What Happened to The Searchers?

[@davidhart7792]

The Searchers were a great band in the 60's. Needles and Pins and Walk in the room sound as fresh today as they did then.

[@WhoDaresWins-B20]

I wish I had of known that. I loved the Searchers and would have liked to have been at that concert.

[@davidhart7792]

@Anne Woodward That is something I didn't know about. Which song was that?

[@oldermusiclover]

@@davidhart7792 good question

[@davidhart7792]

@@oldermusiclover I can't remember the Searchers writing for the Beatles, but I seem to remember the Searchers recording Twist and Shout on an album.

[@davidhart7792]

The Beatles did not write Twist and Shout, even though they made the song their own.

[@wallacegeller2111]

I'm 75 and in the mid 60s, I really liked the Searchers and I still do .

[@rafaelrosal6273]

One of the finest band from Liverpool, favorite and unique ones 👍👍

[@TonysMusic1974]

@Anne Woodward no. They didnt

[@allanjoseph5601]

Just because you didn’t know that doesn’t mean someone is lying…..you jerk!

[@tjvanpopta]

Best music in the 60,s came out of the UK starting with all these amazing British invasion bands ! The amount of great music that evolved in the 60,s was unbelievable. I feel blessed to have lived in a time when music was something profound and magical !

[@vincentl.9469]

Yes I think some things will only come around once in the world. That feeling wont come again, Britain will never be the same again...people will never be the same again

[@wochenendsonnenschein5853]

@@vincentl.9469 Wonderful memories for me, too.

[@billygdj]

The band shot themselves in the foot when they allowed Curtis to chase Jackson out the group. They never recovered the "sound" !

[@eamonstafford2056]

Yes - so very true. Tony Jackson was a good lead singer and left because of Curtis's harassment. Tony formed his own band but doidn't quite hit the same success. Sadly he developed a drinking problem and has also passed away.

[@SuperAnimelover100]

So TRUE !

[@josephinerimmer6888]

@@eamonstafford2056I’ve never heard this story before and info is scarce on the internet. If you have the time could you tell me a bit more about it? Thanks.

[@moorlock2003]

Frank was OK but Tony was the most popular member. It was terrible that Curtis did that.

[@SuperAnimelover100]

@@moorlock2003 Agreed 100%. Tony was the best looking to .

[@olgavantveld6946]

One of my favourite groups of the sixties. My favourite song was don,t throw your love away.

[@furryhenry]

My favourite 60s band, great songs, great sound.

[@lesley8568]

I've loved the searchers since 1985 I've seen them at least 100 times with at least 5 different drummers they never give apoor concert they give 100per cent it's sad they retired but at least Spencer James is still going strong the searchers music is as fresh today as it was back in the 60s

[@wochenendsonnenschein5853]

I was lucky to meet the Searchers in Germany on a so-called Oldie Night near Dortmund in the early 1990ies. To dive into the feeling of the Sixties was overwhelming. I was born in 1950, an oldie myself. Thank you, Searchers ❤

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Thanks for sharing!

[@blackcountrywench6483]

Why can't we have clean and nice groups like this anymore songs these days are all about drugs and killings

[@Ronick-Q-46]

If only👍,

[@oldskoolfool141]

The music industry has always been a place of drugs and killing, it just put on a nice clean front back in the day

[@helencheadle5285]

I know what you mean…is it a generation thing? My dad used to have a “dance band” that played up to the late 50’s…Glen miller sound,but a lot of more modern at the time things like Cliff Richard,Englebert Humperdinck (what a name! Lol) Aker Bilk,Frank Sinatra, but he could NOT stand the Beatles who he referred to as monkeys with saucepan lids! I wasn’t even allowed to have or play their records! Today I still love their songs and they seem so tame to bands since. It’s almost as if each generation feel they have to prove something…and shock people, so use bad language,lines about murder, things we find quite shocking. Perhaps todays youngster should hear more foot tapping,relaxing songs? I like Adele, loved Queen, but I don’t even know the names of some bands as they come and go so fast! I’m just 70, so have an eclectic taste..going right back to “The Inkspots “(Google and listen).but as I say, each generation seem out to prove their songs are much better than old ones…again, they havnt heard as many as we have, but if radio stations played a selection from both eras..perhaps those who write todays songs might learn to write from the heart, not built up frustration and hate from whatever they are currently feeling?

