’s own, country-influenced, band Those Magnificent Men have released
two albums and appeared in the hit movie Sliding Doors.
Andre is a lifelong supporter of Chelsea FC.
Steve White plays PAUL McCARTNEY
Steve’s interest in music was first sparked by his father’s record collection, and ranges from 60’s
classics, through country to rock and, of course, everything Beatles. Steve discovered his talent
relatively late, first picking up a guitar aged 21.
He served his ‘apprenticeship’ playing in bands in clubs and pubs before joining a successful 60s
tribute band, and supported many of the great names of that era: The Searchers, The Animals,
The Troggs, Herman’s Hermits, Marmalade, The Merseybeats, to name a few.
Steve first played the role of Paul McCartney in a Beatle tribute band in 2006. He is naturally
right-handed, but has mastered the left-handed bass specifically for the role.
A familiar face around Liverpool, Steve has performed at the legendary Cavern Club on many
occasions, as well as touring Europe extensively and venturing even further afield when playing
on cruise liners. Appropriately, his favourite Beatles track is ‘Ticket to Ride’
Hugo Degenhardt plays RINGO STARR
Inspired by Keith Moon, Rick Buckler and of course, Ringo, Hugo took up the drums at the age of
14, beginning his gigging career in the school discos and pubs of his home town of Hastings.
After moving to London, he played drums for the National Youth Theatre at the Edinburgh
Festival and secured his first professional tour at the age of 18, touring France with ZTT
chanteuse Anne Pigalle.
Since then, Hugo has toured and recorded with, among others: Steve Hackett, Jack Bruce,
former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, and Chas and Dave. When
not busy with the Bootlegs, Hugo divides his time between ongoing musical projects and
brushing up on his vast knowledge of James Bond trivia.