It’s very hard to properly put into words the grief I am feeling at the loss of my dear ‘Beatle brother’ André. Our lives have been permanently intertwined for nearly 44 years on an almost day-to-day basis, raising this band from its fledgling beginnings to full grown maturity and the much-loved theatre and festival show it has become today. It’s so strange to think of him not being here to take a call or share a coffee or reminisce about old times. His encyclopaedic Beatle knowledge was as legendary as his cheeky quick-fire razor-sharp wit or his extraordinary talent for mimicry – not just George Harrison, he had us all off a treat! He was a dynamic and inspirational individual that touched so many people’s lives and hearts along the way, and he will be profoundly missed.  

We met at the Astoria theatre in the West End in late 1979, auditioning for the parts of John and George in Beatlemania, but our close relationship really blossomed once that show was about to close in the Spring of the following year. An off-the-cuff discussion backstage about keeping the band together for six months to avoid ‘instant redundancy’, was the catalyst that kick-started our true friendship and collaboration. We needed to create a Beatle band of our own and time was not on our side. With some of our mates providing a helping hand – Jeremy Newson, my writing partner, came up with the name, and graphic designer Rick Boxall, a friend of Andrés, came up with the famous logo – we cobbled together costumes from charity shops, purchased a brace of Beatle guitars and a very dodgy late period Lennon wig, and out of the ashes of Beatlemania, The Bootleg Beatles was born. Not John, Paul, George, and Ringo but instead the slightly less memorable Neil, Dave, André and Jack!  

The ‘six months’ rolled on into years and the years into decades, and with each step of the journey André and I would tweak and refine the act to keep it fresh. His meticulous attention to detail, his astonishing Beatle knowledge, and his clever use of graphics in the video clips all so vital to the finished product. There were disagreements sometimes, as with any close partnership, but we learned to work through them and banish our egos, our minds always firmly focussed on what was best for the show.   

We spoke about legacy the last time we were together when he knew he was ill. He said that he’d hoped to achieve more in his life, like we all do I guess, but I gently reminded him that he’d achieved so much already with his writing and his music. The driving guitar solo he provided for Robbie Williams’ Angels’ being one such major accomplishment, but also his role as George for over 30 years in the BB’s that brought such joy to the countless numbers of Beatle fans who saw him play. And above all else he was a loving husband and a doting dad. It really was a life well-lived and one to be immensely proud of. 

It’s been hugely comforting for us and André’s family to have received so many messages of condolence, literally from right across the world. Thanks to everyone who has emailed, texted or called and shared their stories and memories of him. He was a special, gifted, much-loved and admired man, and I know he will be there in our thoughts and hearts with each Bootleg performance to come.   

Neil Harrison – August 2023