[@jackitcovitz1816]

Kill who ? Politicians 😀

[@doctorrobert1339]

You have no idea what you're talking about if you think all music is like that today, old man. Suits are nice but not comfortable to play in, don't live in the past.

[@valerieroberts8420]

I adored them when I was a teenager and travelled quite a bit to see them. I thought Chris was so handsome. Those were the days!

[@Tyrone1957]

Bingo! Lady . I have to agree. Loved them.

[@stephenjerome4135]

One of my 2 favourite merseybeat groups my other favourite is the Beatles. I've seen the Searchers live about 10 times and just saw them live this year at a Thank You tour show at Kings Theatre Portsmouth 2 weeks ago. They have always put on a good show and never disappoint. It is sad they have gone into retirement but they will always be one of the best british bands of the 60's.

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Thanks for listening

[@colinmiller7671]

Aparently doing a comeback tour in 2024, , I wonder how many more times they are going to call it a day and then do another comeback tour the following year. Iv'e seen them quite a few times and can't help getting the feeling they are just going through the motions now, the sound is not there like it once was. Professional stage appearance yes but I've seen a lot of other acts play their numbers and sound more authentic. @@whathappenedtothem_

[@markkeetley2225]

I Pretend I'm With You is one of my all time favorites - a B side: Mac sung a few lines for me while signing autographs at Skeggie. Nobody would have ever thought it was a seventy (10 yrs ago) year old man singing. Once you've got it - you've always got it.

[@walte153]

One of my favorite groups of the '60s. I was lucky to see them in the early-90s in a free concert in Miami Beach. They were amazing. The songs sounded as great as the records... they didn't try to "re-invent" the hits that made them famous.

[@andywilkins8632]

I did two gigs backing the Searchers in Abu Dhabi in 1989. Great guys, great musicians and we had a lot of fun.

[@3goldfinger]

I saw "The Searchers" in concert a few years ago in Australia, only one of the original members was there, but they still sounded good. They had some new songs which I would loved to get, but they had sold out at the concert.

[@ianhotchkiss7711]

The searchers band

[@kelvinwebber90]

Did.you.have.to.search.for Them

[@Catwallager]

The Searchers were a good band and would've been much bigger had they written their own hit records.

[@davidhart7792]

They did write a few songs - He's got no love, 'Til I met you, I'll be missing you all spring to mind. He's got no love is a great song that I think just got in the top ten. I think the other two were B sides, but still great songs

[@moorlock2003]

They were writing excellent songs. The trouble was the record company wasn’t about to risk sales by releasing any of their songs as A sides. They wanted known hit songwriters for the A sides. The band had no control over that. A couple of their songs were put out but weren’t big hits, so it was back to covers.

[@derekstocker6661]

Thanks so much for this, certainly one of my favourite bands and what a shame they could not go on writing and performing their own music and be accepted more widely. Great sounds throughout their lives and so pleased that they are possibly continuing. RIP Billy and trust the original members are all still enjoying life.

[@andytomhall6006]

@Anne Woodward what a load of rubbish you write. They made several albums, wrote their own music, even in their heyday in the 1960s (every b side and He's got no love a top 20 hit) and toured the world repeatedly for nigh on 60 years until they recently called it a day due to John's ill health, although rumours persist of a comeback tour of the UK and possibly Europe and the world. The Searchers never disappeared they just refined their live act and became the most successful live act from the 1960s and won several awards for their performances. Poor management by Tony Hatch and their record company's misuse of their talents spoilt their recording career but live performances were terrific.

[@davidhughes5972]

@annewoodward4422 The Searchers are currently on tour. I have tickets to see them at Wycombe Swan on 19/5/23. John is noW 81.

[@tiareblume4433]

​@@davidhughes5972This was the second part of their last tour , called " Thank you tour " !

[@tiareblume4433]

​@@davidhughes5972This was the second part of their last tour , called " Thank you tour " !

