The Undertakers

Photo & Music Compilation of one of Liverpool's Biggest 1960's Bands - The Undertakers

[@Nansen1981]

I remember being at a school festival in Crosby, Liverpool about 1965. The Undertakers turned up in their Hearse with a coffin in the back with one of those blind kid statues on the back. They made a lot of money for the blind charity that day. I was 7years old and this is engrained in my memory. Thank you guys.

[@dmd40j]

Saw them in the 60s and they have been in my musical mind for over 50 years. Great group, great sound. Happy to have found them on You Tube.

[@aroseappears1]

I was Bugs Warren Pemberton's first husband. We remind friends for over his lifetime. I was very sadden that I wasn't even mentioned in his life. Bugs was married Jennie and thanks to her I was invited to his memorial. Bugs will always be in everyone's heart that met him. He wowed all the girls and was just the best person you'll ever meet besides the funniest. Miss you so much Bugs your always going to be in my heart. R.I.P. my ROCK STAR...your rocking in heaven with all your buddies. Kisses

[@dylanpemberton]

Yes, he's my uncle, he lives in Los Angeles now, I see him every couple of years. As it happens, I saw the rest of The Undertakers on Saturday in Vale Park, New Brighton and met Jackie Lomax, Brian Jones and Geoff Nugent for the first time.

[@jackfletcher1000]

I have reason to believe that he and i may be related.

[@creeke_alley]

The plot thickens

[@StuckinTheSixties2]

Miss you so much Bugs...you were so special to everyone you came in contact with. Your so missed Linda loves you...

[@MikeSullivanNature]

I loved the Undertakers a pity they did not become a national sensation, I played in several bands in the south about the same time, wonderful to hear them again.

[@webster1091]

I had the pleasure of supporting the band when they came to Kent in the 60's they were always the most exciting sound to get the halls buzzing ( and the loudest) I have worked for the BBC in the county for 26 years and at every chance try to play there music , thanks foe great memories.. Paul James

[@henritopintado9984]

One of Liverpool fav early Pop band in the Cavern 's Time,The Undertakers

[@1horseman]

I saw this band as a teenager in South London..great , great . every week a new mersey sound ...happy ol, days

[@Multikingsley]

Great photos and brought back memories of times at Cavern and the OPB when I was just a slip of a girl.

[@superfluityUK]

RIP to Geoff Nugent of The Undertakers who died on Sunday. A lovely, kind and funny man and a great guitarist to boot.

[@crochetfun7202]

THE more I listen to these songs, I just cannot get enough of its sound. Jackie had such a great voice. JACKIE left this EARTH WAY TO SOON GRATEFUL to have his music recorded. We are losing to many talented artist. The music of today should not be called music, I am so glad I was around in the sixties and listen to TRUE TALENT, and MUSIC.

[@pollcat36]

Played in a few local Liverpool bands in sixties.The Undertakers were the best around-without doubt.

[@mikeraab2]

I am presently working closely with Chris Huston on a documentary about The Undertakers. I was friends with John Cannon in the Hudson Valley during the 60s and stay in touch with him still (he is in California). Too bad there wasn't any video of the group live as it seems they were a powerhouse onstage.

[@rtrjmk5]

Dylan, Thanks for posting. Bugs was a beautiful person and probably the most powerful drummer I have known. I have a drawing he did and sent to me not long after I spent some time with him and Jackie in 66 in NYC when the guys in the Alliance were setting me up for a job in another band. Before the execs showed up, Bugs coached me as to why the other drummers didn't make the grade. I played his drums and took his advice. It worked. I am deeply grateful for having had the opportunity to get to know them both. Besides being phenomenal musicians, who's talent should have put them among the best known artists of the era, they were both two beautiful human beings. I was deeply saddened by their passing. . .

[@dylanpemberton]

Thanks for your kind words, we all miss him terribly. Would love to see the drawing - could you scan and send me a copy ([e-mail])?

[@cathysorbo444]

I always had the hots for Bugs - boy was he good looking!! And Im deeply saddened to hear that he passed 3 years ago. Gone but never forgotten! RIP Bugs x

[@written12]

Cathy Sorbo And what a fine drummer

[@Phillip022564]

I had never heard of The Undertakers until reading recently of the passing of Jackie Lomax. I am sad for having never known them or their music which is my loss and deeply saddened to learn of Mr. Lomax passing. They were impressive to say the least and I will keep them and their families in my heart as I learn more about them. God bless you Undertakers!

