BBC Breakfast: How John Lennon helped The Searchers

[@kirahastings9900]

This was my favorite Liverpool group after the Beatles. Still have several of their albums. Sad that I never got to see them in person.

[@maryfallon4597]

Good to hear this after so many years. 'Sweets for my sweets' always evokes a brilliant holiday in Cornwall in our new marriage. We travelled from Paddington Station and 'Sweets for my Sweet' my favourite of the time, was being played over the sound system at the station and carrying our surfboards we knew the holiday was going to be good. My favouurite was John McNally, but their records were always , for the time were well sung, instrumentalised and a mixture of rock and swing, with unique lyrics.

[@im7700]

Very underrated band and one of the best EVER!!

[@TheMusicalElitist]

Great covers band

[@thomaspick4123]

Great performers. Not as famous, because they did not write their material.

[@jayrox40]

@@TheMusicalElitist The first 7 hits by the rolling stones were all cover versions.

[@ecavuto]

I always love seeing one of my favorite bands giving an interview like this.

[@mrsuperger5429]

RIP, Bill. You were a lovely bloke.

[@kbeesmot9928]

I saw them in 1999 in a very small night club venue and they are one of the best groups that I have seen.

[@markdrouin8094]

The 2 nd best band to ever come out of Liverpool . These guys were really good.

[@steveroyle6002]

I come from Merseyside. I was 14 when I saw them for the first time. They are still my favourite Liverpool group.

[@chipgaasche4933]

"Favorite"??...even over The Beatles?

[@marylouraygarcia401]

Why If the guy John McNally formed the band , Chris Curtis took over and he was always regarded as "the leader " of the band ?

[@junesuddick1454]

Saw these at the Sage in Newcastle a few year ago they were fabulous.....x

[@juliewillcox3398]

Thank you searchers,for the great show, last Sunday in Suffolk,as always your performance was really ( Great)

[@AngryAnt0]

I was one of those kids that used to go to their shows. Saw them back in the 90s in Great Yarmouth as a kid, made my family stay for their autographs. Saw them a few more times throughout the country as I grew older (and was 'dragged' on stage). I couldn't believe they were retiring, I'm so glad I finally got to see them one last time. It's true their great with their audiences!

[@nuwavedave]

"Sugar & Spice" was as wonderful a song as the best of The Beatles at that time - a tribute to The Searchers sparkling vocals and jangly guitars. So many great pop hits - not the least of which was "Needles & Pins-ahhh". Another fave Searchers' number was Jackie DeShannon's "When You Walk In The Room". Oh, to have been a teenager in Liverpool in the pre-British Invasion days!

[@thomaspick4123]

But like the commentators say, you get cavities listening to their sweets songs.

[@cherrylgore5134]

My favourite group of the 60s.went to see them at the Hall For CORNWALL a few years ago,still brilliant.

[@patvanduinen3704]

Chris Curtis was a great drummer for Searchers!!

[@roslyncampbell7816]

Enjoyed their visits down under. Miss them not coming now.

[@vitalmachado9232]

Great songs The Searchers !!!

[@KRW628]

I saw the Seachers years and years ago in one of those package tours (which feature several artists from the 60s - all in one show). I was surprised that most of the guys in the group that night were original members.

[@im7700]

The Searchers are great I'm so glad to know they're still touring after all these years love their music. Too bad songs like Don't Cha Know, Since You Broke My Heart, Someday We're Gonna Love Again and Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya aren't played frequently on so called "oldies" stations. They're great songs.

[@chrisst8922]

The oldies stations have a playlist of about 500 records. When their DJ's talk over them they play the same old songs every day, sometimes in the same order.

[@im7700]

@@chrisst8922 Yeah and that's too bad because there are at least 200 times that many great songs that are hardly ever or NEVER played. Make Believe by Wind featuring a very young Tony Orlando, Wonder What She's Doing Tonight by Barry & The Tamerlanes, Breakaway by The Newbeats, I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better by The Byrds, Flying On The Ground by Buffalo Springfield, Toast And Marmalade For Tea by Tin Tin, Pieces Of April by 3 Dog Night, and a really GREAT song, imo, called If I Only Had My Mind On Something Else by The Bee Gees. I could go on and on but I'd be on here all night and day and still not name all of the great songs that are rarely or NEVER played on "oldies" stations. Like you said, same songs played over and over and over....

[@chrisst8922]

@@im7700 The reason why, I can't say.

[@maureennewman905]

Loved these guys back in the day

[@Mish1035]

Fantastic music by an amazing group!

[@markramlucken8502]

The searchers I love u guys from Durban SA

[@TheAnn2shoes]

Sweets for my Sweet - spells my teenage years to a tee. Love the Searchers. Still.

[@Wizzy-Waywell]

I saw in Rhyl on April 1st 2017 and they were still awesome

[@blueycarlton]

Saw them with the Rolling Stones Feb 1966 at the Palais St.Kilda

[@margierogers1815]

I love to hear John talk and so sweet he said Happy Birthday to his Love ;-). Frank his very good too !

