Latest news with #Merseybeat
Khaleej Times
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
The Searchers, 60s chart toppers, bow out at Glastonbury
The Searchers, the Liverpool band that topped the charts in the 1960s with Sweets for My Sweet, Needles and Pins and Don't Throw Your Love Away, played their final show at Glastonbury Festival after 66 years of touring. Formed in 1959 by John McNally and Mike Pender, the group was part of the Merseybeat scene alongside Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Beatles that broke through in the early 1960s before finding success in the US. Bass player and singer Frank Allen, who joined in 1964, said The Searchers had played "final" gigs before but decided to come back one last time after an invitation from the festival in southwestern England. "We had said that was it, unless something comes up that we really couldn't turn down," Allen, 81, said. "If there was going to be a bigger one to end on, then that's the one." "It will be mostly the hits, a few little things, tributes maybe to some of the other people that we've toured with over the years." The band has shared bills with the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Cliff Richard, as well as Motown artists in the US, he said. After playing to screaming fans in the 1960s, tastes changed in the 1970s and the band moved to the club circuit. "We survived and we came out the other side bigger and better," Allen said. "And as we hit the end of the 70s, everything took off again and there was a new respect for everything we'd done in the past." Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty are among those who said they were influenced by the group's sound, he said. Other performers at Worthy Farm this year include Neil Young, 79, and Rod Stewart, 80.
Wales Online
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Original lead singer of The Searchers dies aged 84
Original lead singer of The Searchers dies aged 84 Ronnie "Shorty Rogers" Woodbridge was the original lead singer of The Searchers, who were one of the earliest success stories of Liverpool's booming music scene The Searchers guitarist and singer Mike Pender and Ronnie Woodbridge (Image: Mike Pender facebook ) A trailblazer of the Merseybeat era, Ronnie "Shorty Rogers" Woodbridge, who played a pivotal role in shaping Liverpool's thriving music scene in the 1960s and 70s, has sadly passed away. Woodbridge was the original lead vocalist of the iconic band, The Searchers, one of the pioneering groups to achieve widespread success. The rock legend, 84, left an enduring legacy that spanned over six decades, from performances at The Olympia to Edinburgh's dance halls. Norman Stevens, an 87 year old veteran of Merseybeat and a member of the band Duke Duval, shared a memorable encounter with Ronnie: "One night we were playing at the Holyoake Hall on Smithdown Road, and this lanky tall guy came up and said 'can I do a couple of numbers lads?', and we said yeah. "We called him on and he rocked the place. You couldn't hear what we were playing for him. He was throwing himself all over the place, he had all the actions going." As one of the founding members of the band that would become The Searchers, Ronnie contributed to the group's early success, belting out hits such as "Sweets for My Sweet", "Love Potion No. 9", and "Hippy Hippy Shake" throughout the 1960s. The news of his passing comes on the heels of The Searchers' farewell performance on Glastonbury's Acoustic Stage on Friday night. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Although Ronnie left the band before its meteoric rise to international stardom (becoming the second Liverpool group, after The Beatles, to conquer America), he forged a remarkable music career in his own right. Article continues below After rising to prominence as the lead vocalist with the Nat Allen Orchestra and charming crowds at the Locarno Ballroom in West Derby, which is today known as The Olympia, he uprooted to Edinburgh in 1960 and took a gig at the Palais de Danse in Fountainbridge, reports the Liverpool Echo. He humorously donned the stage name "Shorty Rogers", a witty nod to his considerable stature, entertaining audiences six nights a week. When the dance hall era waned, he pressed on with his solo ventures across rock and roll, country music, and comedy, gracing various stages throughout Scotland. Norman reminisced: "He was at the start of The Searchers, in fact it was him who gave them the name The Searchers from the John Wayne film of the same name. He was a nice guy too, a real Liverpool bloke we should all be proud of. "When Duke Duval finished we became the resident band at the Empress Jazz Club on Victoria Road in New Brighton and Ronnie used to come and sing with us from time to time. "He was spotted by someone from a large orchestra from Edinburgh along with this lad called Johnny, who was what we called 'the Liverpool Elvis Presley'. Him and Ronnie Wood were invited to join the large orchestra in Edinburgh and off they went, and good luck to them. "It was an absolutely marvellous time because it was all new, all raw, all against everything that our parents had stood for. They all still wore suits and ties, and we said 'bugger that we want to do what we want to do!' and off it went. We broke new ground and it echoed all over the country, bands springing up, it was all going on." Ronnie was born in January 1941 and raised in Anfield by his father and stepmother, alongside three siblings. In 1962, Ronnie and his wife Frances tied the knot, and their two sons followed in their father's musical footsteps. Article continues below Mike Pender, the renowned guitarist and vocalist of The Searchers, paid homage to his late friend, remarking: "I was saddened to learn of the passing of Ron Woodbridge. "Ron was with me the day we watched John Wayne give us the unforgettable name still famous today! Goodbye Ron. Gone but not forgotten."
