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The Searchers (band)

Updated: Wikipedia source

The Searchers (band)

The Searchers were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1959. Part of the Merseybeat scene, they flourished during the British Invasion of the 1960s, with hits including "Sweets for My Sweet", "Love Potion No. 9", "Sugar and Spice", "Needles and Pins", "Don't Throw Your Love Away", "When You Walk in the Room", "What Have They Done to the Rain" and "Goodbye My Love". With the Swinging Blue Jeans, the Searchers tied for being the second group from Liverpool, after the Beatles, to have a hit in the US, when their "Needles and Pins" and the Swinging Blue Jeans' "Hippy Hippy Shake" both reached the Hot 100 on 7 March 1964. In June 2025, The Searchers played Glastonbury Festival for the first time as the band's "final show ever" after 68 years of performing.

Infobox

Origin
Liverpool, England
Genres
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li Merseybeatpoprockrock and roll
Years active
1959–2019 2023–2025
Labels
UK: PyePhilipsLibertyRCASire US: MercuryLibertyKappRCASire
Members
John McNally Frank Allen Spencer James Richie Burns
Past members
Mike Pender Chris Curtis Tony Jackson John Blunt Billy Adamson Eddie Rothe Scott Ottaway Joe Kennedy Tony West Ron Woodbridge Brian Dolan Johnny Sandon
Website
the-searchers.co.uk

Tables

· Members › Lineups
Ron Woodbridge – vocals, rhythm guitar John McNally – lead guitar Tony West – bass Joe Kennedy: drums
Ron Woodbridge – vocals, rhythm guitar John McNally – lead guitar Tony West – bass Joe Kennedy: drums
1955 – 1957 (The Army Generations)
Ron Woodbridge – vocals, rhythm guitar John McNally – lead guitar Tony West – bass Joe Kennedy: drums
1957 – 1959 (The Army Generations until January 1959, The Searchers from January 1959 onwards)
Ron Woodbridge – vocals Brian Dolan – lead guitar John McNally – rhythm guitar Tony West – bass Joe Kennedy – drums
1960 – February 1962
Johnny Sandon – lead vocals Mike Pender – lead guitar, backing vocals John McNally – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Tony Jackson – bass, backing vocals Chris Curtis – drums, backing vocals
February 1962 – July 1964
Tony Jackson – lead and backing vocals, bass Mike Pender – lead guitar, lead and backing vocals John McNally – rhythm guitar, backing and lead vocals Chris Curtis – drums, lead and backing vocals
August 1964 – May 1966
August 1964 – May 1966
1955 – 1957 (The Army Generations)
August 1964 – May 1966
1957 – 1959 (The Army Generations until January 1959, The Searchers from January 1959 onwards)
May 1966 – January 1970
1960 – February 1962
January 1970 – December 1985
February 1962 – July 1964
December 1985 – November 1998
Mike Pender – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar John McNally – rhythm and lead guitar, backing and lead vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing and lead vocals Chris Curtis – drums, lead and backing vocals
Mike Pender – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar John McNally – rhythm and lead guitar, backing and lead vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing and lead vocals Chris Curtis – drums, lead and backing vocals
1955 – 1957 (The Army Generations)
Mike Pender – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar John McNally – rhythm and lead guitar, backing and lead vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing and lead vocals Chris Curtis – drums, lead and backing vocals
1957 – 1959 (The Army Generations until January 1959, The Searchers from January 1959 onwards)
Mike Pender – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar John McNally – rhythm and lead guitar, backing and lead vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing and lead vocals John Blunt – drums
1960 – February 1962
Mike Pender – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar John McNally – lead and rhythm guitar, backing and lead vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing and lead vocals Billy Adamson – drums
February 1962 – July 1964
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Billy Adamson – drums
November 1998 – February 2010
November 1998 – February 2010
1955 – 1957 (The Army Generations)
November 1998 – February 2010
1957 – 1959 (The Army Generations until January 1959, The Searchers from January 1959 onwards)
February 2010 – March 2019
1960 – February 1962
March 2019 – April 2023
February 1962 – July 1964
April 2023 – June 2025
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rothe – drums, backing vocals
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rothe – drums, backing vocals
1955 – 1957 (The Army Generations)
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rothe – drums, backing vocals
1957 – 1959 (The Army Generations until January 1959, The Searchers from January 1959 onwards)
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Scott Ottaway – drums, backing vocals
1960 – February 1962
Disbanded
February 1962 – July 1964
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Richie Burns – drums, backing vocals
1955 – 1957 (The Army Generations)
1957 – 1959 (The Army Generations until January 1959, The Searchers from January 1959 onwards)
1960 – February 1962
February 1962 – July 1964
Ron Woodbridge – vocals, rhythm guitar John McNally – lead guitar Tony West – bass Joe Kennedy: drums
Ron Woodbridge – vocals Brian Dolan – lead guitar John McNally – rhythm guitar Tony West – bass Joe Kennedy – drums
Johnny Sandon – lead vocals Mike Pender – lead guitar, backing vocals John McNally – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Tony Jackson – bass, backing vocals Chris Curtis – drums, backing vocals
Tony Jackson – lead and backing vocals, bass Mike Pender – lead guitar, lead and backing vocals John McNally – rhythm guitar, backing and lead vocals Chris Curtis – drums, lead and backing vocals
August 1964 – May 1966
May 1966 – January 1970
January 1970 – December 1985
December 1985 – November 1998
Mike Pender – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar John McNally – rhythm and lead guitar, backing and lead vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing and lead vocals Chris Curtis – drums, lead and backing vocals
Mike Pender – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar John McNally – rhythm and lead guitar, backing and lead vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing and lead vocals John Blunt – drums
Mike Pender – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar John McNally – lead and rhythm guitar, backing and lead vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing and lead vocals Billy Adamson – drums
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Billy Adamson – drums
November 1998 – February 2010
February 2010 – March 2019
March 2019 – April 2023
April 2023 – June 2025
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rothe – drums, backing vocals
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Scott Ottaway – drums, backing vocals
Disbanded
Spencer James – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar synthesizer John McNally – lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Allen – bass, backing vocals Richie Burns – drums, backing vocals

