Cavern Beatles's Cast Bios
SIMON RAMSDEN (As Ringo Starr)
Simon is widely considered to be the No1 Ringo Starr impersonator in the world.
He began playing the drums at the age of 11. By 16, he was already performing in the UK club scene, drawing inspiration from jazz legend Buddy Rich, The Who’s Keith Moon, The Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson, and the iconic Ringo Starr.
For over 25 years, Simon has brought Ringo Starr to life in Beatles tribute bands around the world. His dedication to the craft led to a memorable moment in 1997 when he played alongside the original Beatles drummer, Pete Best, in Nuremberg, Germany.
Simon’s career highlights don’t stop there. He has recorded at the world-renowned Abbey Road Studios in London. He also took to the stage in Lubbock, Texas during the 4th of July celebrations, performing a Beatles tribute concert for a crowd of over 100.000 people, the largest Beatles tribute concert in history.
In a testament to his connection to The Beatles’ legacy, Simon was invited to perform at the UK launch of The Beatles Rock Band computer game at Liverpool’s Cavern Club on 9th September 2009. His performance with the headline band was a fitting tribute to the Fab Four’s timeless music.
Simon Ramsden’s journey from a young drummer in Liverpool to an internationally recognised Beatles tribute performer is a testament to his passion, talent, and dedication to perfection in his craft.
CHRIS O‘NEILL (As Paul McCartney)
Chris O’Neill is an exceptionally talented and charismatic musician, actor, and songwriter, born and raised in Liverpool. His illustrious career began in 1994 when he portrayed George Harrison in the BAFTA Award-winning Beatles film ‘Backbeat.’
Inspired by his successful performance in ‘Backbeat,’ Chris decided to further his musical career and joined the Cavern Beatles. Although naturally right-handed, Chris mastered playing left-handed for his role in the band, earning recognition as one of the best Paul McCartney impersonators in the world.
Since his success in ‘Backbeat,’ Chris has appeared in several films and TV shows, showcasing his versatile creative talents. He served as the musical coordinator for the film ‘John Lennon: In His Life,’ wrote a musical, co-wrote several hit songs for other UK artists and became a lifelong friend of Astrid Kercher, the famous photographer of The Beatles.
Chris’s excellent musicianship, irrepressible scouse wit, and humour, combined with many fascinating stories of the characters (some famous) he has met along the way, ensure an entertaining and unforgettable show!
THOMAS HAMILTON-HUGHES (as John Lennon)
Thomas is a Liverpool-based musician with over a decade of experience in the music industry. He has toured Europe and China with original groups, supporting renowned artists such as Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello, and The Stranglers.
Thomas studied at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), where he obtained a first-class honours degree. LIPA, as it is known, was also the secondary school of Paul McCartney and George Harrison. In 2022 Thomas shifted his focus to the Beatles tribute scene, and since then, he has toured across the world, captivating audiences in the role of John Lennon. The Beatles community have praised his impeccable interpretation of John Lennon’s voice, making his performances truly remarkable.
CYRIL MONTREAU (as George Harrison)
An international musician, Cyril Montreau began his musical journey at the age of 11, training at the Paris Conservatory.
Armed with a DE in classical guitar and a DEM in modern music, he left the conservatory to pursue various musical projects.
Cyril is famous as a recording musician in Europe. In 2006, he signed a recording contract with Capitol Records and released the album “Le Long Des Lignes” with his band ‘Blanc’. The following year, he recorded the album “Jeunesse Se Passe” with Benoît Dorémus (EMI) and accompanied him on tour for five years.
Since 2017, Cyril has been performing with the Cavern Beatles, widely praised for his commitment to his performance, his attention to detail & incredible likeness to George.