[@juan58102]

Love to The Searchers from Arica Chile

[@chrisst8922]

There's a similar BBC breakfast interview with The Hollies on YT. They actually play Bus Stop live.

[@stephenhensley5631]

I LOVE THESE GUYS !!

[@dianefiske-foy4717]

I Been a fan of the Searchers since the sixties (since I was a kid). I always liked them much better than the Beatles. Never cared much for the Beatles, though I did like John Lennon. Loved the way he talked! Ah, Manchester! My favorite accent comes from there 🥰‼️

[@seadog2396]

Me, too - Been a fan of the Searchers since day One. No one sounds like them, true Originals.

[@philipmanning7352]

Still great music on tour now I saw them at Skegness last Sunday

[@lenhannah8595]

Please come to Brisbane Australia!

[@KNIGHTSTEMPLAR13]

THE SEARCHERS was the best band that came out of LIVERPOOL....JOHN LENNON

[@vondumozze738]

I loved all their material. I always seem to think of them playing Burns guitars, though.

[@patrickmccue181]

Like everyone, age does catch up with us but wow, The Searchers have stood the test of time. First seen them in Douglas Isle of Man in 1964 and many times since, Glasgow, Motherwell, Blantyre, Christchurch + a few more. I was a big Beatles fan but the Searchers came a clear 2nd. 3td was The Rolling Stones whom I was lucky enough to see in their Hamilton Scotland concert, yes the 60's were by far the decade that virtually started it all. Enjoy your retirement guys, all the Best 👍

[@mikeanderson9856]

Mike Pender is The Searchers

[@paulbroderick8438]

I can not abide when the original artists are replaced by substitutes and still call themselves by the original name. Like putting a Ford body on a Rolls Royce chassis! I grew up in the original group era driving a Humber Hawk, Good times!!

[@willbyrd5717]

What’s wrong with a Ford?

[@adrinathegreat3095]

I Agree with that statement, some of these bands have just one original member and have younger members of their family and friends join, just cashing in on the name really. At one point in Time their was 3 bands called the searchers touring, and a 4th had been started up by a member who'd only joined the band in the late 60s after the hits had dried up. That band called itself " The original Searchers" Then there was various legal proceedings going on as to who was entitled to use the name. Talk about spreading a name thinly and trying to make money

[@TheStarBrad]

i love them to

[@SylentEcho]

"Let's take a look back at the classics" - proceeds to play 2012 Searchers, which is as good as a decent tribute band to the original Searchers.

[@adrinathegreat3095]

I Agree, but Tony who sang lead on most of Thier early big hits Was kicked out the band so they weren't going to show any early clips of them. I agree, they sound like a searchers tribute band

[@gmgm2600]

Одна из первых груп, которая появилась у меня в записи на магнитофоне в 1967году, потом уже Beatles.

[@TheTony70504]

Listen to Frank "Helped us on our way" lol. In my eyes The Searchers will always be Mike Chris, John and the great Tony J.. That lot on the video don't relate to The Searchers, apart from John.

[@rossi6113]

I couldnt have written that better myself. Well said.

[@jrgboy]

To be fair Frank has been there since 1965, Tony left after a bust up with Chris Curtis, some 60's groups have no original member at all..

[@rcpinsa]

64 Actually

[@frankmccormick1175]

McNally said 'he helped us on our way' don't you know who which is which the tony?

[@TwiggyArmstrong]

Tony was a better singer, Frank was a better bassist. But to each their own. They both added to the band in their own way

[@peterdavies7987]

I was their biggest fan (along with my old mate Gren) in 1965 - we still are. Love the shirt Frank but lets not forger Tony J and Chris C, both sadly passed on.

[@chrisnewman44]

Yes Peter, always sad about Searchers originals both Tony Jackson (vocals,bass) & Chris Curtis (drums,vocals) no longer being around as they both made a massive contribution to those early hits. Also a real shame that the other great lead singer Mike (pinza) Pender split away from McNally, Allan & Adamson, sometime during the eighties. Because the two albums this line up created in 79/80 were absolutely outstanding - deserved far greater success and were among their very best work. Check and see. Very best wishes Chris.

[@kawaiikittens1922]

Chris C is my grandma's cousin. And I feel honored too be related too him by 2nd cousin.

[@13towerofpower]

+chris newman omyl v pôvodnej zostave boli McNally spev, sprievodná gitara a Mike Pender spev, solová gitara ako inštrumentalna dvojica, ktorých doplnili Tony Jackson spev, basová gitara a McGarry bicie a od roku 1961 pôsobili ako sprievodná skupina Johnnyho Sandona, pričom názov prevzali z filmu s Johnom Waynom, v marci 1962 Sandon vytvoril skupinu Remo Four, v septembri 1962 sa novým hráčom na bicie stal Chris Curtis

[@GlennWW]

Funny about chicken in a basket scene, because that's exactly how I got to see them. Sands Club, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside. Cabaret type nightclub above the old Bus Station...... They were fantastic though. :)

[@dianefiske-foy4717]

First time watching this show. I like it a whole lot 👍🏻🇺🇸🥰‼️

[@TW-mc9wk]

The original Searchers sound was Tony J. Not the same after he left 😕

[@Harrisonianne]

Whereas Tony Jackson now(?)

