Hello everyone! My name is Ann Bandolik, and I'm fifteen years old. I'm a freshman in high school, love music, and am an accomplished musician on about ten instruments.
But most importantly...I'm one of the biggest Beatles fans of my generation!!!
When I was only 4 years old, my parents introduced me to the film "Yellow Submarine." From the initial opening chord that George Martin and his orchestra played in the 'Pepperland' suite, I was hooked. I was an instantaneous Beatles fan!
The following Christmas, I was given the "1" CD which fostered a true appreciation for the band and a tremendous respect for their music. But my love for The Beatles actually began nine years later (slightly ironic with the numbers) in the spring of 2008! My mum and dad and I were looking for a place to go for Spring Break that year, and we stumbled upon the idea of a Las Vegas adventure. Vegas! Fantastic! And as part of our Vegas experience, we purchased tickets to the Cirque du Soleil "LOVE" show, starring the songs and spirit of The Beatles.
"Love" was the greatest show I had ever, ever seen. The music and the humour of those cheeky English lads enthralled me, from the first harmonies of "Because" to the closing note.
My Beatles' journey had truly begun.
I began my Beatles' trek like anyone else's: reading books about the lads. (I've read over fifty books on the Beatles and am a whiz at trivia!)
Inspired by John, Paul, and George, I took up the guitar again, and with a new layer of calluses quickly forming, I also began a new love for instrumentation. (I was playing sax and flute at this time as well.) I became intrigued with a brand new instrument that had been played by George in "The Anthology": the ukulele! So, I gathered up all my allowance money and purchased one! To this day, the ukulele is my favorite instrument! And my favorite Beatle is...You guessed it...George Harrison.
George has inspired many new interests in my life - from Indian music and philosophy to Monty Python to vegetarianism. Being a Harrison fan has certainly broadened my outlook. It has made me more cosmopolitan! And it has certainly taken me to places I never expected to go!
In 2008, I was told by a friend about The Fest for Beatles Fans in Chicago and was ecstatic! I just had to go! And there I met author, Jude Kessler, (lovely lady, ain't she?) and Pattie Boyd, (who had been married to George for many years). She was absolutely fantastic and was very gracious in signing my copy of her autobiography.
At The Fest for Beatles Fans, I also met Neil Innes, one of the coolest guys ever! I was aware Neil was a ukulele aficionado, so brought my uke along with me for him to sign.
Not only did he sign the uke and my Rutles CD, but he also stopped the whole "Guest Stars" room in its tracks by playing a number on my ukulele right then and there! I couldn't believe it! What a wonderful memory!!
A few months later, (Oct. 2008), I saw Ravi Shankar in concert and was blown away. The virtuoso (who had taught my favorite Beatle to play the sitar side by side with his daughter, Anoushka) was in the same room with me! Incredible!
Soon after that concert, my parents announced that for Thanksgiving break we were all going to go to Liverpool and London! I couldn't believe it!! (I still can't!)
November 2008 came quickly, and before we knew it, we were on our way to the UK with suitcase and ukulele in hand! We stayed at Liverpool's brand new Hard Day's Night Hotel, which in itself is a Mecca for Beatles' fans. Shannon's artwork fills the rooms, and Beatles' music plays 24 hours a day.
I was pretty sure that I never wanted to leave Liverpool ever again! It was one of the most breathtaking cities I'd ever been to: the Albert Docks, the Royal Liver Building, the Anglican Cathedral... it was all too beautiful!
Furthermore, it was almost mystical passing down the streets of Liverpool, especially Mathew Street. That small alleyway holds so much history in its cobbles and bricks...and weird as it seems to say, it has a "presence" to it. Those of you who have been there know exactly what I mean.
Like the standard Beatle fan, I visited all the usual Liverpool sites: Mendips, Arnold Grove, the Liverpool Institute, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, and so awesome-much-more! No words can really describe the city on the Mersey...but maybe these photos will help:
When we got to "Beatles Story" exhibit on the Albert Docks, one of the employees was sitting at the entrance and playing Beatles songs on a ukulele ("Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," to be exact.) I told him that I, too, played ukulele, and he was amazed...in fact, he handed me the uke and told me to play something...on the spot! Not batting an eye, I quickly took the instrument and played one of my George's favorites: "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea."
