'IT'S A VERY POWERHOUSE SHOW'

ALEXANDRIA BAY — You've heard of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, but have you heard of Randolph Peter Best?

More commonly referred to as Pete Best, he played with Lennon, McCartney and Harrison from 1960 to 1962 on the Beatles' first tour through Hamburg, Germany, before he was kicked out and replaced by Starr.

The Pete Best Band, featuring a now 66-year-old Mr. Best on drums, will be performing Saturday night at the Home of the Stars Nightclub at the Bonnie Castle Year-Round Resort.

"It's a very powerhouse show," said Mr. Best. "It's very full of energy; it has lots of crowd participation songs."

According to the band's Web site, www.petebest.com, "The Pete Best Band delivers the raw, thumping intensity of the Beatles' savage sound during the early sixties."

"Times have changed; technology has changed, but crowds are crowds and audiences are audiences," said Mr. Best. "As long as they're enjoying themselves. The key word is enjoyment."

Opening and closing for the Pete Best Band will be the Fab Five out of Liverpool, the one in New York.

"We enjoy playing with them," said Mr. Best. "They're nice people."

Despite numerous tours around the world and in the United States and Canada, this will be the first time the Pete Best Band has played in this area.

"We're very excited to be up there," said Mr. Best.

The Alex Bay show is the second to last performance on the band's spring leg of its 2008 U.S. and Canada tour.

The group will be back in fall to promote the September release of its album "Hayman's Green," made up entirely of original songs written by the band.

According to Mr. Best, those who have listened to the rough copy have said it was "amazing."

"We hope that when it comes out in September the rest of the world thinks the same thing," he said.

Tickets for Saturday night's show will be on sale at the door for $8. Doors will open at 8 p.m. and the show will start at 9:30. After the show, band members will be available to sign autographs.

"I hope that a lot of people come because it sounds like they're gonna be a great group," said Peggy A. Brouty, general manager of Bonnie Castle Resort.