[@martinbirch632]

One of the songs they recorded I still love…… Where have all the flowers gone ……….

[@jeffkehoe5619]

I loved it, and was in a band, "The Jaguars" of Chicagoland, back at the same time, and although we had a few changes in membership...it was NOTHING like the Searchers! I'm the last surviving member of the group from its start in '63.

[@hindlewalker9330]

When l was a kid in the early 60's my dad took me to Pontin's holiday camp in Jersey for a holiday l could wander around on my own safely while he had a few drinks one day l ended up in the social bar area and was playing on my own on the snooker table when some to me men came in and asked if they could play l recall having a few shots with them before l sidled out leaving them to it ,as l was going one of the Pontins staff said Do you know who they are ? l didn't but he told me that they were the "Searchers" a memory.

[@TW-mc9wk]

I always thought that Tony Jackson was the Searchers sound

[@SuperAnimelover100]

@sydmccreath4554 I second it ! :)

[@Tyrone1957]

He was , he was

[@marke6569]

@@Tyrone1957 Along with Mike Pender Tony Jackson were the sound

[@jasona9]

I have four songs by the Searchers downloaded on my iPhone: Love Potion No. 9, Needles and Pins, Money and Some Other Guy. The Searchers had some good tunes and were contemporaries of The Beatles!

[@davidhart7792]

Have a listen to Goodbye my Love. I read somewhere that they said this song defined them as a band.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

this is me not caring what you have on your iphone

[@davidhart7792]

@@Marcel_Audubon Think this reply is for someone else mate (probably jasona9) I don't own an iphone.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

@@davidhart7792 first day on youtube "mate"? replies go to everyone in the thread

[@davidhart7792]

@@Marcel_Audubon Chill your beans ' PAL ' no I didn't know that.

[@evelynarmena1952]

Till I Met You will forever be my favorite.

[@The1djdave]

the best version of 'love potion number nine'!!

[@plutogamstrumframe]

Tony Jackson , Mike Pender , were the best singers and were image wise , they looked sophisticated classy and cool , the Beatles had it right , they knew when to stop , and to not replace the originals members , for totally different non searcher images

[@SuperAnimelover100]

Well said ! :)

[@colinhill4963]

Seem the seachers twice,also have rare recordings of their concerts and tours.where they travelled all over the UK and Germany,with Billy Kramer,and Gerry and the pacemakers.

[@bernardfinch7046]

Love Potion Number 9 one of my favourites great group !

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Good choice!

[@davidhart7792]

They also sang Magic Potion number 309 on an EP. Give it a listen.

[@christinehales4222]

We've seen the Searchers here in South Wales ,every year for the last 15 years.We saw the concert before they ' retired ' I know they're playing in Swansea soon but it's a little too far for us . ALWAYS a fabulous sing along night

[@stephenbrown3835]

Curtis the drummer was their death knell ! 🥁W⚓️

[@chapsnaps1]

Calculating royalty payments on the entire back catalogue must be a nightmare!

[@lesleyhawes6895]

In retrospect, don't they look old?! As a point of reference, I'm the same age as Mick Jagger, so, yes, I do remember them the first time round.

[@633squadrongoodwin]

I believe Popcorn Double Feature released as a single by the boys in 1966 is one of the greatest singles never to have been a hit .

[@bernardfinch7046]

A great song only they could have sung it like that made some great music.......

[@633squadrongoodwin]

@@bernardfinch7046 ??????

[@davidhart7792]

I agree, I think I've got it somewhere in my collection. The music's coming out of the woodwork, sounding so strange and nobody sleeps!!!!

[@robertgregilovich2229]

Needles and Pins written by Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono of ( Sonny & Cher)

[@GSP21]

= Jackie DeShannon.

[@jasona9]

Sonny Bono had Ten Gold Records. Underrated talent!

[@harrybrown3657]

They did some great memorable songs

[@WhoDaresWins-B20]

You forgot to mention that Chris Crummy AKA Chris Curtis passed away as well.

[@barblessable]

They always did a good show ,met john and mike when I worked in Cavendish club in Lancs, both likeable down to earth guys.