[@riskman03]

Hi Dylan. I am so sorry to hear of your Uncle's passing. This great band is one of over 930 covered, along with 330 pics in a new book, What About Us? A Rocklopaedia Of Britain's Other Recording Groups 1962 - 1966. (title of the book is from one of their singles) I had the pleasure of contacting Chris Huston who did a review of the book. and enjoyed meeting Geoff, Brian & Jackie last year when we launched the book in Liverpool. Thanks for this great tribute. I wish I could have met him.

[@saxyjones]

This is a great book Bruce. Thank you for your kind words regarding The Undertakers.Check The Undertakers facebook page out.

[@dylanpemberton]

Just to let everyone know that after >10 years fighting cancer, Undertakers drummer and all round beautiful person Bugs Pemberton passed away peacefully in Los Angeles last night in his sleep. Sadly missed by his wife, family and his many, many friends on both sides of the Atlantic.

[@Graham210846]

Love it, brings back many memories.

[@jas20per]

Yes I did see them many times at the Cavern and the Iron door also at the Lowlands club. Ahh!! To be young in Liverpool during the 60s again. Now if you could bottle that you would be a millionaire in a day.

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

You are so lucky

[@cathysorbo444]

I used to carry their photo round in my diary all the time - I had such a crush on Bugs. I wish they would re-group and tour for the Solid 60's Show - I always go to watch it at the local theatre - and they all still sound amazing. This year it is Peter Noon but would have preferred Wayne Fontana any day - maybe he's back in prison again!! lol!!

[@martinsplichal1581]

Great stuff. Thanks.

[@Multikingsley]

Watched them at OPB, great times, great band.

[@jpdavies6278]

Dear Dylan - although we've never met I wanted to extend my sympathies to you and your family - I just learned from his good friends Yvette and Barry of his passing and about his amazing spirit that never wavered. What a fantastic tribute you have put together Thank you. Janet

[@saxyjones]

Bugs Pemberton was one of the greatest drummers I have ever worked with. I also recorded with Stevie Wonder. Bugs was a legend.

[@davidbond3772]

Without a doubt the most talented group in Liverpool in the sixties. Way ahead of other groups in music ability and stage craft. Unfortunate that their name gave the wrong impression to promoters, hence they changed their name to The Takers in later years

[@scottjackson1420]

Dylan, I just learned about this band through a compilation CD of UK bands performing Motown tracks. I really like their version of Money. Their CD is only ten bucks on amazon.com. Sounds good to me. I just added it to my amazon basket so I remember to buy it when I make my next Amazon purchase. Nice video here.

[@jjgssjjgss]

bugs was my best friend in Echo Park, 1983, we built recording studios

[@dylanpemberton]

The bullies at UMG are trying to put a snide copyright claim in on this people despite the fact they have no connection with The Undertakers (nor ever had) and the songs on this video (taken from Unearthed) was released by Big Beat Records who are an Ace Records subsidiary - neither having anything to do with UMG. Also, I use these songs with direct permission anyway. Maybe UMG would like to pay the band some royalties if they are running around telling people they rights to it?

[@crochetfun7202]

JACKIE LOMAX had a great voice, this song suits him well. He did not recieve his just dues.

[@dmjones100]

Often used to see the Undertakers on the North Wales circuit, they were great!

[@DucksDeLucks]

Read about this band in a US magazine back around 64, along with some other British bands such as the Mersey Monsters. They were shown riding their red scooters in tophats and tails. But I don't recall ever hearing anything from them on the radio in the US. Good band.

[@steeplejack50]

RIP Jackie Lomax...

[@myepiphone]

Great montage ,great band.

[@cybergal99]

And they (well at least Geoff and Brian) are still rockin!!!

[@kennyguitarallen5662]

great band from back in the day,merseyside

[@richardthompson2892]

Saw the Undertakers at Beatleweek in 2006 which may have been the last time the original group played there

[@liverpooloflife8731]

Wow. I found out about this band on my first visit to Liverpool a few years ago. I found a bootleg CD of them, and I can't believe they didn't come to America with the rest of the Brit Invasion in the 60's.. They were really good... I heard about Jackie Lomax doing music with George Harrison, but never really knew who he was...

