Every 1000 years or so, a great band comes along, and for the
past two years they've joined us on the Fantasy and the Tropicale. These
were two Fab-Four cruises, and I'll be first in line to reserve my Verandah
cabin on the same boat when The Roaches--A Beatles Tribute Band books another
Carnival Cruise.
My first cruise with The Roaches in 1998 was dubbed the Double Fantasy. My fiance and I even planned a Beatles wedding on board, with a Stella McCartney (Paul's daughter) wedding dress and an evening of Roaches music to boot. A word to the wise: plan those weddings early. Turned out lots of other people had booked all the nuptials on that cruise, so we literally missed the boat. But what the heck, we cemented a love affair with Carnival Cruise Lines, and, of course, The Roaches.
Cruising with The Roaches was simply paradise. The1999 Roaches cruise destination was Mexico aboard the Tropicale. On the second or third night at sea, I was almost asleep one night when out of my mouth in the dark, romantic stateroom came the familiar words, muttered softly, "I love Ringo."
Well, what do you expect, it was another dream come true to be at sea with The Roaches. I spent a whole day in Mexico with Mike Williamson, aka Paul McCartney, on a shore excursion to the Mayan ruins of Tulum. As our bus drove us inland to see a paradise rediscovered, I made little discoveries of my own about The Roaches and about the beginnings of the band. Mike told me his secrets, and then Tulum a bus ride later revealed to us its hidden secrets spoken within the sacred walls.
Then there were the talent show nights, waiting for The Roaches to go on stage--one moment sitting alone in the theatre, guarding their Beatle jackets, and then scooting over to make room for them at our cocktail table. For a few proud moments, The Roaches were mine, but once on stage they belonged to all their fans.
What's different about our Beatles? George has always been the superstar. The legend of Michael Fulop continued on the high seas, with all the girls crazy about him, so that, months after the cruise, we were still asking Michael, "Is Layna [the girlfriend] speaking to you yet?"
On our last night at sea, The Roaches gave a predusk performance for everyone on the Tropicale, including Texan Roachbabe beauties Natalie in her yellow flamenco top and Leslie in her nautical whites. Oh, did I leave out Ringo’s name? He’s Adam Thurston. He’s a seasoned gambler, my password, and a great accompaniment to blondes…like Leslie, for example.
After the performance, the rest of us were assembling for dinner and asking among ourselves, "Just where are The Roaches?" They were on deck, with the Caribbean sunset. Led by Young Hines, our John Lennon, they had their cameras fixed on the setting sun. With luck they might witness the mythical green flash that, according to legend, imparts good luck to those fortunate in their lifetime to see it.
A parting word in 1999 to The Roaches. At the end of this century, you have meant everything to me.
The Roaches = fun + fandango + philosophy.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I wait expectantly for the next opportunity to be dancing in the moonlight to the heartbeat of The Roaches.
My wish for the Roaches in the new millennium? It’s the hit song by The Rochesters that Mike has promised when The Roaches metamorphose--like dancers training at the barre for the sole purpose of one day of stepping out.
Come a little closer guys, twist and shout…gonna have some fun tonight.
Natilda, on behalf of Roachbabes everywhere
Christmas Day, 1999
PS: George is the greatest.