[@geraldhills41]

Saw them in the 80's . they all had Aria guitars !

[@Ozmag1508]

Aria sponsored the Searchers for 2/3 years

[@SuperAnimelover100]

The Searchers were never the same when Tony Jackson had to quit. I totally loved Tony's album, Watch your step. :)

[@ladyelvis2024]

Wow love them see them a few times so handsome ❤❤❤ I had a suit made like there’s black and red in side best days of your life 💋💋😍😍

[@rcpinsa]

Also whilst they annouced a tour in 2023 called Thank You Tour they decided to replace drummer, the drummer on this tour starting in April will be Richie Burns who is part of a group called The 60s Experience.

[@eamonstafford2056]

Otaway wasn't much chop anyway. John McNally and Frank Allen are great guys. The concert I saw here in Frankston Victoria Oz in 2013 was a very good show. And both Johnn and Frank came out afterwards and spoke to us. Very nice people. A legend of a band. Mike Pender gave them a lot of grief

[@rcpinsa]

@@eamonstafford2056 One side of a story

[@eamonstafford2056]

@@rcpinsa Which part - Pender? He is an egotist

[@rcpinsa]

@@eamonstafford2056 They all are to some degree, I have known them for nearly 60 years and still in touch with them all are good guys to get on with I take the view there two sides to every story have you read MP's book. The grief as you say was caused by some promoters wrongly advertising Mike Pender's Searchers in the early days as The Searchers.

[@eamonstafford2056]

@@rcpinsa I would have to agree with you there. I have read a lot about them but probably don't know as much as you do. When I spoke to John about a reconciliation, he gave me an absolutely filthy look. So I guess that ain't going to happen. Yes there are 2 sides to things. The saga with Tony Jackson was pretty sad and both John and Mike should stood up and said something to Chris. Tony was a great vocalist in my view.

[@paulmajor8865]

Sweets for my sweets a drifters cover from 1961

[@GeoffB2072]

Saw them a Leeds City Varieties last Thursday (15th June 23) still brilliant, real talent always shows!

[@jorgeestomba9888]

One of the Best ! Needles & Pins is a Classic !!

[@gerardnevin8986]

Saw them many times in Wolverhampton In the 60s Great group

[@rcpinsa]

Mike Pender and John McNally lived on same road neot next door to each other, minor point though, well produced.

[@crapple009]

Do you know which road or which part of Liverpool it is?

[@caeserromero3013]

What Happened to The Searchers? Dunno, somebody send a search party to search for the searchers :)

[@jamesflint3057]

Enjoyed a live performance of the Searchers in Cadillac, Michigan at the Platters!

[@conroyknapp4903]

why put a robot to do the voice over?

[@GlennWW]

Tony Jackson's departure was engineered by the Drummer Chris Curtis for no good reason. Jealousy I guess or envy or just a plain clash...... Jackson was non plussed by this, wondering how the drummer had the say on it. Jackson got little back up it would appear from Pender and McNally.... Internal politics! Jackson was the sound! Saw them at my small town local caberet night club mid to late 70's, they were still great but nothing new brought to the table.

[@toreriksandsness9708]

ohh. what a band for my I. th 60´´´in Norway.

[@henriput854]

The searchers , great band top songs , a see this band live super , big fan Henri put belgium 🇧🇪👍

[@keithdenniss125]

Great Stuff.!!! Still my favourite 60's band..Bumble Bee's haunting guitar still resonates beautifully....KGD . BRISBANE.

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Thanks for listening

[@bigtone1348]

Mike Pendergast was the leader of the Searchers.

[@precbass]

Mike PENDER you mean.