[@niecie9991]

I love this stuff! I need to make myself a mix of this kinda of fantastic music! Then I'm gonna put fringe on my bathing suit and rock it baby! 2 Thumbs up! UMG can bite me!

[@13towerofpower]

Just A Little Bit pieseň skupiny The Undertakers, ktorá sa stala ich jediným hitom, keď od 9. apríla 1964 bola týždeň na 49.m. Skupina vznikla koncom 50. rokov pod názvom Bob Evans and Five Shilings. Jediným členom z pôvodnej skupiny bol Geoff Nugent gitara. Pochádzala z Wallasey vo Wirale. Vedúcou osobnosťou bol Jackie Lomax spev, basová gitara, Chris Huston solová gitara, Brian Jones saxofon a Bugs Pemberton bicie.Omylom boli v roku 1961 premenovaní na Undertakers a po presvedčení, aby si ponechali tento názov prispôsobili tomu aj oblečenia a klobuky ako hrobári a ich zosilovače mali tvar rakví.V ankete časopisu Mersey Beat v roku 1961 obsadil 12.m. a o rok neskôr 5.m. Po uzatvorení zmluvy so spoločnosťou Pye Records nahrali pieseň Mashed Potatoes, ktorú však spoločnosť zaradila na b stranu Everybody Loves A Lover. Na druhý singel chceli Money, ktorú spoločnosť zaradila na b stranu What About Us.Až tretí výber piesne na a stranu singlu znamenal jediný úspech skupiny v rebríčku v UK.Na natlak spoločnosti skrátili názov na Takers a nahrali pieseň If You Don´t Come Back, ale neznamenala úspech.V roku 1965 sa rozpadli. Lomax a Pemberton s dvomi americkými hudobníkmi vytvorili Lomax Alliance. V roku 1966 uzatvorili zmluvu s Epsteinom a po jeho smrti v roku 1967 Lomaxa ako solového speváka bez úspech produkoval George Harrison. V rokoch 2013 a 2014 zomreli Lomax, Pemberton a Nugent.

[@alanbradshaw9766]

the most exciting band to come out of liverpool jackie lomax voice was amazing but the rest of the band so tight.

[@yell240]

RIP Geoff Nugent.

[@ThePam]

Iron door 1963 thank you all alan k tar all

[@lalonicook6091]

You forgot to put Chris Huston on the video, he went on to do many great things. Great guy.

[@steeplejack50]

Jackie Lomax passed away September 16, 2013. RIP.

[@steeplejack50]

Ive heard the Undertakers described as the best band in Liverpool that didnt make it big.

[@mrd94869]

Hi Dylan. It's Mort from LA. We're all missing Bugs.

[@crochetfun7202]

George Harrison played with Jackie on some of his tracks. Jackie did not get us just dues.

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Great stuff

[@scottjackson1420]

Oh man, these guys rock. I thought that with a horn player, they'd be like the DC5. But these guys rock much harder (lol, and their drummer can actually play his instrument, too, unlike Dave). So this is NOT your grandfather's Dave Clark Five.

[@jackfletcher1000]

Best band apart from The Beatles were Bilbo Baggins, so who remembers them????

[@saxyjones]

Jack Fletcher I played with Bilbo baggins when they became Alligator and I am still in touch with Dave Lorentz who now lives in New York.

[@jackfletcher1000]

@@saxyjones Hi Brian , do you happen to know if Bugs Pemberton is still around.

[@johnmoeller8654]

This band came the closest to the original African-American R&B sound by miles. No one else on the Mersey Side scene got as deep into soul nor understood the essential element of the horns.

[@saxyjones]

Thank you John for your kind comments.xx

[@Artydrummer]

that bit you say Geoff Nugent solo and rhythm guitar, look closer thats a bass guitar and its being played by the bass player before Jackie Dave(Mushy) Cooper

[@NU06FKM]

Hi Dylan Thanks for posting these great memories. I played in a group called "The Kalvins" and we supported "The Undertakers" at The Outlook Club in Middlesbrough in 1963. I have their autographed business card. Have a look on my Channel NU06FKM and click on the website. Are you related to Bugs Pemberton? Best Wishes George

[@brucewelsh4694]

