FOR Adam Hastings it was either going to be a career in football or music.

Thankfully the 24-year-old from Newcastle upon Tyne plumped for the latter and now belongs to one of the best-known tribute acts in the world.

The Bootleg Beatles formed more than three decades ago and have since performed around the globe.

The group has taken to the stage at Wembley Stadium, Glastonbury and were booked as the warm-up for Oasis at their 1996 Knebworth concert.

Last year long-serving band member Neil Harrison stepped down from the role of John Lennon.

And after several nerve-wracking auditions, Adam was eventually chosen to take his place.

The son of a prominent session musician, Adam joined the band last year.

He's already played at City Hall in his home town and will embark on a nationwide tour next month.

The string of dates will begin with a performance in Southend – 50 years to the day since the Fab Four received their first radio play.

And on March 16, The Bootleg Beatles will arrive at the Victoria Hall in Hanley.

"It's all turned out to be more fun than I ever imagined," says Newcastle fan Adam.

"I've got to say the best night I've played at so far was at City Hall in Newcastle. Strangely The Bootleg Beatles was the first proper concert I went to at City Hall when I was 14."

As a youngster Adam had been set to try out for Newcastle United – but broke his legs two days before he was due to take part in the trials.

It meant that he decided to follow in the footsteps of his dad instead.

Adam's father played session bass and lent his talents to the famous Pearl & Dean cinema tune. The first song he taught his then nine-year-old son Adam, was A Hard Day's Night.

Adam, who now lives in Leeds, went on to study jazz at Leeds College of Music.

After he graduated, he formed his own Beatles band.

"Dad's done all sorts of things, so I've always been around music," Adam continues.

"One of my first memories is learning to play A Hard Day's Night.

"After I graduated I joined a Beatles band as John Lennon.

"I had to take part in a couple of audition days to get the part in Bootleg Beatles, but I couldn't get there because I was in Australia at the time.

"So I kept having to send them audition videos. Eventually I was able to come back. It was between me and another guy, but it was a very long and drawn-out process.

"Still, somehow I ended up in this weirdly ridiculously amazing job.

"I love being John Lennon. I don't think I could get up there and be me."

And Fab Four fan Adam says the appeal of The Beatles isn't likely to wane soon.

"Our audiences are really varied," he says. "You get people coming along who were there the first time around and the people who come along with their grandparents.

"It really is the type of music that appeals to three-year-olds to 93-year-olds."

The Bootleg Beatles are at the Victoria Hall in Hanley on Friday, March 16. Tickets cost £25.50 from 0870 060 6649.