[@bigtone1348]

@@precbass Pender is his stage name

[@johnny5475]

Very good video, like most fans too short lol. I would like to say that you missed mentioning their impact and legacy. Their technique of double tracking the six string electric guitar influence many groups including the Byrds and Tom Petty who both has cited them as one of the cornerstones of their sound. For me their album Sounds Like The Searchers still holds up as an incredible album even by todays standards with the stand out track of the cover of LaVern Baker - Bumble Bee. The 1979 and 1981 "comeback" albums are criminality overlooked and are great examples of power pop and are prized albums by collectors and artists similar to fans of Big Star, also Alex Chilton and Chris Bell were huge fans. Tom Petty gave them a song from his Mudcrutch days as a song he wrote in their style and even Bob Dylan passed on an unreleased song. As to what happened, revolving door of members, poor management, lack of original songs, and of course terrible record companies decisions. They had the chops live and by all accounts were brilliant and could make the cover versions sound like they wrote them. Still my 2nd fav band after The Kinks

[@davidhart7792]

Mike Pender played a 12 string electric guitar on Walk in the Room.

[@johnny5475]

@@davidhart7792 True I was referring to the sound prior to that song. This is from John McNally ""That guitar sound basically developed from two six-string guitars played together with a little echo," explains John McNally, who formed The Searchers in 1960, naming the band after the John Ford western. "The two guitars created a harmonic overtone and we left it like that. A couple of albums later we decided it sounded like a 12-string guitar so we bought one and Mike Pender started playing it. It wasn't our style to keep, though, and in 1965 quite a few records came out with that 12-string sound.""

[@davidhart7792]

@@johnny5475 Thanks John, I was just going off a video where Mike was playing the 12 string on Walk in the Room. Whatever it was played on they had a great distinctive sound.

[@Flibbybibby]

My favorite Searchers song is MAGIC POTION. Perfection!

[@eamonstafford2056]

You mean Love Potion No 9 - a great song

[@Flibbybibby]

@@eamonstafford2056 That is a great song but no, Magic Potion is another song and one I dig far more.

[@phil-zz5hk]

seen these in queensferry ice rink . about 1978 .

[@user-mw8ld6mf2h]

Хорошая группа, много отличных песен, лучшая - Love Potion #9!

[@oldskoolfool141]

Such is the way of the industry, unless you're penning your own hits you can only survive on gig money, unless you're something like the Monkees with marketability beyond the music

[@davidmay2073]

That WAS A baffling Video. I could not understand most of it why the Rush ? So many names instead of perhaps a circle around the person hes talking about🤯🤯🤯

[@peterchecksfield9958]

Narrated by Stephen Hawking? Otherwise, a very good overview of one of my favourite bands!

[@moodiblues2]

I think one of us is confused about Mike Pinder. Mike Pinder was a founding member and original keyboard player of the British rock group the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's ninth album Octave in 1978. I don’t think he was in the Searchers at least from 1967 to 1978. In fact he wrote one of my favorite Moody’s song, “Watching and Waiting”

[@davidgibbs381]

The Searchers guy 's name is PENDER. I too thought of Mike Pinder at first but there were no keyboards in The Searchers plus Pender's name appeared on some of the record labels shown.

[@moodiblues2]

@@davidgibbs381 well that explains my confusion. But for the difference in one vowel… Still it’s something, two British musician successful members of contemporaneous rock groups.

[@alanbunn7492]

From what I remember it was Mike Pender who took over lead vocals from Tony Jackson, I don't remember Frank Allan at all. Watching old videos it was always Mike after Jackson.e.g. see Needles & Pins

[@5756strat]

Mike Pinder was never in the Searchers - that was Mike Pender (actual name Mike Prendergast) 'Watching and Waiting' was written by Pinder's band mates in the Moodys, Justin Hayward and Ray Thomas. Beautiful song which appeared on the MB's album ' To our Children's Children's Children" When Pinder left the Moodys after the album Octave, he more or less retired from the music business but produced some material as a solo artist. His influence on the Moody Blues sound was paramount to their success

[@moodiblues2]

You’re right, I rechecked with Dr. Google.

[@Jall234]

Umbrella Man and Saturday Night Out. The Searchers, not many groups had in excess of ten really good singles.

[@louiebee6745]

They were the 2nd band from Liverpool to hit the American charts. Can't remember who the first one was...🤔

[@commonsensicle2231]

Saw them numerous times in 60s at The Belfry. If ever a group was unavailable for some reason they always stepped in. Remember one night going to see Gene Vincent but his estranged wife had frozen his finances, so it was the Searchers yet again. Excellent group though.