Well, that was quite a fortunate incident for me because the employee (who told me the song was one of his favorites, too) was so impressed that he let me into the exhibit for free!! Not bad, eh?
It had truly been one of the greatest days of my life...pure Beatle awesomeness! And the next day was no less brilliant...I got a personalized tour The Casbah Club from no less than Roag Best himself. It was definitely a highlight of the trip...
The next day we were off to London via train...to take in Saville Row, Abbey Road, and of course, George's home, Friar Park. I was in heaven! Too good to be true.
That night, my mum, dad, and I went to "feed" my love of Monty Python at the London performance of "Spamalot." It was one of the funniest productions I've ever seen! Honestly, I was laughing so hard that I was crying. George would've been proud. That was the perfect way to end a perfect trip. Sigh.
Over the next couple of months, I lived on memories of Liddypool as I constantly listened to my favorite band. I established a very respectable record collection of Beatles LP's from antique stores, and I began collecting autographs of "the Beatles entourage" including Klaus Voorman's, Astrid Kirchherr's, and Linda McCartney's. But I needed another big "Beatle fix."
That arrived just in the nick of time...when the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel announced that Paul McCartney would be performing there, in concert. Soooo, instead of a going on a Spring Break vacation, my parents and I decided to take a long weekend to Vegas and see Sir Paulie!
Paul was absolutely unbelievable. I don't know how to describe it.
My mum and I were on four-inch sandals in Standing Room Only, looking at The Legend himself. After two and a half hours, three encores, and t-shirts "out the wazoo" later, I had seen, heard, and experienced a rock icon, and I finally understood what girls from the 60's felt at Shea and the Hollywood Bowl. Paul was absolutely gorgeous and absolutely brilliant!!!
But of all my Beatle adventures, my most exciting one occurred last June! My parents gave me tickets to see Dhani Harrison and Thenewno2 at Lollapalooza! I still can't believe it! It was, as John Lennon would say, "a red lettuce day."
On August 8, 2009, at eleven o'clock a.m., the gates opened, and my mum and I ran toward the stage in Chicago's Grant Park, where we were the first people on the scene for about five minutes. Standing there, right in front of us, was Dhani Harrison with a pirate hat on! I nearly fainted.
I had brought Dhani's album along with me, and I also carried a Brainwashed box to put the album in (with George on the back cover). Seeing my excited smile and my souvenirs in hand, Dhani came right over to me. He was sipping a beer (Budweiser), and he took my box and Sharpie from me.
He smiled in his quiet way and asked me if I would hold his beer for him while he signed my album. He was so happy to see the Brainwashed logo that he gave me his trademark, "Nice One!" and asked if I could wait while he gave it to fellow band mate, Oli Hecks, to sign as well. Could I wait??? Of course, I could!
When Dhani returned, he glanced at the back of the box and just stared for a moment at George's face. The smile he returned was one that I will never forget. It was one of the sweetest smiles I had ever seen. It was a smile of sincere love...of peace.
After a quick chat, Dhani was off to prepare for his show, but the memory of that moment is now with me forever. My mum and I couldn't have had better luck if we had planned it! I think George was smiling down on his most devoted fan in a special way that day! I think that more than "just a little luck" (nod to Paul) was working in my favor that morning.
Well, that is my story.
The Beatles have, indeed, changed my life. My love of George Harrison, The Beatles, and their music has continued to grow. I am now an accomplished guitarist, bassist, and ukulele player (after countless hours of watching and listening to my heroes!).
I've developed many new interests that I would never have discovered without the lads from Liverpool, and I've met many brilliant people over the last few years...all united under the "flag" of that cheeky, lovable band from Merseyside, the band that changed the world.
As to the future - well, I hope to have a career in music as an audio engineer - a job choice heavily influenced by George Martin. (Of course, I dream of working someday at Abbey Road. But you must have guessed that!) Also, I hope to attend LIPA or John Moore's University in Liverpool, with the Beatles always lighting the fire of that dream.
And along the way, I hope to meet many of you! We all share a common bond..the boys and the music. So: Peace, Love, and Hare Krishna!
Cheers and T'rah!
Ann Bandolik
