Maximum Bob

I’ve now had the opportunity to watch the BBC Imagine “documentary” on the Cirque du Soleil Beatles thing. I put that in scare quotes because - like most of these things - it was really just an extended infomercial, a puff-piece for the Las Vegas Tourist Board rather than anything more critical or otherwise detached.

It’s clear that the whole thing had the endorsement of the surviving Beatles and the Beatle Widows, though so much was obvious in any case. But I always bear in mind with these things that, (a) Ringo needs the money, and that (b) Yoko Ono would probably happily serve up chopped up bits of the corpse of her husband for a bit more cash, and, possibly, that (c) Olivia could do with the money too. Yoko has been a professional Beatle Widow for much, much longer than she was a Beatle Wife. I wish she’d take off those freaking sunglasses.

The connection with Cirque du Soleil, it seems, was made by George. George, for me, has become the most problematic Beatle. He was the one who talked a good game when it came to spiritual matters and love and peace and all that, but he was also the one who served up the most negative lyrical content. Most of his songs were negative critiques of what other people were doing rather than anything more positive. Ringo said in that Anthology thing that it was great that it all happened in the name of peace and love, but actually what George sang was a little more spiky and jaundiced. Give or take “The Inner Light,” it was only on Abbey Road, and with relief at the end being in sight, that George come up with anything resembling a positive world view.

On Anthology, which can be seen as another puff project (yes, I enjoyed it; no, it’s not very objective) to raise money for Ringo, George could barely raise a smile in memory of the Beatles, and didn’t seem to view any of it very positively. He concluded with words to the effect that the fans gave their money and their screams, but the Beatles gave their nervous systems. It was clear that he never forgave Paul for talking down to him as the youngest, and although he had the driest sense of humour in the world, he’d had it by-passed when it came to the band.

So for him to be talking to this circus/cabaret act about using Beatle music doesn’t surprise me. Cirque du Soleil is a massive entertainment organisation. They have around five different shows going on at five different Las Vegas hotel resorts - including one for adults only, fact fans - as well as shows elsewhere and a touring show.

Now, having seen the Imagine programme, I know that my kids would absolutely love the show. CJ is already showing a healthy interest in The Beatles (I gave her my copy of Love), and even Didi would enjoy it - especially the “Octopus’s Garden” undersea bit. It’s all very clever, and - no question - if I had a spare 2 grand or so I’d fly the four of us out there for a few nights in town and tickets for the show. But it’s still Las Vegas. Elvis in Las Vegas may have - occasionally - shown flashes of brilliance, but otherwise it was a long, slow show-biz death in the worst possible circumstances.

Las Vegas, whether it’s the money laundering capital of the world or the family entertainment capital of the world it’s reinvented itself to be, still represents the lowest common denominator, the making of money out of people’s vices and basest instincts. Do I disapprove? Am I being uptight and moralistic? I don’t particularly care about those vices - I like to see tits bouncing up and down as much as the next guy. But I do still bristle at the thought of the Crown Jewels of Popular Music being used for such a gaudy display.Taking my kids to see it would be the same quality of experience as going to Euro Disney - something I could only do with gritted teeth, on the understanding that it’s unfair to lay my twisted world view on my kids so young.