The Beatles rock-and-roll invasion that conquered the music scene in the 1960s has been reborn in a hotly-anticipated assault on the world of videogames.
The Fab Four have been recreated in virtual forms in "The Beatles: Rock Band," a game that lets players join the British rockers as they springboard from gigs in England to global stardom.
True to its music roots, "The Beatles: Rock Band" (TB:RB) is on tour prior to the game's release on September 9.
People packed Rockit Room bar in San Francisco late Wednesday to strap on plastic replicas of guitars played by John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney or keep the beat on a version of Ringo Starr's drum set.
Mock instruments were wired to an Xbox 360 videogame console. Animated Beatles band members performed on a giant screen above a pool table.
"Everyone has been waiting for The Beatles to come to Rock Band, so that in itself is awesome," Serafina Kernberger said after a nearly flawless performance on faux guitar.
"My mom was a hippie, so I grew up with The Beatles."
Colored buttons streamed along on-screen guitar necks, with players hitting matching parts on mock instruments to stay in tune with the band.
Software rated vocals sung on microphones, giving kudos for harmonies.
Jason Sitomer grinned as he nailed final notes of Eight Days A Week.
"That was amazing," said Sitomer, who at age 23 maintained that Beatles' music resonates with his generation.