About the band

The Searchers were one of the most influential groups to rise from the 60s phenomenon, Founded as a skiffle group in Liverpool in 1959 by John McNally and Mike Pender, the band took their name from the 1956 John Ford western film The Searchers. However, their roots can be traced back even further to 1957 when John McNally formed a skiffle group with his friends Brian Dolan on guitar and Tony West on bass.

The founder members of the group we know and love today were John McNally, Mike Pender, Tony Jackson and Norman McGarry. They appeared regularly at the Iron Door Club and in late 1961 Johnny Sandon left to join the Remo Four, and McGarry was replaced on drums by Chris Curtis.

The Searchers played at the Iron Door, the Cavern and other Liverpool clubs, sometimes doing three shows a night in different venues. In early 1962 they forged contacts with the Star Club in Hamburg, and appeared there for the first time in July 1962.

Tony Jackson left the band in 1964 and was replaced by Frank Allen from Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers. For most fans, this is the line up that is the definitive Searchers sound of which “When you Walk in the Room” is a classic example.

Chris Curtis left the band in April 1966 and was replaced by John Blunt who was subsequently replaced by Billy Adamson in 1970. Chris Curtis formed a new band called Roundabout with keyboard player Jon Lord and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Although Curtis’s involvement in the project was short-lived, Roundabout evolved into Deep Purple the following year!

In December 1985, Mike Pender left to for a new band and now tours as Mike Pender’s Searchers. Frank and John recruited Spencer James to replace him.

The band continued to tour and subsequently replaced Billy with Eddie Rothe. During this period they were considered to be one of the most popular bands on the Sixties concert circuit. In 2010 Eddie left and was replaced by Scott Ottway and this line up continued until the final concert on 31st March 2019, an amazing 62 years since John started his skiffle band, probably a record in the industry!