[@MichaelLantz]

They asked John who his favorite bands were in 1964 and John said "The Rolling Stones and The Searchers"

[@lamper2]

anyone remember the 3 songs they did on johnny carson? and johnny called chris over for a long interview i think they were needles,don't throw,and aint that.

[@rcpinsa]

That was Ed Sullivan

[@sklenars]

I saw them live at the Arcadia ballroom in Cork in the early 60's. They sounded exactly like their records, and NO miming. They were truly talented.

[@teresitadeleon3179]

Who's the handsome guy in the middle?

[@PhilFoley-e3f]

GOAT!

[@brucemaclennan9879]

Sorry - but there's no substitute for Mike Pender

[@Tonetwisters]

A shame that these guys can't get back together with Mike Pender and make real Searcher music.

[@stephenlee4182]

this isnt the real searchers you need mike pender and tony jackson

[@philipmanning7352]

Good long great career

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Brilliant music, you can tell they inspired The Byrds and Tom Petty.....

[@TheStarBrad]

the 8 year oldd is me

[@Nemes_Imre]

Searchers was a fantastic band. I always liked them and not the point of being who is the original founder, the original members of this band, but what they do as they perform the songs! Here's a fantastic concert: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXiraGeCfKqbeJY (sorry if my English is not good but I'm writing a google translator)

[@brian.7966]

it has got nothing to do with John Lennon, they are a good group in there own right,

[@sallybrown5089]

what's all this bangers and mash!

[@TheStarBrad]

Me

[@ABC-by9ru]

McNally, stop interrupting and talking over the others.

[@davidmunkhoff]

This is not the Searchers!! This is like the Beatles without John and Paul

[@richardnash8250]

The heart & soul of The Searchers were Tony Jackson & Mike Pender, without them the group is just another group.

[@Tonetwisters]

THANK YOU! Exactly what I was thinking!!

[@qtpysusie54]

So you're saying that George and Ringo are nothing?

[@KebabMusicLtd]

If a group of unknown musicians can get together and call themselves a cover group, why shouldn't members of the original group continue to tour under the original group name. Those former group members who don't want to participate will still benefit from royalties on any track that they were involved in writing.

[@sextonblake1505]

Maybe so, but bands break up. What are they supposed to do?

[@alanwallace7924]

The girl only wants to talk to Big John!

[@williehackitt1]

Frank Allen cant shut up

[@TheTony70504]

Geez talk about wanting to be the centre of attention lol.

[@TheStarBrad]

and the 6 year old is my brother my pop tok me and my brother mich

[@robinwilson1433]

Frank Allen talks too much! - John McNally found it hard to get a word in!

[@frankmccormick1175]

Don't be daft, both of them had a good say

[@davidsmithamith2115]

The best liverpool band

[@LandondeeL]

Sounded like a rimshot.

[@philiphoward1731]

This is not the real searchers this is just a bunch a substitute substitute and then you only look like they did back in the 1960s which I cannot stand the plane different type of guitars different amplifiers different drum sets I would rather watch the old videos whenever I can find them

[@lavertera]

These are two original members, Frank Allen and John McNally. John McNally formed the band.

[@stevemanleycbg.5232]

@@lavertera john is original! frank joined in 64 his first song with the band was when you walk in the room .

[@lavertera]

@@stevemanleycbg.5232 Yes Steve I do know that, didn't he joined when Tony Jackson was fired? Now that shouldn't have happened either!!

[@stevemanleycbg.5232]

@@lavertera it is a shame that tony left, being such an important part of their classic sound having sang lead on their biggest early hits!

[@lavertera]

@@stevemanleycbg.5232 I saw a clip of him singing with Mike Pender, time had healed but, I think it was the drummer that was throwing his weight about that caused the rift :-(

[@atta1798]

John Lennon was jealous of Frank Allen

[@asacarrick1385]

Wasted opportunity to ask some interesting questions

[@lenniecapuano521]

i think they were better than the beatles

[@joseeugeniogomezalmodovar2446]

Para mí, los Searchers fueron quizá el cuarto grupo en importancia de toda la invasión británica, después de los Beatles, los Stones, los Kinks y los Searchers. Creo que son superiores a los Who. Tenían como punto flaco que no eran compositores de los temas que tocaban, pero su sonido, dentro del llamado "Liverpool sound", es muy conseguido. El empaste de sus guitarras era extraordinario, finísimo, y muy conseguido. Era un sonido marcadamente pop, más que roquero

[@ristovirtanen6396]

Sweets for my sweet is just another silly pop song but why did you ignore their really greatest song: Don’t throw your love away!?😳🙁