Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:46 pm
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
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
