The New York Mets celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the historic Beatles Concert at Shea Stadium on August 16th, 2005 with "Beatles Night at Shea". The group chosen to perform the pre-game concert was the Beatles Tribute band "Strawberry Fields". The performers are: Tony Garofalo: John Lennon impersonator (rhythm guitar, lead guitar, piano, and lead vocals), founder and producer of Strawberry Fields, Tony brings to the stage a lifetime of musical background and stage performance experience; Billy J. Ray: Paul McCartney impersonator (bass guitar and lead vocals) since 1978 and original Broadway "Beatlemania" cast member; Mark Vaccacio: considered the world's foremost George Harrison impersonator (lead guitar, lead and backing vocals), is an original Broadway Beatlemania member, as well as its cast director since 1978--he is better known as "Farquar" to his friends; and Gerard Barberine, Jr: Ringo Starr impersonator, brings to the stage many familiar Ringo mannerisms, as well as the flawless drumming musicality so familiar to the hardcore Beatle Fan which has become their standard audience for over twenty years. Strawberry Fields was scheduled to perform the exact set of songs performed by the Beatles themselves on August 15th, 1965.

Sid Bernstein, who promoted the original concert, was invited to participate in the event which started at 6:30pm and ended in time for the New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game, which was scheduled to commence at 7:10pm. Along with Sid Bernstein, Joseph Gargano (dear friend and business partner) and his son Robert; myself Bill Greenberg (Sid's personal photographer), all were greeted by Kevin McCarthy, Shea Stadium Operations Director, and invited into his office. Once inside, Kevin informed us that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr had each sent congratulatory sound bytes to be broadcast in the first two innings of this evening's baseball game. We were then joined by Jason Ressler and Evan Strome (creators of the documentary "Sid Bernstein Presents"), and Vito Salamone, of the New York Mets Group Sales. Kevin led us all to the "Green Room", where we shared this waiting/dressing area with the band Strawberry Fields. From the Green Room, our VIP party of six walked through the tunnel directly onto the field. We met Gerry Martire, Radio Personality from Q104.3, who was going to do the introductions for Strawberry Fields and Sid Bernstein. From time to time the Diamondvision video screen lit up "Beatles Night at Shea" with a picture of the Beatles while the main scoreboard lit up an original complete yellow Beatles Shea Ticket from August 15, 1965.

At precisely 6:30pm, Strawberry Fields was introduced and entered the field from the tunnel with their vintage guitars in hand (as the Beatles did). Tony with his Rickenbacker 350 (long scale 325), Billy with his left-handed Hofner Violin Bass, and Marc with his Gretsch Tennessean. Their British tan Shea jackets, black pants, trademark "Beatle boots", period style wigs, and even the "Wells Fargo Agent" badges all mirrored the look of the original Beatles that hot night in August of 1965. The stage was set with a Ludwig "Black Oyster Pearl" drum set, and on guitar stands were the Rickenbacker 360/12 and the Gibson J160E electric-acoustic guitars. After Strawberry Fields took their positions on stage, Sid Bernstein, the man who first brought the Beatles to Shea Stadium 40 years and one day ago, was introduced and honored with the scoreboard lighting up THE METS WELCOME SID BERNSTEIN simultaneously with Sid's live picture on the Diamondvision video screen in left field. Escorted by Joseph Gargano, Sid walked from behind home plate to the right corner of the makeshift stage located in front of the 1st base dugout. The two men stood alongside photographers as the band started playing. Their "Fab Four"-like sound could be heard through the Vox amplifiers and the stadium's PA system, reminiscent of what the Beatles experienced back in 1965. History states that 55,600 screaming fans may have drowned out the four lads from Liverpool, but even the occasional jet which flew overhead didn't interfere with Strawberry Fields fine efforts to recreate the exact sound of 40 years ago. The songs played were: Twist and Shout, She's A Woman, I Feel Fine, Dizzy Miss Lizzie, Ticket to Ride, Can't Buy Me Love, Baby's In Black, A Hard Day's Night, Help, and I'm Down. The two songs Act Naturally and Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby were excluded due to time limitations.

