Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

My Man claims he's got an idea how to make Mike Pender and the Searchers play together...
While cruising Wayne Fontana's website, we came across a very interesting page, where the amounts of money for which you can have some artists play at your "private party" are indicated. On having studied this material, he said "Ha! I know the answer". He went on: "Suggest somebody has a 15 000 pounds spare money, and he books both acts for the same party without letting them know who their "stage fellows" are gonna be. They get their usual money for the usual performance, plus a tad extra for "fulfillment of desires". The desire, quite naturally, would be getting them on stage together, then shake hands and the stuff."
I said it would be too cruel. Said they would object or even reject. Why, money can't buy EVERYTHING!? He objected that a "private party" is a nasty idea for itself. But on the other hand, who knows? "When there's a will, there's a way", they say. Even if "a way" is a bit questionable...
And i wonder, had anybody tried that before?
Bemused,
Sheena.

Sheena I would think that it would be a bit underhanded not to tell them before the gig.

They would likely refuse to go along with the "moment" and you would have one big "bummer" of a party on your hands with I presume many disappointed customers and friends who contributed to the cost.

Could be a costly proposition too, just making all of the arrangements etc.

I would have thought that the time is long past. Little point, in my view, now that both Tony Jackson and Chris Curtis are gone.

Well i don't think it's a great idea, Brian, but it wasn't me who gave it... I too think that it would be a great scandal instead of a great party.
Peter: you must be right, maybe if both were still around, the chances of a re-union would have been higher, not to mention the effect...

Peter is correct, the chances of a reunion are nil there is too much animosity between certain members of the band. Nearest it came to being reality was back in 96 when both MP's Searchers and The Searchers were booked to appear at a festival of the sixties, an event done over three days, MP's lot appeared on the Saturday night and John's lot on the Sunday night, for me it was Searchers heaven I have both performances on video.

Some time back, before TJ and CC had regretfully passed away, some guy wrote a play for radio which was broadcast, just the once, on the BBC.

The concept of the play was about a guy in Ireland who had been made redundant (like me) and wanted to use his redundancy money (not like me) to promote a tour of Ireland by the Original Searchers i.e. Jackson, Curtis, McNally and Pender, I am sure Mr Allen was a bit miffed. The play was very amusing and I thought would have transferred well to TV, with perhaps myself in the lead role (well we all have dreams) ironically Pender appeared in the play as himself in a closing sequence in which the character trying to organise the event had arranged a meeting with MP to discuss the proposal, MP'S answers were clearly from a personal viewpoint I thought.

Roy, a great topic for a play, indeed... can a transcript of this play be found anywhere on the web?
BTW, i've once had an idea of writing an 'alternative' Searchers' history, like, "what might have been had they been managed right" (guess whom i had suggested to become a new manager...)
Cheers,
Sheena.

Not that I know of, perhaps I should write it

Roy,
no chance you will come up with the name of the "some guy" play writer??

Not immediately will need to listen to play again but when Tim Viney reads this he may have the name to hand,as it was in the Appreciation Magazine he produces, though some while ago, to get my copy means climbing in to loft and ploughing through archived rubbish as my wife calls it.

The play, "Needles and Pins" was written by Martin Lynch and it is a riot. Forgive me Roy, but based on your comments above, I suspect that some of the dialogue may resemble that between you and your spouse. A must listen for everyone who loves the 1960s and The Searchers.

I have written to Martin to ask him about this play, and hope that he will respond. Alas, it would seem that my email was bounced back. I have tried the general address.

Sheena, have you and Your Man seen "The Magic Christian" (Peter Sellers, Ringo Starr)? I recommend it...explains a lot of what goes on 'over here'. Maybe 'over there' as well. A certain 'grand guy' (Guy Grand) would figure out a way to get these artists reunited, if for only one occasion...

No we haven't seen it, Dane. Will try to check it out...

The title song may be familiar to you: "Come And Get It" by Badfinger...