BEATLEMANIA '97; WE LOVE YOU, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH

Josh Hogan, 21, wasn't even born when the Beatles recorded their last song. But that hasn't stopped him from considering himself a Beatlemaniac and the biggest Beatles fan in Cape Girardeau.

"Without a doubt, they wrote and performed the best music of all time," Hogan said. "Every other band pales in comparison."

Over 30 years after those four lovable mop tops from Liverpool were greeted by the screaming hordes of diehard fans for the first time in America, Beatlemania keeps reaching new generations.

The Beatles -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr -- topped the charts during the nine years they were officially a band in the 1960s. Their musical influence is thought to be far-reaching and many of today's top bands list the Beatles as an inspiration.

But almost as impressive as any musical trends they may have set has been the longevity the band has had. Locally, music stores continue to sell high numbers of Beatle recordings and collectibles shops still have the old vinyl records that were part of Beatlemania.

And somewhat surprisingly, Hogan said a lot of people his age are discovering the Beatles and their music.

"Everyone loves the Beatles," Hogan said. "Why wouldn't they?"

He's bought every Beatle album -- all 13 of them, produced while the band released music from 1963-1969. He's purchased books on the Beatles' history and lives. Hogan's got scores of musical score sheets so he can play their music on his bass guitar.

He has several T-shirts with the Beatles on them, from their Beatlemania days to their psychedelic period. He even had his plates personalized -- RBR SOL. That stands for Rubber Soul, one of the Beatles albums.

Hogan said he has no favorite Beatle and no favorite Beatle album -- he likes them all equally.

"There is a Beatle album for every mood I have," Hogan said. "I can put on 'Let it Be' when I'm melancholy or `Sgt. Pepper's' when I'm happy. They really are all things to all people."

Justin Campbell, 19, has liked the group for years and it doesn't bother him that the group never recorded while he was alive.

Specifically, he likes the group for their harmony. He doesn't think any band sounds as good as George, John and Paul, traditionally thought to be the vocalists of the band.

"I think they've stood the test of time because they were so innovative and were doing stuff that bands weren't doing; I think they did a lot of things. I think they set an example that other rock bands still follow today."

Trent Tanchek, 19, likes the Beatles because of the message they sent.

"The Beatles were about getting along and being happy," Tanchek said. "I liked the Beatles after they grew together as a band and matured."

But those who were there still haven't forgotten the Beatles. Jo Rodgers still remembers the night the Beatles played on Ed Sullivan.

"I was jumping up and down and screaming," Rodgers said. "A college student who was renting our basement came up and complained to my mom."

She said she has carried her love for the Beatles with her, and still considers herself a fan.

"I was just taken with them," she said. "They sang and that was it."

Jeanie Wilson of Jackson remembers seeing the Beatles live in concert when they were in St. Louis in the early '60s.

"It was very exciting," she said. "I think they were something new and different. The girls were just crazy."

Darin Fabrick, 26, said that the Beatles music is for all generations and there is enough music for everyone to enjoy.

"I admire the changes they went through," Fabrick said. "I like them after all this time because not too many people have done much since the Beatles. You have a lot of bands who imitate and emulate them.

"I just don't see another group like the Beatles coming along for a while."

Fab Four Facts

* John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met on July 6, 1957, after Paul saw John's band, The Quarrymen, play. Two weeks later, Paul joined the group.

* In 1958, George Harrison became one of the Quarrymen.

* For a brief time in 1959, John, Paul and George played as a trio called Johnny and the Moondogs.

* Pete Best, the band's original drummer, was replaced in 1962 by Ringo Starr, a move that was not popular among the fans.

* One of the earliest collaborations of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, "I Saw Her Standing There," was written while both were still in school. It's working title was "Seventeen."

* As a band, the Beatles released 13 albums from 1963 until their breakup in 1970.

* The Beatles did inventive promo films for a number of their songs including "Penny Lane," "Strawberry Fields," and "A Day in the Life." These energetic short films may well have been the forerunners of today's music videos.

* The Beatles' invasion of America began in force with the group's first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, the most popular variety show in America at the time. On Feb. 9, 1964, 73 million people tuned in to watch the Beatles perform. In all, they appeared on the show three times.

* The "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album was released in the U.S. in June 1967, and sold over 2.5 million copies in three months -- topping the charts around the world. The album stayed on the charts in the U.S. for 113 weeks, spending 19 weeks at the top. It was the first album known to include printed lyrics.

* John Lennon and Yoko Ono were married in 1969, as were Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman.

* John Lennon was the author of several books, including "In His Own Write," which was published in 1964, and became a best seller; and "A Spaniard in the Works," published in 1965.

* Although all of the Beatles were working on separate projects and rumors of a breakup abounded, the first news reports of the Beatles disbanding were in April 1970, with the story that Paul was leaving the group.

* While working on his first album in six years, John Lennon was shot and killed Dec. 8, 1980 by a disturbed fan.

* "The Beatles Anthology" contains the first "new" Beatles release since the group disbanded. The song "Free as a Bird," was written by John Lennon, but not completed. In 1994, the piece was completed with additional vocal tracks by Paul, George and Ringo, and was nominated for a Grammy this year.

* "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love we make." All four Beatles were together in person for the last time inside Abbey Road Studios in August 1969. It's likely that they didn't realize then that this would be their last time together.