After the concert, Sid and the band exited through the tunnel, and posed for a dozen photos for the press in the corridor that connects the tunnel to the Green Room. After exchanging good-byes with the band, Sid and his entourage thanked Kevin McCarthy, Vito Salamone, and Stadium Operations crewmembers.

Tony Garofalo's personal thoughts as John Lennon:

"As for my experience, being there on that day, has been both an honor and an unforgettable nostalgic feeling to be chosen from hundreds of impersonators. When this was in its infant stage, I had no idea the magnitude of the stadium itself, as well as the "feeling" of being where the Beatles actually stood just 40 years and one day ago. I would say that for any Beatle impersonator, playing Shea Stadium in a full costume project, is the pinnacle of a musical career. We played the same song list, wore the exact Shea jackets, played the same actual vintage instruments, and were just as emotionally charged and excited as the real Fab Four. The fans have not stopped writing and calling, thanking us for such a memorable event. We wish that promotions would have started way earlier, but due to time constraints and legality, we were only off and running approximately 3 weeks prior to the event. In retrospect, an official attendance of 37,000 was not too bad considering; it definitely shows promise for a future show there again. As a John Lennon Impersonator, having played around the World in the Touring cast of Beatlemania and Strawberry Fields, it was the chance of a lifetime. I thank everyone involved for making it happen, especially the NY METS. There are now only 4 other people who can say that they performed at Shea Stadium as Beatles Performers, and those people are the members of Strawberry Fields."

For additional info for Strawberry Fields, their website is: http://www.strawberryfieldsthetribute.com

The following are the actual sound bytes that were sent by Ringo Starr and Sir Paul McCartney to be broadcast for Beatles Night at Shea on August 16, 2005 on the Diamondvision screen during the first two innings of the Mets vs. Pirates baseball game:

Ringo Starr

"Peace and Love everybody! My name is Ringo and here I am again at Shea Stadium. Who'd have thought that forty years ago today, four boys from Liverpool came and played right here...in the middle of that field. It was mad, it was crazy! Anyway, you're having a show today so here's peace and love to all the bands that are playing, peace and love to all the audience, and peace and love. Have a great time. It was one of the most exciting days of my life playing Shea Stadium, and I'll always remember it with affection. So I hope you have the same solid day today. Ok, God Bless peace and love."

Sir Paul McCartney

"Hey everyone! Was it really forty years ago that the Beatles came to play at Shea? Yes it was. Anyway, listen. It was such a fantastic night. It was a real buzz for us the Beatles, and the crowd. We couldn't hear a thing, mind you, still never mind that, but I hope that everyone at tonight's event will feel the thrill that we felt then. So you have a great evening everyone. Rock on! Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo cmon. Ooo ooo yes! "

In the spring of 1963, Sid Bernstein helped start the "British Invasion" by placing a single call to Brian Epstein and arranged The Beatles history-making event at Carnegie Hall on February 12, 1964. A year and a half later, Sid presented John, Paul, George, and Ringo at a sold-out Shea Stadium on August 15, 1965. That unforgettable performance was the first concert in a venue so large, and it changed the face of music forever.

Sid also brought over the Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, the Moody Blues and many other English bands to American shores. He was pivotal in the careers of James Brown, Ray Charles, John Denver, Joan Baez, and Miles Davis. He was instrumental in the triumphant comebacks of legends Tony Bennett and Judy Garland, and managed The Rascals for many years. Sid Bernstein's book "It's Sid Bernstein Calling" is a treasure that can be ordered at any Barnes & Noble. Watch out for the new Evan Strome and Jason Ressler (pictured here with Sid) rocking documentary film "Sid Bernstein Presents" - it's coming soon!