Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I understand, from Frank Allen's book, that Johnny Blunt stayed with The Searchers much longer than the group may have planned initially. Does anyone know where Johnny went after he left The Searchers and what is he doing now?

John Blunt went on to be a member of a group called Orange Seaweed (or some such name). At one time he left the music business and was driving taxis in the Croydon area (South of London). Recently he has been playing pubs (as a singer/guitarist) in his local area advertising himself as 'Johnny B. Good - formerly of The Searchers'

Thanks Tim. Are you aware of the circumstances surrounding his departure from The Searchers? Also, are you able to be more specific with regard to "his local area."

Johnny Blunt's local area is the Surrey/Kent border. John based his drumming style on that of Keith Moon. The official reason for him being asked to leave The Searchers was that he was 'unreliable' as regards turning up at gigs, etc. When he joined in April 1966 it was on a temporary basis to cover for Chris Curtis's absence. This temporary stay lasted until December 1969!

Blunt was a pretty good drummer on the Searchers sides..."Have You Ever Loved Somebody" is built around his drum breaks. While he could never have replaced Chris Curtis as a frontman/spokesperson or a songwriter, he was probably a better drummer. I wonder if there are any live tapes of the Searchers floating around from the 1966-69 period.

Jeff

_THERE IS ONLY ONE DRUMMER BETTER THAN CHRIS

CURTIS AND THAT IS MR. RICHARD STARKEY M. B. E.

_JOHN IS VERY GOOD AND I WOULD PLACE HIM ABOVE

BILLY ADAMSON .

There is a live tape of The Searchers with Johnny Blunt on drums. It comes from a Swedish radio broadcast dating from 1967 (about the time of "Western Union". It was released on an Italian BULLDOG label CD (semi-bootleg) in the late 80s.

There are also TV clips (mainly from Germany) with him on drums. At least a couple of the tracks are live.

Thanks for the update on what's out there with Blunt on drums. Is the Bulldog CD out of print?

Thanks,

Jeff

_THE GERMAN VIDEO IS FROM DAS BESTE AUF BEAT BEAT

BEAT (THE BEST OF BEAT BEAT BEAT). I ASSUME THERE

WAS A SHOW ON GERMAN TV CALLED "BEAT BEAT BEAT".

THE SEARCHERS WITH JOHN BLUNT DO "SWEETS FOR MY

SWEET" AND "LOVE POTION #9 . THEY DO THESE SONGS

COMPLETELY LIVE , NO MOUTHING OR MIMING . MIKE

DOES HIS USUAL EXCELLENT GUITAR SOLO IN "LOVE

POTION #9" AND IT IS MORE COMPLEX THAN THE

ORIGINAL STUDIO RECORDING . YET HE NEVER

SACRIFICES MELODIC QUALITY . MIKE SINGS ON BOTH

SONGS . SEE IF YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON THIS

ONE .

RJHC: Where did you find this video?

Tim: I have tried locating Johnny Blunt in the Croydon area but no luck as yet? Do you have any ideas? Have you seen him perform and if so at which pub?