Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Frank Allen has written a new piece for the Searcher Official Site entilted Just Thinking which I am hoping will be a feature that he returns to on a regular basis. As an added bonus you can see him with his Jetglo Model 4001 Rickenbacker Bass.

Of particular interest in this article is mention of Mike Pender and some of the circumstances associated, in part, with Mike Pender's leaving. While Pender left more than 15 years ago, it is evident that Frank continues to be reminded of the fallout from time to time.

Thanks to Frank for writing this and for being so open with his comments. Little by little, more of the circumstances surrounding Pender's leaving are noted as Frank discusses this situation.

It was interesting to note that it was three years after his decision not to tour Australia when Mike left the group.

That suggests to me that there must have been a certain amount of bad feeling festering for a long time before Mike left.

Gary: I agree that there must have been a good deal of friction in the group prior to 1985. Indeed, Mike Pender refers to this in the Mike D'Abo interview. One of the sticky points for Mike and the others seems to have been associated with a recording deal offered in which the label was to record a Searchers' album with the condition that they could also record a solo album with Pender. While it is likely that there may have been other reasons for Mike's departure, I think that this poured salt into the relationship wounds of all parties.