Firstly, a report from the latest edition of the movie magazine 'Flim-Flam Film'

Word has leaked out that The Mavericks are in the process of remaking The Beatles classic film 'A Hard Days Night'. It will be re-titled 'Tomorrow Never Comes', which is one of their original songs from their first independent record, currently unavailable. According to their record company "It will serve to allow the band a much wider audience, and bring the music of The Mavericks to the big screen in the most
appropriate way".

It all started with the recording of the new amazing studio album, Trampoline, which was filmed for inclusion in the movie. As long time fans of The Beatles and their classic movie, bass player and spokesman for the band, Robert Reynolds believes it is time to remind people of those days of fun, humour and great music. "When you see it today (A Hard Day's Night), you can see that it's a blueprint for the music videos of the future, it's still one of the best examples of music on film. While recording the new album I kept thinking, this had to be what a good day in Abbey Road felt like, very creative, everything was there, all the bells and whistles. So the idea to re-do 'A Hard Days Night' just came from that really."

The Mavericks, currently touring America in support of Trampoline, with the addition of the wild and brassy 'Havana Horns', are riding the wave of new found popularity outside the confines of their traditional 'countrypolitan' market. Filming is continuing during breaks on the tour, and will stick to the original story line as much as possible. It will follow their tour as they travel across America by train, culminating in a live television broadcast from the studios of the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York.

Raul Malo, lead singer/songwriter of The Mavericks will play the role of the sardonic and quick-witted leader, normally attributed to John Lennon in the original movie. In a comic twist to the plot, the role of 'Paul's Grandad' will be replaced with 'Robert Reynolds Mom', to be played by Raul Malo's real life mother Mrs Malo. Reports Raul, "My mom is relishing this acting stuff, playing the role of a not so protective celebrity mom, with her own ideas on managing the band (selling photos behind the clubs), playing the
casinos and trying to storm the dressing rooms of those 'bronzed' Las Vegas stars. Not like mom at all." Robert Reynolds, coincidently re-creates the bass-playing Paul McCartney's role, and is forever collecting his 'mom' from various nightclubs, county jails and other embarrassing situations.

The role of the somewhat moody and the 'loner' Ringo, will be played by guitarist Nick Kane, who will be seen to be the butt of sad jokes about his inability to smile and his attempt at growing a 'mop-top' haircut. That leaves drummer Paul Deakin to recreate the dry and laconic humour of George Harrison. Paul states" I'm really looking forward to the scenes where we're being chased by all the screaming young girls and the running and jumping around in the fields. Official un-official fifth Maverick, keyboard player Jerry Dale
McFadden will play the desperate and frustrated band manager, Norm, forever trying to keep everything and everyone, including the band (and mom), in line. There is also a cameo appearance by singer Trisha Yearwood, Robert Reynolds real life wife, as a tearful young blond, beside herself with ecstasy, tears running down her cheeks, crying out ``Robert!'', in the studio audience of the TV broadcast.

In another surprise twist 'Tomorrow Never Comes' is being directed by the quirky, but absolutely fun loving Quentin Tarentino ("playing this one straight" he says). "I have always been a big fan of The Beatles and more recently The Mavericks." (One of their songs featured in From Dusk 'Til Dawn.) The film should be released in time for Christmas by Universal Pictures, the parent company of The Mavericks own record
company. It will include songs from Trampoline, a 'Havana-horns' re-working of the long-forgotten
and very pop-oriented title song, and even a few of The Mavericks' own interpretations of songs from the original movie. These will include A Hard Days Night, And I Love Her, I Should Have Known Better and ironically Tell Me Why (which bears the same title as one of the new original songs off Trampoline).
In the words of Quentin, "It will be one long crazy adventure with the beat never flagging for a minute. We will be following the wild and wacky escapades of The Mavericks at recording sessions, rehearsals, hotels, railway trains, casinos and the offices of local county sheriffs."

And further to their film exploits, word is that Raul Malo has teamed up with lyricist Tim Rice, famous for his work with Andrew Lloyd Weber (Jesus Christ Superstar, etc) and more recently Elton John (The Lion King), to write a musical. In line with Raul's Cuban heritage, it is believed that the musical will be based on Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's regime, and songs already written include, Gastar Una Broma,  (On A Clear Day) You Can See Miami and Tontas de los Abril.  A joking Raul said, "It is an exciting experience working with Tim, as I can only rhyme remember with september!"

We can only applaud The Mavericks for attempting such bold and ambitious projects as these and look forward to the end results with great interest.

