Interviewing The Legends, August 28, 2018
"Sweets for My Sweet"; "Needles and Pins" "When You Walk in the Room"; "Sugar and Spice"; "Don't Throw Your Love Away"' "Love Potion No. 9" to name just a few … the Searchers tied for 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.
It’s little wonder then that most observers considered The Searchers to be the most successful and important Group, after the Beatles, in that quite wonderful period of Pop Music.
For more information about John McNally and The Searchers and up to the minute concert dates visit … http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/
Very special thanks to ALAN FIELD ASSOCIATES for arranging this interview with JOHN MCNALLY and of course the dynamic duo of Doug & Don Newsom of BBS Radio for making the magic happen for each broadcast of The Ray Shasho Show. If you have comments of suggestions for the show contact me at therayshashoshow@gmail.com.
And don’t forget to purchase a copy of my book entitled Check the Gs -the true story of an eclectic American family and their Wacky family business … available now at iUniverse.com and amazon.com. You’ll live it!!!
Have a great week everybody!
Guest, John McNally
J O H N M C N A L L Y
GUITARIST-SINGER-FOUNDER
OF
BRITAIN'S LEGENDARY ROCK GROUP
'THE SEARCHERS'
Do you remember....
"Sweets for My Sweet"; "Needles and Pins" "When You Walk in the Room"; "Sugar and Spice"; "Don't Throw Your Love Away"' "Love Potion No. 9" to name just a few … the Searchers tied for 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.
It’s little wonder then that most observers considered The Searchers to be the most successful and important Group, after the Beatles, in that quite wonderful period of Pop Music.
Originally founded as a skiffle group in Liverpool in 1959 by John McNally and Mike Pender (Mike Prendergast), the band took their name from the classic 1956 John Wayne western The Searchers.
The band grew out of an earlier skiffle group formed by McNally, with his friends Brian Dolan (guitar) and Tony West (bass). When the other two members lost interest, McNally was joined by his guitarist neighbor Mike Prendergast. They soon recruited Tony Jackson with his home-made bass guitar and amplifier and styled themselves Tony and the Searchers with Joe Kelly on drums. Kelly soon left to be replaced by Norman McGarry and it is this line-up—McNally, Pender (as he soon became known), Jackson and McGarry—that is usually cited as the original foursome.
McGarry did not stay long, however, and in 1960 his place was taken by Chris Crummey (who later changed his name to Curtis). Later that year Big Ron had a successful audition with Mecca and became a ballroom singer. He was replaced by Billy Beck, who changed his name to Johnny Sandon. The band had regular bookings at Liverpool's Iron Door Club as Johnny Sandon and the Searchers.
Sandon left the band in late 1961 to join The Remo Four in February 1962. The group settled into a quartet sharing the vocal lead and billed simply as The Searchers. They continued to play at the Iron Door, The Cavern, and other Liverpool clubs. Like many similar acts they would do as many as three shows at different venues in one night. They negotiated a contract with the Star-Club in the St. Pauli district Hamburg for 128 days, with three one-hour performances a night, starting in July 1962.
The band returned to a residence, at the Iron Door Club and it was there that they tape recorded the sessions that led to a recording contract with Pye Records with Tony Hatch as producer.
Hatch played piano on some recordings and wrote "Sugar and Spice"—the band’s second number one record—under the pseudonym Fred Nightingale; a secret he kept from the band at the time.
After scoring their monumental hit "Needles and Pins", bassist Tony Jackson went solo and was replaced by Hamburg pal Frank Allen of Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers.
Chris Curtis left the band in 1966 and was replaced by the Needles and Pins-influenced John Blunt, who in turn was replaced by Billy Adamson in 1970.
As musical styles evolved, the Searchers could not keep up and as a result, the hits ran out and while they continued to record for Liberty Records and RCA Records, ended up on the British "Chicken in a Basket" circuit although they did score a minor US hit in 1971 with "Desdemona".
The group continued to tour through the 1970s and were rewarded in 1979 when Sire Records signed the band to a multi-record deal. Two albums were released by them, The Searchers and Play for Today (retitled Love's Melodies outside the UK). Both records garnered great critical acclaim but did not break into the charts. They did however revitalize the group's career. According to John McNally, the band were ready to head into the studio to record a third album for Sire when they were informed that due to label reorganization, their contract had been dropped.
