The Fab 5 A Tribute to The Beatles and Music of the 60s & 70s

Joe Baiardi

Electric Bass Guitar/Guitar and Lead Vocals

Joe originally hails from New York City. Joe started playing professionally at the age of 12 (beginning in the wedding band circuit). His first love was playing the drums but soon taught himself to play the guitar, bass, & piano. Joining up with friend Omar Sanders, Joe began playing in various high school bands in the 70s like "Reaper", "Centaur" & "Exctasy". By 1979,he formed "Rubber Soul" (1979-1983), a successful Beatles tribute band. Joe always wanted to perform Beatles music ever since he met John Lennon in 1976 on Broadway & 52nd street in Manhattan. "Rubber Soul" toured up and down the east coast playing Beatles conventions, Festivals, and dinner theaters in the early 80s. Joe and Rich Testa (who portrayed "John" in "Rubber Soul") also began writing together and wrote lovely pop songs like "She's Changed" which is featured on the new FAB 5 CD.

In 1983 "Rubber Soul" disbanded, Joe joined "The Elevators" (1984-1987), a new wave original pop group in Manhattan which penned and recorded original dance music. The band played all the Manhattan's hot spots like The China Club, CBGB's and The Bitter End. One of the songs "Whatcha Gonna Do" was featured in the 1984 movie "Perfect" starring John Travolta and Jamie Leigh Curtis. It helped that their lead singer Brant Mewborn was also a senior editor with Rolling Stone Magazine. We hung out with the likes of RuPaul and Michael Musto. "The Elevators" were suppsoed to be signed to EMI's new "MANHATTAN" label, but were beat out by "BALTIMORA" (who had the hit "Tarzan Boy"). In 1988 Joe relocated to Houston, Texas. Brant Mewborn died in 1989. Rest In Peace my old friend.

Joe took a break from playing in bands until 1992, when he answered an ad in The Houston Press and joined "Troy Hess & Dangerous Livin'" (1992-1996) and continued on with Troy Hess in "Zebra Three" (2000-2002). In 2000, he was offered the "Paul McCartney" role in the national Beatles tribute act "Come Together". This also lead to performing with "The Cast of Beatlemania" as their "Paul" fill in for original cast members Mitch Weissman and Lenie Colacino. Joe has done "Cast" shows in New York, Detroit, Boston, Florida, Seattle, Oklahoma, Dallas, and Minnesota. His love and appreciation for Music of the 60s will always remain his first true love, which is what lead him to join "The Fab 5" on February 2, 2003. That magical musical chemistry between the current line up makes "The Fab 5" one of The Premier Party Bands in the nation!

Joe in 1980 with "RUBBER SOUL" Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3

Paul Byron

Keyboards and Vocals

A native Houstonian – guitarist, bassist, keyboardist & vocalist Paul Byron™ has played the Texas club circuit in numerous bands for many years, covering everything from Blues and Classic Rock to Funk and R&B. His unique vocal style and range have earned him a respectful comparison to the likes of Delbert McClinton, Wilson Pickett and Joe Cocker. He is also very much at home behind a piano or B3 organ, providing keys and vocals for many local Blues, Rock and R&B legends.
Paul has also been front man for two incredible Houston bands - Love It To Death - The Alice Cooper Tribute Show and CRASH (Classic Rock All Stars of Houston). Both of these bands have made their mark on the Houston and regional music scene in recent years. He has also spent a couple of recent years playing keys and providing backup vocals for the legendary touring hard rock band, AXE. (Rock N Roll Party In The Streets!)
It can be said with great authority, that everything he has done musically over the last 25 years has brought him to where he sits now, as member of Houston’s best tribute act (according to the 2011 Houston Press Music Awards), The Fab 5!

