Latest news with #Merseybeat
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix viewers rush to watch 'astonishing' three-part Cilla Black drama
Cilla originally aired on ITV back in 2014 and has now arrived on Netflix for viewers to binge Netflix subscribers have been praising a three-part drama featuring Sheridan Smith, which recently debuted on the streaming platform. Originally broadcast on ITV in 2014, Cilla stars Sheridan as the legendary singer Cilla Black. The series delves into the early stages of Cilla's career and explores how her life was transformed upon meeting Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles. Sheridan is joined by a stellar cast including Aneurin Barnard as Cilla's husband Bobby, Ed Stoppard portraying Brian Epstein, John Henshaw as Cilla's father, and Melanie Hill as Cilla's mother. The official synopsis for Cilla reads: "'Cilla' tells of her rocky rise to fame and will capture the essence of 1960s Liverpool, the atmosphere of promise and excitement as the Merseybeat music scene was on the verge of exploding in a blaze of tight-fitting skirts, stiletto heels, and beehives." It further elaborates: "A young, unknown Cilla works in the austere environs of the typists' pool at a local company, dreaming of stardom. The drama looks at how she met the two men who came to love her and ultimately fought over her - future husband Bobby Willis and legendary manager Brian Epstein, the tragic young businessman who also guided the career of The Beatles. "We learn how Cilla's burgeoning friendship with John, Paul, George, and Ringo - the four young men who went on to conquer the music world - shaped her career. "It was family friend Ritchie Starkey (Ringo), the teddy-boy with a greasy quiff, who helped her to cross paths with Brian Epstein and producer George Martin, who were to launch her career with recording sessions at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios." The series has garnered high praise from viewers, many of whom have lauded Sheridan Smith's stunning representation of Cilla, née Priscilla Maria Veronica White, reports Surrey Live. "Brilliant portrayal of Cilla by Sheridan Smith, who also sings all the songs! Wow! The whole cast were fabulous. One not to be missed," exclaimed one viewer on Google. Another telly buff penned: "Brilliant. Loved this series, Smith always smashes it," while another chimed in, adding: "Great performance by all and gives a great feel for the early 60's in Liverpool."
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Previously unheard 'Liverpool anthem' to be played for first time at Cavern Club
A single Gerry Marsden recorded shortly before his death is to be played for the very first time. A private event will be held at the Cavern Club before being opened up to the public for everyone to enjoy. Gerry, who was born in Toxteth, was best known for the hit song You'll Never Walk Alone, the world famous anthem of Liverpool FC. He shot to fame as the leader of Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers, whose legendary hits also included Ferry Cross the Mersey. The single, 'On Merseyside, The Pool of Life', was written and produced by Gary Murphy. This included Mike Pender (The Searchers), Ray Ennis (The Swinging Blue Jeans), Tony Crane & Billy Kinsley (The Merseybeats), Brian Jones (The Undertakers), Dave Berry (The Cruisers), Mike McCartney (The Scaffold), and Gerry Marsden (Gerry and The Pacemakers). READ MORE: Full list of 108 Post Office branches to be offloaded as Liverpool sites to be affected READ MORE: His victim had no clue he'd been committing wicked crimes for nearly 20 years The album was produced by guitarist Gary Murphy and engineered by Alan Lewis. Fans will be able to hear it and the single in full as the backdrop of a new documentary from LA Productions, which is due to be released in spring 2025. Gerry's friend Arthur Johnson told the ECHO: "I met with Gerry a few times before he died to talk about new projects. "There will also be a video of the last time he performed, plus the album and the new single at the event. This is an anthem about Liverpool, about the city, which he loved." A pre-order is available now and the official release lands Thursday, April 10. The track will be heard for the first time in a private event in the Cavern Club's live lounge followed by a public opening after 6pm. The single will be available to order at the Cavern Club event along with albums of the Philharmonic night and an album of original Merseybeat hits. Entry is £5 on the door. The studio album, live concert, and Gerry Marsden's EP recording will all be released in April 2025 from Last Night From Glasgow.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Legends gather to hear Gerry Marsden's last 'emotional tribute' to city
Merseyside music and entertainment legends gathered at the Cavern Club today (Thursday April 10) to listen to Gerry Marsden's last single, which was recorded shortly before his death in 2021. Gerry, who was born in Toxteth, was best known internationally for his version of You'll Never Walk Alone, the world famous anthem of Liverpool FC written by Rodgers and Hammerstein. He shot to fame as the leader of Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers, whose renowned hits also included Ferry Cross the Mersey. The new single, 'On Merseyside, The Pool of Life', was written and produced by Gary Murphy. Congregating in the basement of the world-famous Cavern Club on Mathew Street to experience the previously unheard song were people of all ages, showing the timeless value of Gerry Marsden's music. Among them were comedian Ricky Tomlinson, radio great Billy Butler and China Crisis' Eddie Lundon. READ MORE: Previously unheard 'Liverpool anthem' to be played for first time at Cavern Club READ MORE: The Farm returns with surprise free gig in legendary venue Gerry's wife and daughter, Pauline and Yvette, were also present along with former Liverpool ECHO features editor and close friend of Gerry, Arthur Johnson, who organised the event. Describing the new anthem, he told the ECHO: "It's a very emotional tribute to Liverpool and Merseyside. "Gerry was so passionate about the city he was born in, and he never lived anywhere else. He wouldn't live anywhere else, it had to be Liverpool. "I got to be a great mate of his - we even went to Australia together and founded 'Scousers Down Under'. We had a lot of fun, so it's brilliant to see a tribute like this paid to him, particularly here in the Cavern, which is where he lived." He added: "I'm at a certain age where I was lucky enough to see The Beatles and people like that playing here. I wasn't directly involved in the 60s, but I'm so lucky to have met so many of them, had such a laugh with them, and see the great influence they had on this city, even now. "It's 60 years now after the 60s - that's a lot to take in, that is." 