Funeral For Chris Curtis March 9, 2005

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:28 am

I understand that the funeral for Chris Curtis was well attended today. Apparently his coffin was carried in a glass hearse drawn by two black horses. Mike Pender had a few words to say about Chris referring to him as Mikey Pender. He also gave Chris a glowing tribute of how he thought Curtis had kept the Searchers together. I hope more details will follow on this forum.

pam · Post by **pam** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:10 pm

Thanks Pete nice to know someone can think of all the good things to say even if it is after he has gone. The glass hearse and two black horses seem really fitting. Keep us posted

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:07 am

FRom the Liverpool Echo

60s stars pay respects to ex-Searcher Chris Mar 10 2005

By Greg O' Keeffe, Liverpool Echo

THEY came to say goodbye to one of their own.

With hair still touching their collars, leading lights of
Liverpool's '60s Merseybeat scene said farewell to ex-Searchers
drummer Chris Curtis, 63.

He had been suffering from diabetes and was found dead in his
Aintree flat last month.

Yesterday his family, friends, and former bandmates attended a
funeral service at Holy Rosary church, Aintree.

Among the congregation were fellow Searchers Mike Pender and John
McNally, Kingsize Taylor, former Merseybeats star Tony Crane and
Faron, from Faron's Flamingoes.

Chris Curtis had beena member of the Searchers who topped the charts
with classics such as Sweets For My Sweet, Don't Throw Your Love
Away, and Needles And Pins between 1963 and 1964.

Born Chris Crummey, the drummer changed his surname to Curtis when
he joined the group. His family moved to Liverpool from Oldham when
he was a young child.

He left the Searchers in 1966 after a tour of Australia and spent
time producing other musicians, before returning to Liverpool to
work as a civil servant.

With church doors open to allow for standing room at the back,
mourners heard a eulogy from Mike Pender.

After the service, Mr Pender said: "I was really touched when his
sister Rose phoned and asked me to say a few words.

" We wrote a song together which reached number 12 in the charts and
had a lot of success.

"It was Chris who gave me the conviction to give up my job in the
Sixties and concentrate on making it big with the band."

Mr Pender attributed much of the band's success to his friend.

He said: "He had such charisma. Chris was always different - an
individual. He was what set us apart from all those other bands at
the time.

"He had a special confidence and I can vividly remember him standing
up playing his drums on stage.

"He was like our John Lennon, the two were similar in a way.

"My favourite memories are rehearsing in Chris's living room and his
sister making us cups of tea.

"But we had so many amazing times together, from those early days in
Liverpool to gigging in Hamburg and then across the world."

david · Post by **david** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 6:50 pm

Past references to Chris Curtis photos e.t.c on this web site show the musician as a solitary figure.Did the musician marry at any time or have any children?

pam · Post by **pam** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:53 pm

No David he did not marry or have any children that we know of. Chris'nature and his ongoing, I guess, mental problems, sounds a bit harsh but only way I can phrase it, probably prevented him going into a long term relationship. I believe he did live with a lady for some time but nothing came of it. They say there is a fine line between genius and insanity and though Chris was not insane I believe he did have a stroke of genius about him and he trod the fine line, not something many people can cope with in a life partner. I find it sad that he did not "find someone" but obviously that was his lot. I still believe he was brilliant and very underrated, often wonder what he would have produced if he had had the support he needed.