Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

One of the purposes in having this Forum is to try to obtain points of view from all those persons who have performed with the Searchers over the years. I have seen very little written with regard to Chris Curtis and would like to learn more about him. I have heard that he resides in Bootle these days. Can anyone confirm this?

Peter, as far as I know Chris is still living in Bootle. He did appear on Spencer Leigh's "On The Merseybeat" radio programme a few years back.

Copies of this radio interview do exist on tape

I do still have a copy of this tape I am hoping to get it put onto a cd in the near future then anyone who wants a copy can have one for the price of the blank cd and postage. Pam

The show was also reproduced in written format in Record Collector Magazine, some while back.

As Spencer Leigh only broadcasts on Merseyside, I have never actually heard the interview, so if you succed Pam, count me in.

Roy: Any word on the latest interview with Chris Curtis and the BBC?

Yes i have received a copy today and intend to write a review, assuming it's worth it, as I have not actually heard it yet.

Unsure on copyright so advice sought Peter.
If I do not make it an exact transcript ok I believe.

Yes Roy, there is nothing wrong with writing a nice review of the interview with excerpts to illustrate your points. I look forward to seeing your latest article.

"Rockin' Roy" Clough has written a nice article about the interview Chris Curtis had with Spencer Leigh on April 13, 2003. I know that you will enjoy Chris Curtis Returns and I expect that Roy will be pleased to address any questions or comments that may pertain to this article. Thanks Roy.

Please also visit Clough Links to see the other fine articles Roy has written about The Searchers and their music.

Roy: After reading your reivew, there are a couple of thoughts that come to mind. To begin, and I hope I am not being unfair, it would seem that Chris Curtis is out of touch with regard to what is happening with regard to The Searchers since he left.

In addition, he has participated in a few interviews now that all seem to focus on the same issues. I would very much like to hear an interview that asks questions relating to his impressions of how different personalities contributed to the rise and fall of The Searchers; how he chose the singles he did; why more original compositions were not recorded; behind the scenes recording information; his use of falsetto harmonies; fronting a band from the drum stool; stories surrounding his work as a producer; an elaboration on the Cavern and Iron Door venues; and the like.

Perhaps I need to hear more of the interview, but I would have hoped for more substance.

Peter

As I state in the article, those of us looking for more substance were going to be disappointed.

To some degree an interview can be led by the interviewer which I believe to be the case here.

I actually think C Curtis has no idea of how The Searchers career progressed after he left.

I think the problem is with Chris Curtis himself. He is not a rational individual. You cannot have a reasoned debate with him. He is led by his moods. When he left The Searchers he had no interest in what they did next. Indeed, for a good number of years he had no interest in what The Searchers had even achieved. He withdrew from the 60s scene completely. There were even reports of him travelling to work on the bus and giving away his record collection. There was simply no way Spencer Leigh was ever going to get much out of Chris. He interviewed him a few years previously with much the same result. He was lucky the whole interview stayed in some sort of control as much as it did! If you want to interview Chris Curtis you are basically going to get what Chris Curtis wants to give you.

Now what I would really like is a series of weekly interviews where Spencer Leigh interviews John, Frank, Tony and Mike on an individual basis. At the end of that we might be able to put together some form of Searchers' history.

Or better still Tim interviews them together!!! that would be really worth listening to

After your two stints at our Conventions Roy, I think the job is yours!

There has been information added to "Needles and Pins" with regard to Chris Curtis' performance with the Merseycats on April 17, 2003.