'On Merseyside: The Pool of Life' is available to stream online, along with the film of Gerry Marsden's final live concert at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, a performance which Arthur described as 'really emotional.' 'Pool of Life' refers to a phrase used by Swiss to psychiatrist Carl Jung to describe Liverpool in a 1927 dream essay. He described the city as a "pool of life, it makes to live," and this phrase has since become associated with the city's vibrancy and cultural significance, particularly in the Cavern Quarter. Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Gerry Marsden's last song featured on new live Merseybeat album
A new studio album filled with music from icons of the 60s Merseybeat scene features the last song ever recorded by Gerry Marsden.'Original 60s Merseybeat Legends' was launched by singer-songwriter and producer Gary Murphy at Liverpool's Cavern Club on live album includes re-recordings of iconic Merseybeat hits, and The Pool of Life, the last song recorded by the Gerry And The Pacemakers front man most famous for Ferry Cross The Mersey. The album has been described as a "breath-taking tribute to the golden age of Liverpool's music scene". Murphy told BBC Radio Merseyside: "It was coming up to the 60th anniversary of the 60s and I wanted to commemorate the decade as it was such a special time."Everything was changing; but the music was at the forefront of everything." Murphy said all the singers involved still sing "like they're 18"."It's been so much fun, and brought me so much joy."And 60 years on the guys are singing like they are 18-years-old, and they have the exact same enthusiasm for the music."The Pool of Life, which features the voice of Marsden, was recorded before he died, in January 2021."When I first wrote the song and played it to Gerry, he loved it, and did a fabulous job of recording it [in the studio]."We didn't know at the time it would be his last time, but it's a beautiful way to remember Gerry."Tony Crane, best known as the co-founder of the band The Merseybeats, is also on the album."[The recording] has been fabulous", said Tony."When Gary first asked me to do it I jumped on board right away."He said he had some problems getting people to agree to do it, so [Gary] asked me to ring them up and assure them it'd be okay."Everything went fabulously well, and it was marvellous." 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.
The Independent
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Britain's oldest pop band to split after farewell show at Glastonbury
The Searchers, the longest-running band in pop history, have decided to call it a day after 68 years. The group rose to fame in the early Sixties as part of Liverpool 's Merseybeat scene, where they were contemporaries of The Beatles. Yet they formed three years before the Fab Four, in 1957, beginning as a skiffle group and later sold millions of records, with hits such as their Jackie DeShannon cover 'When You Walk in the Room', their No 1 'Sweets for My Sweet', and their No 2 single 'Sugar and Spice'. They announced this week that they plan on retiring after what will be their first and only show at Glastonbury Festival in June. Speaking to The Guardian, guitarist John McNally, 83, and bassist and singer Frank Allen, 81, said they had decided to retire partly because of their age, but also because they were sick of driving up and down motorways in heavy traffic. 'Age slows you down a bit,' Allen, who joined the band in 1964, said. 'We did between 180 and 200 shows a year. But driving up and down the motorways is the hard part because the traffic is so much heavier than it ever was… 'There was never a problem with recovering from a show because that's the thing that brings you to life. We were always fit to do a show. It's just the driving up and down motorways.' Original member McNally, who formed the band when he was 16, agreed: 'The traffic is now an absolute nightmare.' Allen told The Independent last year that The Searchers initially decided to call it a day in 2019, after growing weary of non-stop touring. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial 'We thought, well, we've been doing this for six decades, about time to have a rest,' he said. 'We were getting on, we were well past retirement age and we'd been doing 200 shows a year up until that point.' After five years of 'retirement' however, the band's jokes about a comeback tour became reality, and the consequent shows turned out to be 'a lot fun'. 'By the end of it, we finished on an epic night in Liverpool at the Philharmonic and it was probably the best night we've had of our careers,' Allen said. 'We were on such a high.' Asked about the secret to The Searchers' longevity, he said it was down to being 'being a part of one of the most important periods in pop history'. 'If you made it during that period, people are never gonna forget you,' he said. 'We've influenced so many American names, from The Byrds to Tom Petty, Marshall Krenshaw, Bruce Springsteen. We've had our time in the sun.' The band's current lineup comprises Allen, McNally, Spencer James and Richie Burns. Allen said no one had asked them to play Glastonbury until now: 'No one's asked us. The Searchers are finally performing at the greatest music festival of them all. What a way to round off a tour and a career.' The Searchers will appear on the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury on 27 June. This year's festival is being headlined by Neil Young, Olivia Rodrigo and The 1975, with Rod Stewart in the Legends' Slot.
