Stockwood offers ‘A Genuine Tribute to The Beatles’ despite their young ages. Stockwood has been surprising audiences for over eight years. These 15 to 18 year-old seasoned professionals bring a collective 38 years of performance experience to their shows. No wonder that everyone who sees Stockwood is amazed by the talent evident in each performance; their youngest member was only 6-1/2 when he began portraying Ringo!

Stockwood brings together musical proficiency far surpassing their years and are able to entertain audiences of all ages by recreating music that transcends time. People often ask, “Do they lip sync?” or “Do they play a CD in the background to help them out?” but the answer to both questions is a resounding NO! All four boys sing and play their instruments without assistance from anyone or anything. They won First Place in the Battle of the Beatle Bands at Chicago’s Fest for Beatle Fans in 2006 and 2007. Then they were voted Best Under 21 band in NiteLife.org’s “Best of the Burbs” competition in 2007 and 2008. Although they did not enter the contest in 2009, they still came in 2nd!

Stockwood understands that music is to be shared and they are happiest when sharing their music with you. So now, it is time to meet…

“I began playing guitar at the age of 7,” says Collin, “playing in a church band. It was a lot of fun and not long after that I wrote my first song.”

At about age 8 or 9 Collin was exposed to The Beatles through his parents. “I really liked their music. It stuck with me like glue.”

All of Collin’s guitar teachers have influenced him (Paul at Dr. Woods Guitar Emporium and Mike Musick) but two fellow Beatles Tribute artists – Kevin Mantegna and Marty Scott of Liverpool Legends – really helped perfect his Beatles look and sound.

When asked why he sticks with performing in a Beatles tribute like Stockwood, the answer is quick. “Because I love The Beatles and I love performing their music. Everyone knows the music. And I especially love all of Stockwood's fans. Thanks guys for the support. Also thanks to our parents. Otherwise, we couldn't do what we love.”

As for favorite gigs, Collin prefers the BIG theatres like the Rosemont and the Genesee but he also loves the huge outside venues like Abbey Road on the River.

You might wonder if Beatles music is all he listens to. Like his fellow band mates, it is not…Collin listens to AC/DC, Guns n' Roses, Van Halen, Wilco, The Redwalls and other classic rock bands.

When not performing with Stockwood, Collin focuses on his education and his future. He is attending Columbia College in Chicago, studying music with a concentration in contemporary, urban and popular music, singing and songwriting. While at Woodstock High School, he enjoyed his time in Varsity Choir, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo and SRO (an all-male a cappella chorus). He traveled to NYC in April 2011 with SRO to represent the Midwest as one of ten vocal groups to compete in a national competition.

Collin is also a prolific songwriter – both on his own and in partnership with his band mate John Morefield. Wait a minute, Collin “John Lennon” Berg and John “Paul McCartney” Morefield collaborating on writing songs. Could musical history be repeating itself?!

John Morefield started playing piano at age 4 and, in 2004, taught himself to play guitar in order to portray George Harrison in Stockwood. After all, if Stockwood was going to succeed, they would have to focus on the authenticity necessary to pay proper tribute to The Beatles. John’s love for music and especially guitar is influenced by, of course, The Beatles, as well as other classic rock and metal groups such as Van Halen, AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Metallica. His guitar idols are Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Angus Young and Tom Morello. John also appreciates classical music, “Big Band” music of the 1930’s and 1940’s, and more modern groups such as Rage Against The Machine and Vampire Weekend.

Recently, John developed a greater appreciation for Paul McCartney and his left-handed bass playing, as well as his vocal range, when he made the decision to shift from portraying George Harrison to Sir Paul. In less than 6 months John not only taught himself to play “lefty” bass, but also mastered a good portion of the entire McCartney catalog.

School finds John favoring classes in German and Science as well as participating in Jazz Band and SRO at Woodstock High where he is a junior. John is also a member of the Woodstock High School Madrigal Singers and, when not performing in Stockwood, focuses on his piano skills and composing piano music as well as full orchestral arrangements. His most recent composition was “The Dish Rag.”

John enjoys Stockwood because it allows him to share the music of The Beatles with others and helps keep decades of music as influential to new and future generations as it was to past generations. When asked where he likes to perform, John favors large venues with a greater number of attendees and charity fundraisers.

It is not surprising that John’s love for playing music, along with his understanding of music theory, leads him to writing his own songs. His songwriting is influenced greatly by his favorite bands and guitarists’ playing styles. When done with practicing songs of The Beatles he along with his band mates continue to refine their originals or you can find him at the piano. Really, any piano...

Nick has been playing guitar since age 11 and joined Stockwood in 2010. Although he dabbled in bass and piano over the past couple years, guitar is his passion and it shows. He always strives to learn the guitar parts to any and all of his favorite Classic Rock era songs as well as some more modern Rock-N-Roll. But why such a strong passion for the Beatles? Nick has a quick reply. “My mom played Beatles music in the car since I was a baby so it is no wonder I love them so much.”

As well as playing guitar, Nick is a senior at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire where he is in the Law Club and also works part-time as a server in a restaurant at a Lincolnshire retirement community.

When asked where a favorite gig would be, Nick says playing in front of a huge crowd is always great watching a sea of faces smiling and rockin’ to The Beatles but small gigs have their special benefit because you engage more with the audience and feel their excitement and enthusiasm.

Nick’s favorite genre of music is Classic Rock, including Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Pink Floyd. Recently, however, Nick has found a connection to some of the newer groups such as The Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes and The Black Keys. Of course, The Beatles are and will remain his all-time favorite.

Nick also enjoys writing songs. A mixture of Mellow Rock and Classic Rock inspires him. As he considers his options for college, both Stockwood and their fans are voting for a local school so Stockwood can continue this Magical Tour!

Ringo’s name always came last when speaking of The Beatles but it’s hard to keep Stockwood’s Ringo at the end of any list. As the youngest member of Stockwood, Evan probably evokes the most comment at a performance. He has perfected Ringo’s uncommon drumming style and personifies the legend he portrays.

Like other members of Stockwood, Evan’s musical influences are numerous – ranging from The Beatles (especially Ringo) but also The Who (Keith Moon), and some 80s music like Van Halen, AC/DC and Guns n' Roses.

Evan loves playing festivals because he loves playing to large crowds of both old friends and new fans.

Evan has a great passion for music. His continuous love for the Beatles and their music is what keeps him in Stockwood but he also enjoys the friendship shared by the members – even with his older brother Collin! As Stockwood has matured, Evan is enjoying the fact that the group’s talent pushes him to raise his musical bar even higher.

Along with the rest of Stockwood, Evan writes his own music influenced by today’s rock music like Green Day as well as some older 70s and 80s music.

Evan attends Woodstock High School where he is in SRO, men’s choir, varsity band, jazz lab and jazz ensemble. Evan’s theatrical side emerged when he performed at the Woodstock Opera House in “High School Musical” and more recently started learning the “back-stage” side of the theater when he worked on “Beauty and the Beast” “Willie Wonka” and “Cinderella.” Evan plans to continue performing, writing and living his music as long as he can!