References

  1. Merseybeatnostalgia.co.uk
    http://www.merseybeatnostalgia.co.uk/
  2. Merseybeatnostalgia.co.uk
    http://www.merseybeatnostalgia.co.uk/html/the_searchers.html
  3. "The Searchers' History"
    http://www.rickresource.com/searchers/searchershistory.html
  4. The-searchers.co.uk
    http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/
  5. "The Searchers official site"
    http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/
  6. The British Beat Boom
    https://web.archive.org/web/20091028141129/http://geocities.com/fabgear6366/quickly.htm
  7. Lazell, Barry ed., with Dafydd Rees and Luke Crampton, Rock Movers & Shakers, Billboard Publications, New York, 1989 p.
  8. Whitburn, Joel, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Albums, Billboard Books, NY 1991 p. 235
  9. IMDb
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057472/characters/nm1797920
  10. Wakefieldexpress.co.uk
    https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/whats-on/music/merseybeat-stars-and-the-kings-of-rock-and-roll-1-9493935
  11. The Independent
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tony-jackson-36958.html
  12. ""I Don't Want To Be The One" single"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20030901063148/http://www.stmedia.org/searchers.htm
  13. "Search Party", Sounds, 14 December 1985, p. 4
  14. Mikependersearchers.co.uk
    http://www.mikependersearchers.co.uk/tourdates.php
  15. Nwentertainments.com
    https://nwentertainments.com/tribute-acts/searchin-sixties-merseybeat-tribute/
  16. Womanmagazine.co.uk
    https://www.womanmagazine.co.uk/celebrity/jane-mcdonald-husband-henrik-career-74270
  17. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-56672773
  18. Liverpool Echo
    http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/searchers-legend-tony-west-dies-3390198
  19. Vintagevinylnews.co
    http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/11/passings-billy-adamson-drummer-for.html
  20. Fifetoday.co.uk
    https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/whats-on/five-decades-on-the-road-and-the-searchers-still-going-strong-1-4690137
  21. Express.co.uk
    https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/940152/Merseybeat-band-the-searchers-calling-it-a-day-60-years-together
  22. Enjoydissmore.co.uk
    https://enjoydissmore.co.uk/things-to-do/final-tour-brings-the-searchers-to-diss-1-5842088
  23. The-searchers.co.uk
    http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/
  24. The Searchers Official Website
    http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/
  25. The Searchers Official Website
    http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/home/dates/
  26. "Joseph Bernard Kennedy Obituary - Cape Cod Times"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20231208142041/https://www.capecodtimes.com/obituaries/pneo0637463
  27. Mike Pender's Searchers
    https://www.mikependersearchers.co.uk/mps-remembering-past-searchers-drummer-john-blunt.html
  28. Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia
    https://www.goldminemag.com/news/in-memoriam-march-2024-eric-carmen-steve-harley-the-stampeders-ronnie-king-others
  29. The-searchers.co.uk
    http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/home/dates/
  30. Mike Pender's Searchers
    https://www.mikependersearchers.co.uk/mps-in-memory-of-ron-woodbridge.html
  31. Bbc.com
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86gj5y1486o
  32. The Searchers Official Website
    http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/home/dates/
  33. Twist & Shout!
    http://www.spencerleigh.co.uk/product/twist-shout-merseybeat-the-cavern-the-star-club-the-beatles/
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