[@jeffarchibald3837]

I hope they found it.

[@65boogerbutt]

What Happened to The Searchers? People quit looking for them. 🤣🤣

[@crapple009]

You're mistaking them for the Lookers.

[@Agnethatheredhairkid]

Chris Curtis and Tony Jackson have now sadly ceased to walk amongst us.

[@bigtone1348]

I read that Chris (Crummey) Curtis was a control freak and made the rest of the band's lives a misery.

[@lamper2]

@@bigtone1348 I remember they were on Johnny Carson's Tonight show and because Johnny's son liked them they did 3 songs and got a sit-down interview with Johnny! of course Johnny was a drummer so that helped.

[@johnmontgomery9149]

Chris, Tony, Billy and Eddie sadly passed away.

[@Agnethatheredhairkid]

@@johnmontgomery9149 RIP to them all.

[@creamyned6912]

I supported them several times and I could tell there was friction between Tony Jackson and someone else in the band. The atmosphere was awful.

[@drbonesshow1]

What Happened to The Searchers? The search continues...

[@samanthasmith2195]

Love is everywhere on the RCA label was No 1 in Thailand for 1 week.

[@mayray6434]

they still searching ì hope

[@debbyharrison9198]

So when did Spencer James join the group. He was my fav

[@miked6335]

The first Sire LP was pretty good but what the hell was that at 9:17! Holy smokes!

[@deirdre108]

Unsee, unsee. Gotta go watch some Pan's People videos and clean my eyes after that.

[@melvynbyrne-vp2ow]

My friend bought their suits at an auction.

[@benjomoreno9136]

What happened to the searcher? when they forced out tony jackson from the band, the searchers are finished. They kicked him out simply because curtis didnt like tony stage presence on playing bass on stage or at tv. But still Mike Pender acknowledged of that tony's Ear savvy on music. Tony was the lead singer two number 1 singles in two albums and after that the seachers became a "boy band".

[@youarewhatyouare]

They stopped searching

[@gerryshields4722]

Thanks so much👍🏻

[@whathappenedtothem_]

No problem 👍

[@richardrichard7774]

they were big but failed to adapt when smallfaces, spencer davis group, the who burst on the scene. A couple of then tried to look like mods, but pender's teddy-boy quiff looked ridiculous by 1966.

[@junescoular292]

Needles and Pinsa! I still have the 45'

[@oldermusiclover]

am curious if the guys played on their own records

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

Not sure why you give out the birthdate of some musicians but not all of them ? Why the inconsistency??

[@BoynamedMagnus183]

Can you take next the Danish band called Shu-Bi-Dua Who is very The Searchers inspired band!

[@billyfury1952]

A lot of the photos are wrong

[@robfriedrich2822]

Did the searchers eventually find it?

[@davidjohnfarrell4579]

That's when music was music. Not the stupid rubbish RAP ! Crap we get today.

[@alexbowman7582]

Perhaps they found what they were looking for.

[@henrymontalvo9550]

Obviously they found what they were looking for - and stopped searching.

[@LarryFogarty]

suprised you rush over love potion..which was a huge american hit for them

[@viggozing598]

What happened to The Swinging Blue Jeans?

[@lillianflorence6056]

Few dead now

[@BoynamedMagnus183]

Their biggest rival was The Swinging Blue Jeans!

[@daviddellit8344]

Interesting. Thank you.

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Thanks for watching!

[@lillianflorence6056]

Loved curtis❤

[@Zyltic]

What happened to The Faces

[@rsqyoung]

Are we still searching?

[@tincanboat]

I don't know what happened to them, but I've been searching for them for years.

[@shalomegoz2708]

In the days of the Mersey Beat ,the Searchers were no less good than the Beatles!

[@moodyguymick]

It's PENDER , not Pinder !!

[@zigzag8949]

They're still Searching?

[@jaycollins9845]

i like this,only spoilt by using a text to speach app?

[@docheine]

Love the cover of “Pins and Needles” by Tom Petty.

[@lamper2]

Needles and Pins?

[@crapple009]

The Ramones' cover of it has always been fun.