A13

John Pollack

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Most people never dreamed they could see the Bee Gees perform live in New Brunswick. While those people are still right, since in 2003 Maurice Gibb died and the group disbanded, but Bee Gees fans in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John have a special treat coming to them between September 26 and 29.

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Garry Lichach, producer of "Stayin' Alive" the largest production of the Bee Gees in the world, says his show is the next best thing to seeing the band live.

"Not only do they look like the Bee Gees but they sound exactly like the Bee Gees and they do all the hits...through the early Bee Gees right to the disco era," says Lichach.

Hits like Jive Talking, Night Fever, You Should Be Dancing, To Love Somebody, I Started A Joke, How Deep Is Your Love, Tragedy and More Than A Woman just to name a few.

"They've been endorsed by the Gibb family as the best Bee Gees show in the world," says Lichach.

His group has perfected their imitation routines to the point that some people actually think it's the real deal.

"What the hell are the Bee Gees doing here," Lichach recalls at least one small town Alberta resident saying when their act passed through.

Lichach also recounted when they performed two sold-out shows in San Diego to two 6,000-person audiences with a 60-piece orchestra backing them up, which fooled some and amazed the rest.

"Everybody walked away saying wow a night with the Bee Gees," recalls Lichach.

But if that isn't enough to make the night there's another special treat on: "Forever Young" featuring Dave Battah as Rod Stewart.

"When Dave Battah walks on stage they think it's Rod Stewart," says Lichach. "They relive the Rod Stewart experience."

While both shows are incredibly believable, the man reason it's successful is because of the massive popularity and nostalgic effect of the musicians they're impersonating. In other words it doesn't hurt that the Bee Gees had 30 number one hits and sold records in five decades.

"The only people who ever sold more songs than the bee gees, are Michael Jackson, the Beatles, (and a few others)," says Lichach. "They're right up there."

The show is entering its eighth year and has an all-Canadian cast based in Toronto. But they spend more time travelling the world, playing 200 shows a year, than at home.

The show also toured Atlantic Canada last year accompanying Lichach's Abba Mania show.

"If anybody wants to go back in time and live in the era of the Bee Gees see Stayin' Alive," says Lichach.

"People can forget their troubles and come out for a great night of great music and very talented people in the show."