Sunderland singer Mickey Callisto paid tribute to the Beatles’ enduring legacy during a recent performance, leading the crowd in a sing-along cover of Hey Jude.
The 28-year-old delivered a soulful rendition that remained largely faithful to the original, building to the famous sing-along finale of “Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah”, which had the whole crowd joining in. The performance, captured by Peter Kevan at District 14 on February 2, 2024, highlights Callisto’s ability to engage audiences with both reverence and energy.
Callisto, who rose to viral fame earlier this year, is no stranger to commanding public attention. In July, he starred in a flashmob cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody in Paris, a stunt that has since been viewed over 500 million times on social media.
Filmed at Place de la Contrescarpe, the performance featured 30 musicians, including young guitar prodigy Olly Pearson, surprising locals with the legendary anthem. “I can’t believe how many people have watched it,” Callisto said. “It felt like scoring a goal at the Stadium of Light for Sunderland.”
The flashmob, orchestrated by pianist and content creator Julien Cohen, garnered praise from the surviving members of Queen and millions of fans worldwide.
Callisto, dressed in a navy blue tracksuit and accompanied by Pearson on red electric guitar, performed without prior rehearsal, yet delivered vocals that many noted sounded uncannily like Freddie Mercury. “This video has been huge,” Callisto remarked. “I’ve even been asked to perform in Singapore and Amsterdam—it’s mental.”
Callisto’s musical journey began at age seven, inspired by a performance from the Durham Cathedral choristers. Though he could not afford formal chorister training, he taught himself to sing opera and drew inspiration from Mercury’s operatic style.
Adopting the stage name Mickey Callisto—a nod to Jupiter’s moon—he has built a career blending original music and tribute performances, touring regularly across the UK and beyond.
With his Hey Jude rendition and viral Queen flashmob under his belt, Callisto continues to cement his reputation as a versatile and captivating performer.