Eddie Rothe leaving The Searchers?

[(dbailey62)]

Hi Roy,

I lunched with Gary Muth the other day who told me that Eddie was departing in order to spend more time with his family? I'm assuming this was heavily discussed at My-Gen.

Can you fill us in on exactly what the situation is.

Merry Christmas.

db

[(royclough)]

Yes Eddie has decided to leave and his other half Jane McDonald who is very popular in UK decided to announce on a daytime show she is on, that he was playing his last UK gig on 23/12.

Clearly she had not checked facts fully because that was incorrect.

Eddie gave notice that he wanted to leave, I presume to spend more time with her or some speculation join her band, as she constantly tours and sells out actually fairly large theatres.

He agreed to stay till their commitments in Australia through February are met.

Another drummer was offered the job, but has now decided not to join, without giving name away it could have been amusing.

I gather two were sort of auditioned on Wednesday and despite what is said on another forum you mention I believe decision has been made but cannot be announced till said person formally accepts the deal.

They will probably wait till February anyway

John McNally seems determined to keep the group going till 2012 the 50th anniversary though from a recording viewpoint that would be 2013.

John will be 70 in 2011 and Frank Allen will 68 at end of 2011 so with best will in the world whoever takes the job as drummer knows it is a limited time.

[(dbailey62)]

Thanks for the info Roy.

The fiftieth anniversary of the group would probably be a very appropriate time to retire. Hopefully we'll see them here in North America at least once more before that time. I've been told that a Canadian swing is very unlikely in 2010.

You've got me intrigued with that comment about the drummer who said no thanks and it potentially being amusing. Johnny Blunt? Obviously I joke but don't get me wrong, as I think you know, I've always thought Blunt was the best drummer they ever had!

cheers
db

[(JeffZ)]

Actually I agree about John Blunt having the best technical chops of any of their drummers. I also understand Roy's point that he really didn't fit with the other guys personality wise, but he gave a nice kick to the singles he played on, and what live stuff I've seen on YouTube he always sounds very good. In the earlier vids both Mike and John seemed to like the groove he was laying down.

How about Mick Avory? Again, no chance of it happening but he's both a great drummer and a very nice guy (I got to meet him at a Kinks show years ago). Also he's keeping his chops up with the Kast Off Kinks...

[(royclough)]

Mick Avory is a good shout actually. I gather job has been offered to someone but waiting for confirmation that they are happy with the deal.

[(JeffZ)]

As I am an absolute Kinks nut I would love to see it. He might fit in well personality wise too. I keep hoping for one last Kinks reunion...I believe the Kinks and The Hollies are the only two of the big time British Invasion groups where everyone from the classic line up is still alive. I hope at the HOF induction that Allen and Graham will do a song or two with the others.

[(royclough)]

I gather Hicks and Elliott may not be there at the HOF induction.

Asfor classic line up interesting in my view Kinks was Davis Brothers Quaife and Ivory (by the way in a recent interview Ray Davis talked of a possible re-union, obviously he mentioned Dave Davis but was not specific about others but can't see it happening myself)

Hollies classic line up more of a difficult question. Clarke, Hicks and Eliott certainly there but does one go for Nash or Sylvester, Haydock or Calvert.

For me have to be Nash though Haydock or Calvert not really bothered.

Sylvester did make a good replacement for Nash though.

[(JeffZ)]

It would be awful if Bobby and Tony don't attend. It's a shame if people can't bury the hatchet for at least one night and give a little back to their fans. Certainly the publicity that resulted from Paul McCartney skipping the Beatles induction did him no good whatsoever, and the same went for Eric Burdon when the Animals got in. No group has ever fought internally more than the Byrds have and they all showed up (though Michael Clarke was clearly drunk that night).

For me the classic Hollies line up was the 1963-6 group of Clark, Nash, Hicks, Haydock and Elliott. I think Haydock was a more inventive bass player than Bernie (as Pete Quaife was much more dynamic than John Dalton). From what I've read, Haydock's problem was (especially at the end) was that he didn't always show up for sessions or gigs. I think Terry Sylvester did a terrific job taking over for Graham, and I'm not sure anyone else could have done better given the circumstances. But Graham's departure upset the balance of the group, and while they continued to have success for about 5 or 6 years they were never quite the same. I was lucky enough to catch the Hollies during the 1983 reunion tour here in the States, and they were great on the night I saw them and Allen and Graham were Clary very happy.