In 1981, the band signed to PRT Records (formerly Pye, their original label) and began recording an album but only one single, "I Don't Want To Be The One" backed with "Hollywood", saw the light of day at that time. The rest of the tracks would be released as part of 2004's 40th Anniversary collection.
In 1985 Mike Pender left The Searchers to form his own group. His aim was, and still is to this day, to faithfully recreate the sound and feel of those Hit Recordings and at the same time introduce other material that compliments Mike's unique voice and guitar style.
In 1988, Coconut Records signed The Searchers and the album Hungry Hearts was the result. A very contemporary sounding release, it featured modern sounding remakes of "Needles and Pins" and "Sweets For My Sweets". While the album was not a major hit, it did keep the group in the public eye.
The Searchers are still going strong today and hold a significant fanbase worldwide.
The band members are:
John McNally - original member and founder, 6string/12 string guitarist and vocals
Frank Allen - bass guitarist, vocals and front man
Spencer James - guitar synth and lead vocals
Scott Ottaway – on drums.
For more information about John McNally and The Searchers visit ...
Interviewing The Legends
Interviewing The Legends is devoted to promoting authors and musicians worldwide. Ray spotlights exclusive interviews with both legendary and up and coming artists. Ray also features the movers and shakers of the music and publishing industries and suggests important methods for getting the most out of your public relations and marketing methods.
Important links:
https://www.publicityworksagency.com/ Publicity Works Agency
https://www.classicrockmusicwriter.com/ The Classic Rock Music Reporter
http://www.classicrockhereandnow.com/ Classic Rock Here and Now
https://www.musictriedandtrue.com Music Tried and True
THE SEARCHERS ON TOUR
SIXTIES GOLD AUTUMN TOUR
Featuring The Searchers, P J Proby, The Merseybeats,
The Fortunes, Steve Ellis (Love Affair) and Vanity Fare
OCTOBER
Tues 2 October: OXFORD New Theatre
Wed 3 October: SOUTHPORT Southport Theatre
Thur 4 October: LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru
Fri 5 October: CARDIFF St David’s Hall
Sat 6 October: ST ALBANS Alban Arena (2 shows)
Sun 7 October: IPSWICH Regent Theatre
Fri 12 October: LEICESTER De Montfort Hall
Sat 13 October: STEVENAGE Concert Hall
Sun 14 October: SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion
Fri 19 October: WEYMOUTH Pavilion Theatre
Sat 20 October: MARGATE Winter Gardens
Sun 21 October: WIMBLEDON Wimbledon Theatre
Thur 25 October: DARTFORD Orchard Theatre (2 shows)
Fri 26 October: STOW ON THE WOLD St Edward's Church (Stow Music Festival) (not part of Sixties Gold tour)
Sun 28 October: LEEDS Grand Theatre (2 shows)
NOVEMBER
Thur 1 November: GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall
Fri 2 November: DUNDEE Caird Hall
Sat 3 November: INVERNESS Eden Court (2 shows)
Sun 4 November: ABERDEEN Beach Ballroom
Tue 6 November: GATESHEAD The Sage
Wed 7 November: BLACKPOOL Opera House
Sat 10 November NORTHAMPTON Derngate
Sun 11 November: NORWICH Theatre Royal
Sat 17 November: LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall
Sun 18 November: CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange
Fri 23 November: DONCASTER The Dome
Sun 25 November: SOUTHAMPTON Mayflower Theatre
Wed 28 November: BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall
Fri 30 November: MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
DECEMBER
Sun 2 December: CARLISLE Sands Centre
(end of Sixties Gold Tour)
Fri 7 December: WIMBORNE Tivoli Theatre (S)
Sat 8 December: WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall
Fri 14 December: NR NOTTINGHAM Lowdham Village Hall (S)
Sat 15 December: NR CHARD Cricket St Thomas (Warner's weekend break)
Sun 23 December: HULL City Hall
THE SEARCHERS FAREWELL TOUR
4 January – 31 March 2019
S = Solo all evening show, with no support acts
Please note that although some of these shows are already on sale,
others may not be for a while yet.