But then again, in the words of Raul Malo, "Tomorrow Never Comes!!!"

Loof Lirpa © 1998
 

Next up, with Greg Scearce as my 'on-the-spot' reporter, is a review of the show that The Mavericks performed that very same night at Tramps in New York. With further 'evidence' of the movie project ...
 

The Mavericks returned to Tramps with a lot more than even I had bargained for, but more of that later.
It all started  when I bumped into a hurried and excited Mrs Norma Malo, who told me that you will really enjoy tonights 'special' show. What had The Mavericks up their sleeve this time? The audience was already hyped up by the time I got in, buzzing noisily, and a few celebrities too! I think I saw John Travolta, Kate Winslett and one guy who looked very much like Quentin Tarantino, but he obviously got a back-stage pass as he disappeared before the start.

The show started as per the recent shows, with Dance The Night Away and a good dose of the opening songs from Trampoline. They just sound better and better and having an absolute ball up there. Maybe it was the cameras! Yeah that's right, didn't I mention them! Everywhere, and not video - film cameras! You know the ones with 'mickey mouse' ears where they stick the big reels).  Lots of people running about and directions being listened to in ear-pieces. It appears that the show was being captured for posterity!

Anyway back to the music. The boys disappear and Raul's acoustic bit was next, and Dream River just floats on and on. Then, the first big surprise, Raul sings an amazing version of The Beatles, If I Fell, and also from their first album StrengthTo Say Goodbye . The audience was just mesmerised during the songs and were equally ecstatic with their applause at the end. Raul thanks everyone and leaves the stage.
The stage goes dark and for what seems like an eternity all is quiet. Suddenly the stage is lit up by very bright white lights that spell out 'The Mavericks' and the boys (minus Jerry D and Jamie and the horns) all run on stage wearing 'beatle-style suits (you know - without the collars)', and everybody just screams. They hook up their instruments and start up Tomorrow Never Comes, from their very first record! Lots of jangly guitars everywhere! A great song from the early days! Great to hear them do it again! After they finish, Raul mentions something about doing a bit of a film and having a bit of fun. They then do ANOTHER Beatles tune, Tell Me Why (funny heard that title somewhere before), and everyone is just wild. Half-way through the song, Mrs Norma Malo, appears rising up in the middle of the stage next to Paul's drum riser, and Robert, Nick and Paul all give each other 'raised eyebrow' looks before Jerry D runs onstage and escorts Mrs Malo from the stage. What is going on here!

Next up my personal Trampoline favorite,  I Don't Even Know Your Name sounds even more like The Beatles than on the album. It's all too much, and the screaming between songs is getting more hysterical. This part of the show closes with third Beatles song I Should Have Known Better with Jerry D returning to the stage to recreate the original harmonica fills, and some more of his crazy wild dance steps. Oh, by the way, he's dressed in a green 'Sgt. Pepper' suit - and has a fake moustache! At the end of the song, Raul says something about "hope they passed the audition" and they all leave a darkened stage. I've seen this before! Flashback to A Hard Day's Night! '64 all over again - and they're filming it. I know they are big Beatles fans, but this is just unreal! But fantastic stuff!

The band return, complete with the Havana-Horns and rip straight into the big massive sound of  I've Got This Feeling. At the end of the song Raul asks if they enjoyed the bit of fun from before, with Robert saying "'we've always wanted to do that!" Raul replies "Now that he's got that out of his system, it'll be safe to visit his house again!"
Next up is I Hope You Want Me Too, with Jamie on cowbell extraordinaire followed by the delightful, Dolores with an ever extending drum solo, but now accompanied by Jerry D playing solo 'spoons', as he dances across the stage, tapping his knees, etc with the spoons, and still with his moustache.  A rousing ovation for the 'spoon-man' ends the song before he races of to start-up, Save A Prayer! This ends this part of the show. Mrs Malo was certainly right, so far, this is a night one could only dream of!!

Another short break before Raul enters alone again, and does the low- key version of What A Crying Shame - classic stuff.
The band are back for the next song and the first time on this tour, the Latin version of From Hell To Paradise/Guantanemera with the latter now fleshed out with the Havana Horns. Magnificent! I have to pinch myself. Solitary Man is next up followed by the last song of the night La Mucura, which this time breaks into a all out sing-a-long of  Love Me Do and She Loves You!. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Then it's all over!

Phew! What a show! I just hope that they remembered to put 'film' in the cameras.

I must see it again otherwise I might think it never happened!!
 

And finally to close up the whole movie, the actual design for the cover of the future record ...