Hi Dylan. What a great tribute to one of Merseyside's great bands of the 60's. I host an on line radio show called What About Us? which is also the title of my book, What About Us? A Rocklopaedia Of Britain's Other Recording Groups 1962 - 1966. I've had the pleasure of meeting Brian Jones, Geoff Nugent and Jackie Lomax and saw them play a couple of times on my trips to Liverpool. I was also fortunate enough to have made contact with Christ Huston who kindly wrote a note on the book's cover and provided me with lots of great information and photos of the band. I just wanted to mention that I am doing an entire show on the Undertakers which I've just completed. I'm not certain on the date for the show but I will try and let you know once I know the exact air date. My show can be found at radiosidney.ca and my direct email is [e-mail] All my previous shows are on podcast and can be found on the station's web site. I also host Highs Of The 60's as well. Again, thanks for this great tribute. I really enjoyed it. Kindest Regards, Bruce Welsh, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

[@ImaCaMan]

On Little Stevens Underground Garage they play Pretty Girls Everywhere by the Undertakers but I can't find it listed anywhere, Google or KZbin. Anyone know where it's from?

[@saxyjones]

That track is not by The Original Undertakers ImaCaMan

[@nthglasScotland]

May I ask, as someone who never been near to Merseyside; have there ever been cd's' I look out for these great bands? Pardon my language, fuck the Beatles.

[@mikemillsap784]

Was David Bowie in The Undertakers,at any point in time?

[@javiergilvidal1558]

Have't read all posts yet, so maybe I'll be repeating someone else's contribution, but.... the signature riff of "Birthday" from The Beatles' White Album no less, is a rip-off of this, ain't it???

[@saxyjones]

The original riff and Just a little bit was written by Roscoe Gordon. Yes the Beatles did rip off that riff.

[@jackfletcher1000]

Certains contains , more than a passing resemblance.

[@LordMattyA87]

Rockers invading the Iron Door. Unless it was a one off i thought Rockers never went in main stream clubs . My uncle was mod and he always went in the Iron Door. Confusing.

[@martinsplichal1581]

Britain's answer to the Sonics?

[@tanagerbirder]

I met one of The Undertakers about 10 years ago at a Pharmaceutical trade exhibition in Bournemouth where he was representing the company he worked for. Can't recall what he said his name was but wonder of it was Geoff. Anyone got any idea please?

[@Mr3sheds]

I have come across a number of people over the years who claim to have been in the Undertakers. If you push them further you realise it's all bullshit. This is probably because everyone has heard of the Undertakers, but very few people could name the band members.

[@saxyjones]

At the last count, 10,000 people have played in our band.lol

[@Laulilala]

Really HOT.

[@blackburn8214]

Laura Mary Gee one of them is my uncle

[@cinniboy4722]

blackburn82 chris is my granpa

[@petemarr824]

They were not a Liverpool band.. They were from Wallasey, WIrral.

[@dylanpemberton]

Pete Marr Depends what you define as a "Liverpool band" Pete. Where they known as a Liverpoo band? Yes. Did they play all the Liverpool venues like The Cavern etc? Yes. Were they in and around Liverpool like The Beatles and others of that era? Yes. Where they physically lived/came from makes no difference.

[@petemarr824]

It does if they are not from Liverpool as they are NOT a Liverpool band.. It was called the Mersey Sound, The Caretakers were from Wallasey

[@saxyjones]

Hello Pete, We all lived and came from Wallasey except Geoff Nugent who came from Speke ,Liverpool. And Dylan drop me an e mail [e-mail] . P.s The Undertakers have their own facebook page, Check it out and we are still performing in honour of Jackie,Bugs and Geoff.

[@petemarr824]

Hi Brian. My dad told me that the band would gig around in a hearse. My dad though tended to tell me allsorts when I was a kid ;)

[@pamthecamsuncovered9227]

Check out pamthecamsallstars page on Face Book & see the most recent video of the recent Undertakers ft. Brian Saxophone Jones! A lot of musicians played the Iron Door, The Cavern etc........are at The Junction pub in Rainford, every Friday, these days, where I video them & upload them to FB &KZbin!! We never had either of these in the 60s!! :D

[@saxyjones]

Pam has taken some great videos of the present line up of The Undertakers. Check them out on The Undertakers facebook page.

[@dylanpemberton]

No he wasn't although that would have been a strange mix.

[@robin2012ism]

Stupid UMG!