End of the road for Merseybeat’s The Searchers
LEGENDARY Merseybeat band The Searchers is calling it a day after nearly 60 years.
The group, famous for hits Sweets For My Sweet and Needles And Pins, burst on to the scene in the 1960s.
They enjoyed huge success on both sides of the Atlantic and have continued performing as one of the world’s longest-running bands.
The group, which has a loyal fan base, will retire next March after a farewell tour beginning in January.
The Searchers emerged from the Merseybeat scene with The Beatles and many other rock groups.
Their cover of the Drifters’ 1961 hit Sweets For My Sweet spent two weeks as a UK number one in 1963.
A year later their version of Jackie DeShannon’s Needles And Pins spent three weeks at number one and a cover of The Orlons’ Don’t Throw Your Love Away stayed on the top spot for two weeks.
Founder and singer John McNally, now 76, is still with the line-up along with bass guitarist Frank Allen who joined the band in 1964.
Drummer Chris Curtis and guitarist Mike Pender were replaced by Scott Ottaway and Spencer James. The news ends online speculation. Wendy Burton, who runs the band’s website, said: “Sad as we all really are, we appreciate that after 56 years of continuous touring, albeit with a few personnel changes, they so deserve time to enjoy their personal lives at a slower pace.”