The Searchers Meet Tim Rice

[its-sylviab]

This is a great thread. I'm a big Mike Pender fan, always was and always will be. His vocal skills are so classic and to me in the same category as Orbison and the Everly's. Just listen to Good Bye My Love- amazing. I'm also a guitar player and really love his 6/12 strings accomplishments. His Gibson 345 along with his original Ric 360/12 blazed the way for the Searchers sound. He is an excellent guitarist!

I was very fortunate to have seen the Searchers here in Jacksonville, Fl. in 1965. I think Frank lists their tour schedule in one of his books. The only reason I went to the show was to see them. It also, if I can remember correctly, had the Beach Boys, Zombies and Maybe Dusty - plus others. The Searchers were the band for me.

I am saddened that Mike did leave them, for what ever reason.I hope to think before its all over he may again sing and play with them. Unfortunately, I don't think that will ever come to pass but what a treat after all these years if it did happen.

Long live the Mr. Pender

I have also always been a big fan of Mike, who has forever been my favourite Searcher, and like you wrd, I would absolutely love it if he would be welcomed back into the group! If only John and Frank would climb down from those high horses, let bygones be bygones, send Spencer on a 6 month holiday and get Mike back where he belongs, and do a tour while they are still fit enough! They would be so popular and the songs would sound better!!!

I first saw them in 1964 and felt sad when Tony left, because he and Mike, together with Chris, had the best voices for Searchers' songs... and Spencer's voice just doesn't do it for me! I saw Mike twice this year and he's still sounding good... and I made him a cake, that he and his lovely wife May loved and Mike said he didn't want to cut it but when I last saw him, he said he cut it the day after I gave it to him as it was their tour manager's birthday and he said it was 'special' so I told him it was for a 'special' person!!

[its-sylviab]

Mike- The Quiet One?

Mike seemed to speak in a very sweet, soft voice! About him leaving the group: We have Frank's version (in his book), and John's (interviewed at length in Michael Ober's Then Play On book, 1992). Have Mike ever talked the subject over? It is probably to his credit that he has kept quiet, but I surely would have liked to hear his side.

That is one of the qualities I have always found very endearing about Mike... he always sounded quite gentle and he is still very softly spoken and I find his gentle Liverpudlian accented voice, much easier on the ear than Frank Allen's London accent... and it's a pity that the Liverpudlian John McNally doesn't have more to say than his few words now and again!

[chriscurtisfan]

I agree with Sylvia -- the best Searchers were John, Mike, Chris and Tony -- they had it all -- something for everybody! Lovely voices alone or in harmony -- and that wonderful jingle jangle guitar sound, Chris and his tasteful ability to know when to drum and when not to drum. If I were on a desert island, I would have these four as my only music. I would love to see the Mike, John and Frank reconcile -- but I fear "it's only a dream"!!