Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles fan site

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Currently, there is one interview available but I hope to add more interviews as members of Rain become available.

Mark Lewis, Founder of Rain

An Interview with Mark Lewis

Interview By: Jim Cruff

Interview Date: 1/29/2011

Mark Lewis is one of the founding members of the Beatles tribute band, Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles. Rain is considered the foremost Beatles tribute band. Mark played off-stage, adding keyboards and some of the studio sounds needed to duplicate the Beatle sound. Mark has recently retired from performing and is concentrating more on management of Rain.

I'd like to give a little background about the band before we start the interview. In the early 1970s, Mark joined a band called Reign. They had moderate success at the local level. Their show consisted mostly of original music but they also included a set of Beatles songs. The Beatles set soon became the most popular portion of their show, It was decided to transform Reign into a Beatles tribute band and Mark helped lead the stellar transformation of the band -- which included renaming the band "Rain"

One of their big breaks was when TV legend Dick Clark recruited Rain to do the soundtrack for the 1979 made-for-TV movie "Birth of the Beatles." It was always Rain's intention to return to original music. But, because of Rain's popularity, they never looked back. In the early 1980s, the Broadway show Beatlemania started to wind down and, as members of Rain left, former members of Beatlemania joined Rain. Today's main lineup (with one exception) is the same band that came together in the early 1980s. During their journey, they did lose one member, Jim Riddle, to brain cancer.

Rain continues to tour heavily. In 2010, they took to the stage more than 300 times. In addition, they performed 24 shows in Germany and 41 shows in Canada. Currently, Rain is in the middle of an extend Broadway run that is expected to run through May, 2011

JC:

First off, Mark, congratulations on the continuing success of the Broadway show, Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles on Broadway. As of this interview, you have just completed 12 weeks at the Neil Simon Theater and because of its popularity, the show has been extended by 16 weeks. That extension starts February 8, 2011 at the Brooks Atkinson Theater.

You recently retired as a playing member of Rain. However, you did not leave the band. You are concentrating on the management and business end of the business. Did you get a chance to play at the Neil Simon Theater on Broadway before your retirement?

ML:

Actually I did not play any shows at the Neil Simon Theater. I could have if I really thought it was important, but the fact is the guy I got as my replacement is doing a great job. If I had decided to do it, it would have been for me, and not for the show. Everything decision I make I try to make for the overall good of the band.

Leaving the keyboard position was a very tough decision to make, and I almost had to approach it like an alcoholic giving up a booze. I had to say "My name is Mark Lewis, and I am NOT the keyboard player in Rain, I am their manager". Otherwise, I would never give it up. I've been trying to wean myself off of keyboards, and into the management position for years, but the 'weaning' process didn't work for me. It was all or nothing, and part of the adjustment was to move out of the way, and let the other keyboard players do their thing.

JC:

Why did you decide to retire when you did and do one last performance on Broadway?

ML:

I decided to retire from the stage when I did because taking the show to Broadway while still having our touring show was quite a challenge in itself, and playing 8 shows per week on Broadway is also quite demanding. I felt I couldn't give both the attention that they deserve, and I felt that I'd rather be excellent at one thing than okay at two things, and there was no way that I could give the band the management that they need, and give the keyboard world the attention that it demanded. Therefore, this seemed like the perfect time to make the transition from stage to management.

JC:

Now that you are retired from the stage and moved to permanent management position, what are your day-to-day duties?

ML:

It's pretty all encompassing. I am dealing with everything from deciding which performer is playing which show, to sound issues, personal issues that often come up, intervening with promoters, people in advertising and marketing, going through offers to decide future dates, crew issues, etc., etc...

I'm actually busier now focusing just on management issues than I was when I played keyboards and handled management because I'm much more active in everything outside of the actual performance aspects. By the way, I never said that I will never play another Rain show. I'm sure at some point I will still step on stage to do a show or two because I still love playing. It's just not my primary focus.

JC:

Your current Broadway run has been extended through May. Are you looking for any further extensions or is it time to get back on the road and tour?

ML:

We'd like to stay on Broadway as long as possible, but we also want to continue our touring show. Right now we're just going to take it slow, and see how Broadway goes with this first extension.

JC:

Beyond Broadway, is Rain working on any new projects that you care to discuss?

ML:

Yes. A 3rd PBS special that would be "The Show That Never Was". We're not sure when that will start airing.

JC:

Will Rain be touring Europe, Canada or any other countries anytime soon?

ML:

Since Broadway is a success we've gotten several offers from all over the world. Rain is scheduled to go to Singapore for a month in mid July.

JC:

You have played before some amazing audiences in the past. One of the largest audiences was when you opened for Gloria Estefan and The Miami Sound Machine. You played before 20,000 fans. It's often difficult opening for a major headliner. The audience is not always appreciative of your music. What was it like to open for Ms. Estefan?

