Beatles tribute band Stockwood has plenty to twist and shout about

The Beatles hadn't performed as a group in nearly 3 decades when Evan Berg came into the world.

Yet now, at 11 years old, Evan performs as Ringo Starr in the Beatles tribute band Stockwood.

Billed as "the world's youngest Beatles tribute band," Stockwood is composed of four young men: Evan; Collin Berg, 14; JD Fuller, 15; and John Morefield, 15. All have an amazing knack for reprising the Fab Four on stage.

The band, which will perform as the opening act for Band on the Run, the Paul McCartney and Wings tribute band, at Elgin's Savage Event Center on Saturday, has been playing together since 2004.

Practically showbiz veterans, they have performed over 100 shows in that short time.

Fuller's father, Jay, was the originator of the idea -- to help brothers Evan and Collin, and friends JD and John form a tribute band, after the boys played at a fifth-grade talent show.

"I always wanted to do something with a band," said Jay Fuller. "I thought it would be fun."

"I think I was asked to play with them because I had a superior knowledge of the Beatles," speculated John, who attends Creekside Middle School in Woodstock.

"I was 9."

It didn't take any persuasion for the boys to agree, each having been introduced to the Beatles prior to Jay Fuller's suggestion.

John, who plays George Harrison, was already on the path to fandom.

"I read a lot of books about them. I listened to their music very carefully," he said. "I could pick out the parts that they sang.

"When I heard the Beatles' harmonies and melodies, they were fascinating to me."

Collin, who portrays John Lennon, attends Woodstock High School as a freshman and first heard the Beatles by listening to his parents' album when he was learning guitar at 7.

JD, also a freshman at Woodstock High School, plays Sir Paul McCartney. He was introduced to the Beatles by his mom, who gave him a greatest hits CD.

Although naturally right-handed, JD has learned to play bass left-handed to better portray the icon.

"I play right-handed in jazz band at school," he noted.

Evan, who is in fifth grade at Dean Street Elementary School in Woodstock, has played the drums since age 7 when he asked for a set for Christmas.

The request didn't stem from any Beatles fascination -- but from a more common motivation in 7-year-olds.

"They were loud, and annoyed people," Evan remembered.

The band got a big boost when the members met Beatles tribute band Liverpool Legends at a local show. Liverpool Legends has played all over the globe, and currently perform to sold-out crowds at the Starlite Theater in Branson, Mo., where it has won best show awards from fans and media.

"I met them before we had started the band," said Collin.

"A little bit after that we started the band and they invited us to Durty Nellie's (a music club in Palatine) and we played a couple songs, and it just kept going from there."

Stockwood has performed as an opening band for Liverpool Legends on a few occasions.

Collin credits Kevin Mantegna, who portrays John Lennon in Liverpool Legends, with helping to tweak his performance.

"He gives me pointers and tips about chords or guitar parts I'm not playing right," Collin said.

"If there's a little inflection that John Lennon had in his voice that I'm not doing, he'll tell me. I pay attention to him a lot when they play and I watch him."

JD's uncle, Rob Murphy, is the boys' manager.

In fact, the boys' families are their main support and fans, according to JD's dad, Jay.

"They're all good musicians and they all can sing very well. They're very dedicated."

Despite their career, all four boys have interests outside of the band.

Aside from the ubiquitous video games, the four boys pursue interests in sports and musical activities at school.

"We don't push them," Jay Fuller said.

"If my son says he wants to be done, we're done.

"John's mom, Collin's mom and myself go to all the practices and help them, but they do all the music. We're just making sure they stay on task. But dad is dad before he's a fan," Jay Fuller explained.

"We'll perform as long as his grades are good."

If you go

What: Stockwood, Beatles tribute and Band on the Run, Paul McCartney and Wings tribute band

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Savage Events Center, 940 E. Chicago St., Elgin

Tickets: $10, available at the door.