Of all the ifs and whys, my favourite is the thought of Curtis leaving and being replaced by Pete Best! That would have been a headliner! Chris (in the Record Collector interview) talks very favourably about Best as a drummer. Whether his "atomic beat" style would have suited the Searchers is another question. But he would have brought a load of personality into the group, which would be needed to fill the gap after Chris.
John Blunt (himself an "atomic beat" styled drummer!) seems to be a personality in his own right, but was that ever acknowledged in the Searchers? As we understand, he can sing, maybe write songs, and maybe could handle a guitar already in the sixties. But he was merely an anonymous drummer. And to replace Chris Curtis with a mouth shut drummer was not a strong move.
This is mainly a mind game about Best instead of Blunt. But the thought of the foursome Pender/McNally/Jackson/Blunt is also fascinating! Musically, Jackson/Best would have been dynamite. But it's difficult to see the "What have they done to the rain" Searchers with this given line-up.
And after all, Chris Curtis was maybe the Searchers strongest card! So why not imagine Frank Allen as a fifth member, who could smoothen the personal differences within the band? Think about this stage act: Frank could switch bass with Jackson for some numbers, Tony could concentrate on singing, sharing duties with Mike and Chris (and John and Frank!). Chris and/or Frank could play piano on some numbers, John could keep the beat on the drums. Would this have been Liverpool's answer to the Band?!
Einar
The Searchers - If Curtis Left Before Jackson
The fascinating foursome should of course be Pender/McNally/Jackson/Best! (not Blunt, as I wrote).
Liverpool's the Band:
Chris Curtis: Singer, drums, piano, guitar
Tony Jackson: Singer, bass guitar
Mike Pender: Singer, lead&rhytm guitar
John McNally: Vocals, lead&rhytm guitar, drums
Frank Allen: Vocals, bass guitar, piano
Liverpool's the Band:
Chris Curtis: Singer, drums, piano, guitar
Tony Jackson: Singer, bass guitar
Mike Pender: Singer, lead&rhytm guitar
John McNally: Vocals, lead&rhytm guitar, drums
Frank Allen: Vocals, bass guitar, piano
Searchers amongst my teenage favourite music. Still fond of them, but earnestly a little puzzled they are considered THIS big! But I'm very excited about this forum, and will love to read it regularly, and also contribute!
No no no, Sheena, not a good thought imho! Like inviting Engelbert Humperdinck into the Beatles! (He could sing, right?!).
Einar
Einar
Searchers amongst my teenage favourite music. Still fond of them, but earnestly a little puzzled they are considered THIS big! But I'm very excited about this forum, and will love to read it regularly, and also contribute!