Sweet! Mike’s still singing the sensational sixties
FOR MANY, the first sweet kiss thrilled them so that they have never ever let 60s music go. The sounds of the flower power decade still resonate today, a star that shines so brightly for many.
And at The Hexagon on Saturday, there will be an opportunity not just to hear the music from 50 years ago, but to hear it played by the original artists as the Sensational 60s Experience returns, ready to bring sugar for my honey.
The show brings together Mike Pender, the original voice of The Searchers, along with Mike d’Abo (Manfred Mann), Herman’s Hermits, The Fortunes and New Amen Corner.
The Searchers are one of the biggest Merseybeat bands to emerge from the 1960s, with a string of hits including Sweets For My Sweets, Needles and Pins and Sugar and Spice.
Formed by Mike and John McNally, they toured the UK and America, appearing on the famous Ed Sullivan Show and worked with legendary producer Tony Hatch.
Their original run as a band went from 1959 through to the mid-1980s, when Mike left. He now heads up his own band, called Mike Pender’s Searchers, which still performs today.
At the moment though, Mike is focused on Saturday’s Sensational 60s Experience tour, he’s just one act on an incredible bill that will bring back memories and create new ones in an all-star concert.
And he can’t wait to get back on stage again, loving the mix of musicians that the tour brings.
“The Sensational 60s tour has the edge: I’ve been doing it now for six months. The people with with me are great guys, and I get on really well with them.
“The backing band, for me, are the best around. They sing absolutely brilliant harmonies, sometimes it’s even better than the record, it’s that good.
“I love these kind of tours.” He admits that he has mostly given up doing other style of tours, preferring the Sensational 60s where the team set things up for him, a far cry from the days of lugging all the equipment into the back of the van and hoping to find the bar on time.
“I’m liking these kind of shows.
You get to the venue and everything’s organised,” he admits. “You’re doing around 15 minutes on stage, which, you know, when you get to my age …”
Mike counts his blessings as he thinks of some of his contemporaries who are struggling with their health, joints and hips going wrong with old age.
“I feel I’m blessed, you know, I’m as good as I was 20 years ago.”
And he loves meeting his fans in the foyer afterwards. “They say we’re so glad you and the guys are still around today. People still want to have 60s music.
“I love performing on stage, because it’s a live audience and you can see them all singing along.”
The Sensational 60s Experience is at The Hexagon on Saturday from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £29 and groups of 10 pay £26. For more details, or to book tickets call 0118 960 6060 or log on www.readingarts.com