I know Ray has talked about getting the Kinks up and running again. I can't see them reforming on a permanent basis but they might be able to do the one off gig like the Zombies did last year.

[(dbailey62)]

I gather Hicks and Elliott may not be there at the HOF induction.

Asfor classic line up interesting in my view Kinks was Davis Brothers Quaife and Ivory (by the way in a recent interview Ray Davis talked of a possible re-union, obviously he mentioned Dave Davis but was not specific about others but can't see it happening myself)

Hollies classic line up more of a difficult question. Clarke, Hicks and Eliott certainly there but does one go for Nash or Sylvester, Haydock or Calvert.

For me have to be Nash though Haydock or Calvert not really bothered.

Sylvester did make a good replacement for Nash though.

Terry informs me that he will indeed be at the induction ceremony.

I certainly hope that we do see Clarke, Hicks, Elliot, Calvert and Nash (along with Terry). It's my understanding that the six of them are Hollies Inc. (or whatever they call it) so it would make sense for them to all be there. I think Haydock probably sabotaged his chances when he went out on the road as Eric Haydock's Hollies.

So Roy, I take it Hicks and Elliot may be on the road with the current Hollies?

BTW, yesterday was Terry's birthday.

db

[(dbailey62)]

Actually I agree about John Blunt having the best technical chops of any of their drummers. I also understand Roy's point that he really didn't fit with the other guys personality wise, but he gave a nice kick to the singles he played on, and what live stuff I've seen on YouTube he always sounds very good. In the earlier vids both Mike and John seemed to like the groove he was laying down.

How about Mick Avory? Again, no chance of it happening but he's both a great drummer and a very nice guy (I got to meet him at a Kinks show years ago). Also he's keeping his chops up with the Kast Off Kinks...

How about Martin Hughes? He did a great job on the Love's Melodies LP (I was shocked to read in Frank's book). Poor Billy.

I'm just being silly btw.

db

[(JeffZ)]

It would be interesting if the Searchers were to get into the HOF; would John and Frank go if Mike were there? I'm inclined to think probably not but I'd like to hear Roy's take on the subject.

[(ozmag)]

It would be interesting if the Searchers were to get into the HOF; would John and Frank go if Mike were there? I'm inclined to think probably not but I'd like to hear Roy's take on the subject.

I think they would attend something like this event, they may not talk much and it would be interesting who did the talking but it's an honour that is hard to turn down

[(dbailey62)]

It would be interesting if the Searchers were to get into the HOF; would John and Frank go if Mike were there? I'm inclined to think probably not but I'd like to hear Roy's take on the subject.

I think they would attend something like this event, they may not talk much and it would be interesting who did the talking but it's an honour that is hard to turn down

Ya I tend to agree Michael. They've been to Chris and Billy's funerals. They may have intentionally limited contact with each other but they were there.

[(royclough)]

I think you may mean Chris and Tony's funeral.

John McNally did not acknowledge MP at either, the wounds seem deep in the relationsip there.

I know Frank Allen did but only to be polite. Just "hello" basically

I honestly do not think John would attend a HOF thing if Mike was to attend also

[(dbailey62)]

Yikes. Indeed I do. Sorry Billy!

No, apart from that "Sorry Mike" as quoted by Frank in the book,
that was it but at least they both showed up.

It's sad to think that John would, for all intents and purposes,
allow Mike to take the credit by not showing up at one of the
greatest moments in ones career.

Speaking of Billy ... and to some degree bringing the thread
back on topic, Frank's revelations about Billy's departure from
the band as well as the unfortunate business of Billy not playing
on "Play for Today / Love's Melodies", were quite the eye-popper.

I was totally stunned about the Martin Hughes revelations.

All part of the accumulated baggage that led Billy to leave I guess.

Fortunately, such was not the case with Eddie.

Any news on the replacement yet?

db