Concert

AFTER 55 years of non-stop touring you'd imagine it might be time to hang up your stage suits or at least trim the schedule.

But The Searchers show no sign of slowing down. They were formed in the late 1950s as a skiffle group by John McNally, joined by guitarist Mike Pender, drummer Chris Curtis, bassist Tony Jackson and vocalist Johnny Sandon.

In 1963, under the guidance of PYE Records' Tony Hatch, they shot to the top of the charts with Sweets For My Sweet.

Subsequent hits included Goodbye My Love, What Have They done To The Rain?, Take Me For What I`m Worth and Love Potion Number Nine.

Over their long career The Searchers have appeared with Motown legends Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, Smokey and The Miracles and The Temptations.

They have performed for the forces in the Falklands, Belfast and Bosnia.

The Searchers have toured constantly throughout their five decades and continue to play between 150 and 200 concerts a year across the globe. Today's line-up is John McNally, Frank Allen, Spencer James and Scott Ottaway on drums.

The group returns to King’s Hall, Ilkley for an evening of hits and anecdotes on Friday, May 25. For tickets call (01274) 432000.