Searching for gold

"I WAS passionate about music between the ages of 13 and 25. Rock and roll was wonderful. Nothing can ever move me like listening to those early records on a rubbish record player or via a desperately bad reception from Radio Luxembourg under the bedclothes,” says Frank Allen, a Searcher since 1964.

In the right place at the right time, The Searchers rode the Mersey wave which saw The Beatles propelled to international stardom and the likes of Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Merseybeats become household names.

Allen had achieved his dream, but he believes the Fab Four have to take much of the credit.

“Without them I doubt if many, or indeed any, of us would be where we are now,” he says. “Everyone from our decade and even those beyond, owes an immense debt of gratitude to them and of course to (producer) Brian Epstein because without his unshakeable belief even they would probably not have made it.” With that helping hand, The Searchers racked up an impressive string of hits, from their first release Sweets For My Sweet through to the likes of Sugar And Spice, Don’t Throw Your Love Away and their most famous song, Needles and Pins.

Despite this impressive back catalogue, Allen believes they didn’t always get the credit they deserved.

“We were, perhaps, not as highly remembered as some of our contemporaries and maybe not as much as we deserved, because we never pushed ourselves as individual personalities,” he says. “But we’ve had our accolades and endorsements from some pretty high profile people.

“Tom Petty recently chose When You Walk In The Room as his No 5 favourite British Invasion disc, adding that he had to restrain himself from choosing more of our recordings because we did some great things and the 12-string guitar was terrific.

Bruce Springsteen often plays that particular song in his stage show, as do many others.”

There are many so-called nostalgia bands on the circuit these days, but Allen believes The Searchers stand out from the crowd.

“We do the package shows every two years where we share a bill with others from our time,” he said. “(But) what we have done in the last few decades is to create a circuit for ourselves in the small theatres, when we do our solo evenings. It was necessary.

The clubs had dried up and many bands were out of work.

“The solo shows have been a lifesaver and it is the best way to work.

Every person has come to see us so we have their goodwill from the start. We deliver a potted history in two full hours on stage, with anecdotes, along with the hits, album tracks and other items.

“The set list these days is carefully organised so that there is light and shade. A fast song is often followed by a powerful and emotional ballad to give that song more impact. Our entrance onto the stage is dramatic and slick, something we had never previously managed, as is our exit.”

SUCH shows lead to plenty of enquiries, but there’s one that sticks in Allen’s memory.

“After playing a club date John Mc- Nally (guitarist and vocalist) was phoned by the secretary of a social club with the intention of booking us,” he says. “When told the price, which his small club could not afford, he said, ‘All right, we don’t need the four of you. How much for three?’ I have never forgiven John for not asking which three he wanted.”

Though their heyday came four decades ago, Allen says the music is still attracting new fans and he was looking forward to a warm welcome in the North-East.

“I always say our audience these days ranges from extremely young to fast approaching death,” he says. “We made very catchy and age-friendly records and the decade that gave us success was so important that people of every era since can relate to it and be influenced by it.”

• The Searchers play Durham Gala Theatre on October 28