ML:

Actually, it was great opening for Gloria Estefan. We also opened for Willy Nelson that week. One thing about Beatles Music, people love it, and if you do it at the level that Rain does, the audience tends to get pretty excited. We had no problem opening for major headliners. It would be interesting ask them how they liked following us.

JC:

Where was it, and what year?

ML:

I think it was in Cleveland, OH. I don't remember the year.

JC:

Another big moment in Rain history is when Rain was able to pay tribute to the Beatles arrival in the United States. Could you talk about that event?

ML:

Sure. A radio station in Seattle wanted to do something special for the 40th anniversary of the Beatles arrival in the US. They really didn't know what they wanted to do, but they were hoping to get Rain involved being that we had a pretty big following in that city. We put our heads together, and came up with the idea of trying to recreate the Beatles arrival in NYC prior to their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. At first they wanted us to just walk off of a little plane waving to a crowd. We thought that would look pretty lame, so we suggested that we try to get use of a jet at the Boeing Air Museum, and that we could perform the first 4 songs the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show live over the air. They thought it was a great idea, and the next thing we knew we were given a thumbs up to use the Concord that they had on display. The day of the event we didn't know if anyone was going to show up, and we were prepared for a real "Spinal Tap" moment, but it wound up incredible. Over 7000 people showed up.

JC:

Last year, Rain performed more than 300 shows -- including several in other countries. No matter how much you enjoy your work, it's still work. You need time off. Describe for me a typical day off.

ML:

When I'm home I like to sit in my house, watch rented DVD's, and relax with my family. You'd be hard pressed to get me to go anywhere besides the gym, or the supermarket when I first get off the road. At this time it's rare that when I'm home that I actually get down time. Now that I've become the full time manager I'm on the phone, and answering email more than ever.

JC:

Mark, you are a world class keyboard player and percussionist, but what other instruments do you play?

ML:

That's about it. Keyboards are my only instrument. Percussion is more an "as needed" type thing.

JC:

In 2002, Rain pressed their first CD, titled, "Yeah!, Yeah!, Yeah!" It is a CD with 13 tracks -- 12 complete songs plus one melody. Each track is a spot-on cover of the Beatles. The CD seems to have a mixture of tracks recorded in the studio as well as a few recordings performed on stage. Please explain the evolution of that CD

ML:

At the time Rain was performing their show "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!" at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe. Fans were always asking us why we don't have a CD available, and we'd answer that our goal is to sound just like the Beatles records so it seemed kind of dumb to put out a CD that sounds exactly like a Beatles record. Then we decided to try recording a couple of our shows live. Some of it came out sounding pretty good, but we really didn't come up with enough stuff that we were happy about putting out a full CD. So we decided to record some of more Beatle songs in Joey's home studio (Joey Curatolo plays the part of "Paul McCartney" in Rain), and to see how close we could come to sounding exactly like the Beatles. We figured that even if it is a bit silly to put out "sound alike" songs, that it would put something into history that shows how good the band actually is at duplicating the sound of the Beatles.

JC:

In 2009, Rain released three new CDs; "Live One", "Live Two' and "The show that Never Was'. All three CDs appear to be recorded from a stage show. In addition, there was a PBS special recorded and it appears to have been recorded at the same time. Where was this material recorded and can you tell is a bit about each CD and the PBS special? (Please feel free to plug some of the off-stage personnel that work on these recordings)

ML:

All three CD's were recorded in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Live One & Live Two are basically the first and second half of our show. "The Show That Never Was" was a different concept. The idea was to imagine what a concert might have been like if the Beatles had reunited for one last show before John Lennon's tragic death. It's a combination of Beatles material, some hits, some more obscure, along with some of their solo material. It was performed for a benefit, and it was only performed once. As previously mentioned, we plan to have a third PBS Special that is more of "The Rehearsal For the Show That Never Was". We brought recording equipment, and HD cameras into a sound stage and performed many of the songs that are on our CD.

JC:

Tell me a little about your family life, Mark.

ML:

As I write this I'm waiting for my wife Debbie to get home because we are going out to dinner to celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary. I have two sons, Allen 21, and Greg 16. Both are excellent musicians. Allen attends college at UNR (University of Nevada, Reno), and Greg is in High School. Both my son's play piano, although it is not their main instrument. Greg is a great rock and jazz drummer. He is also in his high schools marching band, which is a nationally ranked marching band, and he loves it. Allen has a band called Wayward in which he writes, and plays lead guitar. Joey Curatolo's son, Paul, is also in the band, and they have been together since they were little kids, and it was more of a game. Now they are an excellent band.

www.myspace.com/waywardrockmusic

I want to thank Mark Lewis for spending time to interview with RainFans.com and I wish Mark happiness in "retirement" and continued success for Rain.