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Searchers' original lead singer dies aged 84
An original Merseybeat icon who helped pioneer the cultural phenomenon of Liverpudlian music in the 1960s and 70s has died. Ronnie 'Shorty Rogers' Woodbridge was the original lead singer of The Searchers, one of the earliest success stories of the city's booming music scene. The 84-year-old rock star died earlier this month, leaving behind a six-decade legacy which took him from The Olympia to the dance halls of Edinburgh. Norman Stevens, 87, who played in Merseybeat band Duke Duval, said: "One night we were playing at the Holyoake Hall on Smithdown Road, and this lanky tall guy came up and said 'can I do a couple of numbers lads?', and we said yeah. We called him on and he rocked the place. You couldn't hear what we were playing for him. He was throwing himself all over the place, he had all the actions going." Ronnie was an original member of the band which became known as The Searchers, who flourished throughout the 1960s with hits including Sweets for My Sweet and Sugar and Spice. READ MORE: Family-run chippy that's 'the first place people come to' READ MORE: Abusive men and women who everyone should know about News of his death comes after the band's triumphant final performance on the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury on Friday night. Despite leaving the group before it soared to international fame (becoming the second group from Liverpool, after the Beatles, to make it big in America), Ronnie went onto forge a successful musical career in his own right. After becoming a lead vocalist with the Nat Allen Orchestra and performing at Locarno Ballroom in West Derby - now known as The Olympia - he moved to Edinburgh in 1960 and started working at the Palais de Danse in Fountainbridge. He adopted the stage name "Shorty Rogers", an amusing reference to his looming height, and performed six nights a week. As the dance hall craze died down, he continued his solo career of rock and roll, country music and comedy on stages all over Scotland. Norman said: "He was at the start of The Searchers, in fact it was him who gave them the name The Searchers from the John Wayne film of the same name. He was a nice guy too, a real Liverpool bloke we should all be proud of. "When Duke Duval finished we became the resident band at the Empress Jazz Club on Victoria Road in New Brighton and Ronnie used to come and sing with us from time to time. "He was spotted by someone from a large orchestra from Edinburgh along with this lad called Johnny, who was what we called 'the Liverpool Elvis Presley'. Him and Ronnie Wood were invited to join the large orchestra in Edinburgh and off they went, and good luck to them. "It was an absolutely marvellous time because it was all new, all raw, all against everything that our parents had stood for. They all still wore suits and ties, and we said 'bugger that we want to do what we want to do!' and off it went. We broke new ground and it echoed all over the country, bands springing up, it was all going on." Ronnie was born in January 1941 amid the constant bombardment of German bombs in what became known as the Liverpool Blitz. He grew up with his dad, stepmum and three brothers in Anfield. Ronnie married his wife Frances in 1962 and the couple had two sons, who inherited their father's passion for music and went on to perform in bands of their own. His funeral will be held at Warriston Crematorium in Edinburgh at 1pm on Friday, July 4. Mourners are asked to wear red in memory of Ronnie. The Searchers guitarist and singer Mike Pender, in a tribute to his old friend, said: "I was saddened to learn of the passing of Ron Woodbridge. Ron was with me the day we watched John Wayne give us the unforgettable name still famous today! "Goodbye Ron. Gone but not forgotten."
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Searchers bow out at Glastonbury after 68-years of performing
The Searchers have made their Glastonbury Festival debut in what will be the Merseybeat band's "final show ever" after 68 years of performing. Bassist Frank Allen said the four-piece, which formed in 1957, "couldn't turn down" the chance to play the festival for the first time before they as the "longest-running band in pop history", the Liverpool band had three UK number ones, including with their version of The Drifters' hit Sweets For My ahead of their performance on Friday, Allen said: "If you're going to go out, you might as well go out big." He said the band, formed in 1957 by John McNally and Mike Pender, "tried to retire a few years ago, but they just won't let us". "We've done four final tours and we've actually discovered the fun about it again," Allen said. "We said no more, unless something important comes up that we can't turn down."McNally said the band thought it was a joke when they heard they had been asked to play the festival. "Of course we said yes," he said. He said the key to having a successful career in music was to keep finding the fun in it. "You've got to have a laugh on stage," McNally said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Reuters
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
The Searchers, 60s chart toppers, to bow out at Glastonbury
GLASTONBURY, England, June 27 (Reuters) - The Searchers, the Liverpool band that topped the charts in the 1960s with "Sweets for My Sweet", "Needles and Pins" and "Don't Throw Your Love Away", will play their final show at Glastonbury Festival on Friday after 66 years of touring. Formed in 1959 by John McNally and Mike Pender, the group was part of the Merseybeat scene alongside Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Beatles that broke through in the early 1960s before finding success in the United States. Bass player and singer Frank Allen, who joined in 1964, said The Searchers had played "final" gigs before but decided to come back one last time after an invitation from the festival in southwestern England. "We had said that was it, unless something comes up that we really couldn't turn down," Allen, 81, told Reuters. "If there was going to be a bigger one to end on, then that's the one." "It will be mostly the hits, a few little things, tributes maybe to some of the other people that we've toured with over the years." The band has shared bills with the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Cliff Richard, as well as Motown artists in the U.S., he said. After playing to screaming fans in the 1960s, tastes changed in the 1970s and the band moved to the club circuit. "We survived and we came out the other side bigger and better," Allen said. "And as we hit the end of the 70s, everything took off again and there was a new respect for everything we'd done in the past." Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty are among those who said they were influenced by the group's sound, he said. Other performers at Worthy Farm this year include Neil Young, 79, and Rod Stewart, 80.
