Fresh from a UK tour at the end of 2009, the world-famous Bootleg Beatles are hitting the road once again and this time they're stopping off in Sunderland. MARISSA CARRUTHERS takes a look back at their 30 years in business.

Having notched up more years playing Beatles songs than the Fab Four themselves, The Bootleg Beatles have well and truly earned themselves the title of best tribute band.

Little did Neil Harrison (Bootleg John Lennon), Andre Barreau (Bootleg George), David Catlin-Birch (Bootleg Paul) and Hugo Degenhardt (Bootleg Ringo) know when they met in 1979 to star in hit West-End production, Beatlemania that they were about to make their mark on history.

After a year-long run the show finished and the band, knowing the repertoire inside out, decided to continue performing and in 1980 The Bootleg Beatles were born.

Thirty years on, what started as four musicians with black polo necks and a wig has evolved into The Bootleg Beatles' lauded show, which combines note-perfect renditions of Beatles repertoire, spectacular costume changes and a visually stunning video backdrop.

Remaining true to The Beatles and their lengthy catalogue of songs, The Bootleg Beatles pride themselves on faithfully re-creating the six phases of the Beatles meteororic rise from The cavern in Liverpool to the famous Apple concert in 1969 – taking in Shea Stadium, Sgt Pepper and the Magical Mystery Tour along the way.

As well as being behind starting the ongoing craze of tribute bands, The Bootleg Beatles have been crowned one of the best tribute bands in history, with many who see them in action remarking on their outstanding impersonation of the Liverpudlian four.

Top music magazine NME said: "The band are as similar to their namesakes as it is possible to be.

"Unlike any other group in the last 25 years of rock they can safely say that they look and sound as good as The Beatles."

The Bootleg Beatles will be stopping off at the Sunderland Empire for the second leg of their 30th anniversary tour on Friday, March 12.

They will be accompanied by an eight-piece orchestra and will be including songs from the latter stages of the Beatles' catalogue that the group never performed live.

Tickets cost £22.50 and can be bought by phoning 0844 847 2499 or visiting www.sunderlandempire.org.uk