The Solid Silver 60s Show is back at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre on Sunday 29th March, bringing together the unforgettable talents of 60s superstars The Searchers, Wayne Fontana, The Merseybeats and very special guest John Walker with The Dakotas.
The UK’s original and premier 60s show is back once again in its 24th year. It’s the place to hear the classic hits performed by the original hitmakers!
The distinctive jangling sound of the twelve string guitar and rich harmonies have without doubt assured The Searchers of a lasting place in the history of popular music throughout the world. Their first hit single Sweets For My Sweet shot to number one in the summer of 1963, quickly followed by Sugar & Spice, Needles & Pins, Love Potion Number Nine, Don’t Throw Your Love Away and Someday We’re Gonna Love Again to name a few. Original members John McNally and Frank Allen, along with Spencer James and Eddie Rothe, have perfected an amazing new concert consisting of legendary hits, ‘B’ sides, favourite album tracks and terrific new material combined with anecdotes and reminiscences delivered in an intimate and entertaining way.
Wayne Fontana was christened Glyn Geoffrey Ellis and changed his name in homage to Elvis Presley's drummer DJ Fontana. His famous backing band The Mindbenders came from a horror film of the same name starring Dirk Bogarde. Their breakthrough single Um Um Um Um Um Um charted at number five. Spearheading the Manchester contingent in the ‘British Invasion’ of the States, the band gained instant success with The Game of Love netting the number one spot. In 1965 Wayne left the group and embarked on a solo career which spawned the hits Come On Home and Pamela, Pamela. Now touring with his New Mindbenders, Wayne is still packing them in for his shows world-wide.
The Merseybeats are original members Tony Crane and Billy Kinsley plus long term bass player Bob Packham (who joined the Band as a ‘temporary’ replacement over 30 years ago), drummer Lou ‘The Hair’ Rosenthal and Adrian son of Tony Crane on keyboard and guitar. These combined true sons of Liverpool retain the sound and the feel that is unique to The Merseybeats and still enjoy doing it! They are pleased and proud to be part of The Solid Silver 60s and look forward to meeting the many 60s music followers who attend their tour dates in huge numbers to enjoy hits such as It’s Love That Really Counts, I Think of You, Don’t Turn Around, Wishin’ and Hopin’, Last Night, I Stand Accused, Mr Moonlight, I Love You Yes I Do and of course Sorrow.
John Walker is one of the famous Walker Brothers who recorded the famous Sixties hits Love Her, Make It Easy On Yourself (chosen by John himself and which zoomed to the top of the British charts), My Ship Is Coming In and The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore. The entire nation was well and truly in the grip of Walkermania and bedlam reigned wherever they went. They came, they saw, they conquered and in the late Sixties they moved on to pursue separate careers. John’s solo singles include Annabella, I’ll be Your Baby Tonight, Kentucky Woman and If I Promise. DJ Tony Blackburn said of him: ‘John’s voice has a lovely huskiness about it and we can somehow hear that he is a very sensitive person who really does feel the words he is singing.’
The Dakotas formed in Manchester in 1960, performing in the club and ballroom venues of northern England, where they quickly gained a reputation as one of the most professional groups in the area. They were also one of the earliest of the bands from Manchester to appear at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool, where they met The Beatles. In late 1962, at the suggestion of Paul McCartney and John Lennon, Brian Epstein teamed the band up with Billy J Kramer. Their first hit Do You Want To Know A Secret which stormed up the charts and reached No.2 in the spring of 1963. Other hits quickly followed Bad To Me, I'll Keep You Satisfied, From A Window and Little Children prompting the group to visit the USA, where they played sell-out shows to frenzied fans of the "British Invasion" sound. -- www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk
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