The Analogues

Dutch tribute act to The Beatles

This article is about the Beatles tribute band from the Netherlands. For the Polish street punk band, see The Analogs. For the science fiction novel by Damon Knight, see Hell's Pavement. For other uses, see Analog (disambiguation).

The Analogues

The Analogues play Parkpop, 2018

Background information
Origin| Netherlands
Genres|

* Rock
* pop
* tribute

Years active| 2014–present
Labels| Decca Records
Members|

* Jac Bico
* Fred Gehring
* Jan van der Meij
* Diederik Nomden
* Bart van Poppel

Felix Maginn
Website| theanalogues.net

The Analogues are a Dutch tribute act dedicated to faithfully recreating the music of the Beatles. Founded in 2014, their goal is to perform the Beatles’ music from their later studio years live, utilizing analogue and period-accurate instrumentation.[1] Unlike the Beatles, who never performed many of these songs or entire albums live, the Analogues gained recognition for their meticulous attention to detail and authenticity. Though they do not strive to resemble the Beatles visually, their performances are celebrated for accurately reproducing the band's distinctive sound and musical complexity.[2]

## Touring

[edit]

The Analogues – Concert as part of their ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ tour, 2018

From 2015 to 2016, the Analogues went on their first tour both in the Netherlands and abroad, performing the Magical Mystery Tour album.[3]

In 2017, the band toured with a complete performance of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,[4] including a performance at the 17,000-capacity Amsterdam Ziggo Dome on 1 June 2017 to celebrate the album's 50-year anniversary.[5] In June 2017, Dutch public-service broadcaster NTR aired a one-hour documentary on the band's painstaking process of analysing the Beatles' compositions and experimental use of studio equipment, as well as acquiring the proper analogue instruments, in preparation of live rendition of the Sgt. Pepper's album.[6] Before an album can be performed, the multi-layered arrangements are fully written out by the band.[5]

Concert by The Analogues at Abbey Road Studios, 2019

From 2018 to 2019, the Analogues toured the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK, playing The Beatles, also known as The White Album.

In April 2025, preparations began for a special charity tour, ‘The Analogues Light: Ticket to Ride,’ which the band plans to complete by bicycle, travelling from the Netherlands to Ukraine. To mark the 30th anniversary of the children's aid organisation War Child, the band is supporting this campaign to raise awareness of the situation of children in war zones and collect donations for this cause.[7] The proceeds from small, selected concerts along the route from Amsterdam to Lviv will go to War Child.[8]

To keep logistics for the tour to a minimum, The Analogues are travelling with a small line-up: Felix Maginn (vocals, guitar), Diederik Nomden (vocals, keyboard), Jac Bico (vocals, guitar), Bart van Poppel (bass) and Kees Schaper (drums), who is replacing Fred Gehring, who is unable to perform due to injury. The set consists of selected Beatles compositions (without orchestra). The charity tour kicked off on 16 June 2025 in Amsterdam.[9]

## Recordings

[edit]

The Analogues signed a six-record deal with Universal Music Group for five live-played Beatles albums and one album with original material inspired by the Beatles.[5]

## Instruments

[edit]

Instruments used during the 2019 Abbey Road tour, Lotto Arena, Antwerp Original Moog synthesizer for the live performance of The White Album by The Analogues, November 2024 Rehearsal of Within You Without You, May 2024

To replicate the Beatles' original recordings as closely as possible, the Analogues have amassed a vast collection of musical instruments. Their inventory includes iconic pieces like a black-and-white Rickenbacker guitar resembling John Lennon's, a light blue Fender Stratocaster similar to George Harrison's, and a Höfner 500/1 bass. They also incorporated Indian instruments into their performances, such as a dilruba, a swarmandal, a tanpura, a tabla, and a sitar.[5] Notable specialty instruments included a one-metre-long harmonica for “The Fool on the Hill” and a clavioline for "Baby, You're a Rich Man".[10]

The band’s primary analyst is bass guitarist and producer Bart van Poppel. After meticulously analyzing an album’s arrangements and consulting Beatles Gear, they sought out the precise equipment needed, such as a 1965 Lowrey Heritage Deluxe organ[5] or one of only thirty known existing mellotrons from a specific series, famously used in the intro of “Strawberry Fields Forever.”[6]

## Critical review

[edit]

In 2014, Het Parool reviewed the premiere of the Magical Mystery Tour and described the Analogues' sound as "eerily close" to the Beatles.[2] In 2015, De Volkskrant wrote that the band brought the Beatles' sound back to life "frighteningly well."[10] In 2016, the Eastern Daily Press reviewed a Norwich performance as a "... musical wonder ..." providing a "... truly magical experience".[3]

## Personnel

[edit]

Current members

* Jac Bico – guitar, vocals[1]
* Fred Gehring – drums, vocals[1]
* Felix Maginn – guitars, vocals
* Diederik Nomden – keys, guitar, vocals[1]
* Bart van Poppel – bass, keys, vocals[1] and producer[5]

Former members

* Jan van der Meij – guitar, vocals[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f The Analogues
2. ^ a b Van Brummelen, Peter (6 June 2014). "Dure Magical Mystery Tour is waar spektakelstuk (****)" [Expensive Magical Mystery Tour is truly a spectacle (****)] (in Dutch). Amsterdam: De Persgroep. Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
3. ^ a b Review: The Analogues’ Magical Mystery Tour at Norwich Theatre Royal \- Norfolk News — Eastern Daily Press
4. ^ The Analogues Tickets London — The O2 (archived)
5. ^ a b c d e f Huffels, Diederik (26 May 2017). "Tot de laatste noot net als The Beatles" [Just like The Beatles, down to the last note] (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
6. ^ a b Beerekamp, Hans (2 June 2017). "Documentaire The Analogues: puzzelen met Beatlesmuziek" [Documentary The Analogues: Making Beatles music puzzles] (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
7. ^ "The Analogues Light: Musical bicycle trip to Ukraine". warchild.de (in German). Retrieved 2025-06-20.
8. ^ "Ticket To Ride - The Analogues Light for War Child (with English subtitles)" on YouTube
9. ^ "TheAnaloguesLive tour plan". instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
10. ^ a b Van den Hanenberg, Patrick (9 November 2015). "The Analogues brengen The Beatles beangstigend goed tot leven" [The Analogues bring The Beatles to life frighteningly well] (in Dutch). Amsterdam: De Persgroep. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany

Artists|

* MusicBrainz