JANUARY
Fri 4 January: MARKET DRAYTON Festival at Drayton Centre (S)
Sat 5 January: MARKET DRAYTON (as above - second night)
Fri 11 January: DISS Corn Hall (S)
Sat 12 January: HAYES The Beck Theatre (S)
Sun 13 January: NR READING The Mill at Sonning (dinner and show)
Thurs 17 January: MAIDSTONE Hazlitt Theatre (S)
Fri 18 January: BASILDON Towngate Theatre (S)
Sat 19 January: BURY ST EDMUNDS Apex Theatre (S)
Sun 20 January: EPSOM Playhouse (S)
Wed 23 January: MORECAMBE Platform Theatre (S)
Thurs 24 January: RUNCORN The Brindley (S)
Fri 25 January: DONCASTER The Cast (S)
Sat 26 January: STOCKPORT Plaza (S)
Sun 27 January: LINCOLN New Theatre Royal (S)
Thurs 31 January: SOLIHULL Core Theatre (S)
FEBRUARY
Fri 1 February: RHYL Pavilion Theatre (S)
Sat 2 February: BARROW IN FURNESS Forum 28 (S)
Sun 3 February: BOLTON Albert Halls (S)
Weds 6 February: YEOVIL Octagon Theatre (S)
Thurs 7 February: HEREFORD Courtyard Theatre (S)
Fri 8 February: PORTHCAWL Grand Pavilion (S)
Sat 9 February: NR CAERPHILLY Blackwood Miners Institute (S)
Sun 10 February: EVESHAM Arts Centre (S)
Thurs 14 February: WAKEFIELD Theatre Royal (S)
Fri 15 February: WHITLEY BAY Playhouse (S)
Sat 16 February: BROMSGROVE The Artrix (S)
Sun 17 February: STAFFORD The Gatehouse (S)
Mon 18 February: CANTERBURY Marlowe Theatre (S)
Thurs 21 February: LOWESTOFT The Marina (S)
Fri 22 February: BEDFORD Corn Exchange (S)
Sat 23 February: KINGS LYNN Corn Exchange (S)
Sun 24 February: HAYLING ISLAND Sinah Warren (Warner’s weekend break)
(not part of the Solo Tour)
Wed 27 February: POCKLINGTON (near York) Arts Centre (S)
Thurs 28 February: GLENROTHES Rothes Hall (S)
MARCH
Fri 1 March: MOTHERWELL Concert Hall (S)
Sat 2 March: MUSSELBURGH Brunton Hall (S)
Sun 3 March: LIVINGSTONE Howden Park Centre (S)
Weds 6 March: FAREHAM Ferneham Hall (S)
Thurs 7 March: HARLOW Playhouse (S)
Fri 8 March: CREWE Lyceum Theatre (S)
Sat 9 March: NEW BRIGHTON Pavilion Theatre (S)
Sun 10 March: LEEDS City Varieties (S)
Thurs 14 March: MANSFIELD Palace Theatre (S)
Fri 15 March WIMBORNE Tivoli Theatre (S)
Sat 16 March: HORSHAM Capitol Theatre (S)
Sun 17 March: PETERBOROUGH Key Theatre (S)
Weds 20 March: CANNOCK Prince of Wales Theatre (S)
Thurs 21 March: DARLINGTON Hippodrome (formerly Civic) (S)
Fri 22 March: LOUGHBOROUGH Town Hall (S)
Sat 23 March: LYTHAM ST ANNES Lowther Pavilion (S)
Sun 24 March: REDDITCH Palace Theatre (S)
Weds 27 March: HIGH WYCOMBE Swan Theatre (S)
Thurs 28 March: CROMER Pier Pavilion (S)
Fri 29 March: CAMBERLEY Camberley Theatre (S)
Sat 30 March: WEYMOUTH Pavilion Theatre (S)
Sun 31 March: NR MILTON KEYNES The Stables, Wavendon (S) SOLD OUT
Sadly the Searchers will then be retiring
