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Jewish John Lennon hits the West End

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Let It Be is not the first musical tribute show to hit the West End. It’s not even the first to star Birmingham born Reuven Gershon, who before joining the Fab Four at the Prince of Wales Theatre played Buddy Holly in the imaginatively named Buddy. But the actor says there is no danger of audiences getting bored.

“The reason these shows are so popular is because the music has stood the test of time. Great music just doesn’t get boring.

“There’s also a real appetite to hear the music of bands like The Beatles live, and of course you can’t because half of them are dead. What’s more, they stopped touring half way through their careers so records like Sgt Pepper and Abbey Road were never played in concert.”

Mr Gershon, who for legal reasons plays “the rhythm guitarist” in the show rather than “John Lennon”, doesn’t mind always performing as someone else. “I’ve absorbed so much of my musical heroes over the years, it’s almost like I am being myself by being them,” he said.

“I’ve been into The Beatles since I was a kid. But when I was at King David primary school I remember the rabbi telling me I shouldn’t listen to the Beatles. I’m not sure why, I think it’s because he preferred the Stones.”

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