Much like Jojo, the protagonist from the Beatles’ “Get Back,” Tony Kishman left his home in Tucson, Arizona, for some California grass. Kishman did get back to where he once belonged. However, the singer-songwriter’s experience in Los Angeles changed his life.
While performing in Southern California, Kishman caught the attention of some industry honchos, who thought he was perfect for the musical “Beatlemania.”
“I got a call from some stranger in California who said, ‘We heard you can play Paul McCartney,’” Kishman said while calling from his Syracuse home. “‘Someone saw you in a bar band in Southern California and we were told you can play the role, and you look like Paul.’ That was in 1977, and, apparently, I fit the requirements. I auditioned and went from there.”
The show, essentially the first notable cover experience, was dubbed “Not the Beatles, but an incredible simulation. “
Kishman was cast as Paul McCartney, who wrote “Get Back” and played the Macca in the Beatlemania from 1978 to 1983. The experience at times was surreal. Kishman couldn’t believe the Beatles producer, Sir George Martin, attended a “Beatlemania” performance.
“The cool thing was that both George Martin and Paul McCartney gave ‘Beatlemania’ the thumbs up,” Kishman said. “But George Martin actually came out to see us perform. I’ll never forget it. Martin was seventh-row center. He bought his own tickets. He brought his family and came backstage after the show. I was blown away. George Martin was standing right in front of me.
“He told me, ‘I just wanted to tell you that your show is A-1. I loved it.’ I wondered why he would come to see us and he said he wanted his son, Giles, to see it since he got off on the wrong foot listening to the Bay City Rollers. George Martin told me he wanted his son to see what the Beatles were like. He just lit up. It was an incredible experience.”
Kishman’s career has been an incredible experience. He was part of the British band Wishbone Ash, along with several other groups. However, McCartney’s music pulled him back to his musical foundation.
“Live and Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney” is slated for Saturday, May 3, at the Fox Tucson Theatre and Kishman will be front and center delivering Macca’s Beatles, Wings and solo hits. The “Live and Let Die” production commenced in 2006.
“It really is so much fun playing the songs Paul wrote,” Kishman said. “I love his songs.”
Kishman, 69, scores extra points for his appreciation of McCartney’s Wings material. Some critics have dismissed that McCartney period as nothing more than a trifle. However, it was actually a fertile period for McCartney.
“Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Live and Let Die,” “Jet” and “Band on the Run” were just some of the classics McCartney penned and recorded.
“I love the songs from that period,” Kishman said. “I love playing ‘Uncle Albert’ and ‘Silly Love Songs.’ I still do it one for one with Beatles songs along with McCartney songs.”
Perhaps that era is near to Kishman’s heart because that’s when he first saw McCartney live.
Kishman, who was 9 years old when the Beatles played the Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, missed the Fabs. However, one of his favorite concerts of all time was catching McCartney at Wembley Arena in 1978, when “Beatlemania” earned raves while the production was in London. Kishman, who scored comps from the McCartney camp, remembers the experience like it was yesterday.
“I’ll never forget it,” Kishman said. “I was 10th-row center. I recall the first thing he did when he stepped onstage, which was scream. It blew my mind. His scream was so big, loud and strong. Paul went into ‘Got to Get You Into My Life’ and it was just amazing.”
The wildest part of the evening never happened because Kishman opted to beat the crowd out the door.
“We decided to leave early, and that was a huge mistake,” Kishman said. “I found out later that Paul said, ‘Tell those guys from ‘Beatlemania’ to come backstage.’ When I heard that, I fell to my knees and tears streamed out of my eyes. Paul wanted to meet me. He was curious who was playing Paul in ‘Beatlemania.’ I had the opportunity to meet Paul McCartney and I blew it.”
Kishman has yet to meet the Beatles legend but he did get to spend quality time with the Beatles producer, and he still performs McCartney’s music for fans who can’t get enough of the Macca’s classics.
“Maybe someday I’ll have the chance to meet him,” Kishman said. “I just have so much respect for him and absolutely love his music.”
Kishman is looking forward to returning for a hometown show in Tucson, where he attended Canyon Del Oro High School. “I love it there,” Kishman said. “I lived in Tucson for much of my life. I was born in St. Mary’s Hospital there, but I met a girl named Bree and she lit my fire. We were living in Tucson, and she suggested that we move to New York, and we’ve been in Syracuse for the last few years. It’s been great living there and being on the road with this show.”
“Live and Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney”
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 3
WHERE: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson
COST: Tickets start at $20
INFO: 520-547-3040, foxtucson.com
