LONDON.- Forty years ago, on June 1, 1967, the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album was released by the Beatles in London. The album also changed the history of rock and this impacted art, culture and society. The cover, designed by Peter Blake, marked a hiatus in design. The album was 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and has sold to date 11 million copies. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it No. 1 in its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003. The album changed rock and roll for all time. The album took 129 days to make. The cover of the album and the clothes marked a high point in pop art.

To commemorate the momentous release of the album, the Beatles Story and the Albert Dock Company invite as many 'real-life' Sgt Peppers as they can find, to help them celebrate during Liverpool's Mathew Street Festival weekend in August.

So if you or someone you know has the surname Pepper and is, or has served as a Sergeant, we want you to get in touch! The 'real life' Sgt Peppers will be treated to a celebratory meal and drinks at the Albert Dock, as well as having all travel and hotel expenses paid for and the chance to star in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

To launch this very special search, the Albert Dock will be hosting a photo call at 2pm on Friday June 1st (the 40th anniversary of the release of 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band') featuring renowned Beatles cover band, The Karl Lornie Band in full Sgt Pepper regalia! That same evening, the band will appear at a sold-out show at the world-famous Cavern Club, playing the songs from 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'.

To further celebrate the release of 'Sgt Pepper's', The Beatles Story will also be displaying two items featured on artist Peter Blake's ground-breaking 'Sgt Pepper' cover art. The first items consist of the medals worn by John Lennon and borrowed from Mona Best, mother of original Beatles drummer Pete Best. These were returned to the Best family along with the second item to be displayed, a Cash Box Trophy which John included as a thank-you to Mona.