Chuck Essick

Rhythm Guitar, and Vocals

At age nine, Dr.C stuck his head into a stereo speaker to better hear "I Want To Hold Your Hand", and the rest as they say is history. His first bands in middle and high school won numerous talent show prizes and played at local venues all over town. In the late 70s he moved up onto the club and party circuit with his band "Crystal", a highly sought after black Top 40 band touring the southeast. Dr.C then took a 20 year hiatus from music while he earned a Master's Degree and began a career & family. In 1996 he formed the legendary North Houston band "Strange Brew" (one of Houston's Best Classic Rock Bands). Dr.C joined "The Fab 5" in January 2000, and his style of guitar playing was a refreshing burst of energy to the band. He is a certifiable lunatic onstage, jumping and dancing and frequently leaving the stage to party with the dancing crowds! A welcome addition of talent to "The Fab 5" family.

Chuck in 1976 with "CRYSTAL" Photo 1

John Lassen

Lead Guitar and Vocals

John started playing the guitar because his older sister was doing it and she was the favorite. Scarred for life, he vowed to get better. It's amazing what a little sibling rivalry will help to accomplish! His first stint as a guitarist was with the rock group "Saffire". In the 1980's John worked with original progressive-rock group "Blown Rose" and then with country-rock group "Black Rose". In 1997, he made a solemn vow never to work in a band containing the word "Rose."

John has played around the USA and the UK in folk, rock, country, and progressive original music groups and has lent guitar, keyboard, and vocal parts to a slew of recordings all over the planet. Most recently, he has played lead guitar and keyboards for Houston favorites "Hidden Agenda" and "Strange Brew". He is honored to be asked to join the Fab 5 and works hard to reproduce the lead guitar parts of those timeless Beatles tunes exactly as George did.

(Ringo) Rod Robert

Drums and Vocals

Rod was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, one week before the Beatles first performance on the ‘Ed Sullivan’ show. The son of a military man, he moved to Italy as a young boy during the period when much of the music he plays with "The Fab 5" was new. “I think that’s why this music is so familiar to me--my mother loved the Beatles and all of the British Invasion bands. She played her records in our house, on base, all the time so, I got a good dose of it as a kid very early on. I think it was a connection to home, back in the states. She sang professionally at officers clubs, supper clubs--sang all styles--from big band tunes to all the popular hits of the day. She did a mean version of ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’.

After returning from over seas, Rods’ family opened a musical instrument store in Houston in the early ‘70’s. Growing up and working in the family business, it seemed only natural that Rod would pursue music as a profession, both as a player and business owner. Today, he is the proud owner of Humble Music Center Music Services and specializes in the collection and restoration of vintage guitars and of course, drums and drum sets. However, it is performing on stage that gives Rod his biggest thrill--and there have been many stages spanning his 25 year career. From extensive touring around Texas and throughout the southern portions of the U.S. in the 80’s to as far away as the United Arab Emirates (Persian Gulf) in ’89 & ’90 on what was described as a good-will tour of American culture.

Rod has always stayed active performing everything from country and rock to swing, blues and R&B. This versatility has led to opportunities in the studio, recording with the likes of Texas singer/songwriter/stylists "Davin James" and "Clay Farmer", along with musicians extraordinaire Paul Burnett and Robert DiBlanco. With characteristic enthusiasm, Rod says, “SHOWTIME—that’s when the music comes alive!” Call him ‘RingoRod’ or ‘ModRod’, he has the uncanny ability to mimic the drummers he portrays, while keeping solid, steady time, and always flashing that Cheshire-cat grin. Rod, who joined the band in March 1991 after a phone call from a go-getter who would turn out to be ‘Hullabaloo’ Bill, is responsible for the bands foray into costuming as he is" The Idea Man". "The Fab 5" is so much fun, the tunes are timeless, the camaraderie is great and like-minded with years of experience. When we play, I just embody that spirit. As the drummer, its got to groove to be Groovy Baby!” Rod’s drumming influences include: Ringo's’ musicality, Keith Moons’ intensity, Mitch Mitchell's’ style, John Bonham's’ kick, Ian Paices’ snare, Mel Taylor's’ class, and Sandy Nelsons’ “Let There Be Drums”!

Rod in 1978 with Strutter Photo 1

Rod in 1982 with Aerial Photo 1 Photo 2 Reunion 2003

Rod in 1986 with Ted Nugent Photo 1

Rod in 1990 with Fandango Photo 1