~ with all the Latest News from THE MERSEYBEATS ~
Posted June 11th
Two youtube links
courtesy of Roy Clough
The presenter is Owen Money MBE, a TV personality in Wales
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rw3q_Yj_fME
'I Stand Accused'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOjjRitI58o
Posted May 1st
Merseybeats' video 'Poor Boy From Liverpool' on YouTube from Liverpool's Last Night of The Kop concert
courtesy of Roy Clough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-WCRwTT2_4c
Posted April 29th
Courtesy Fan Club member Nicki
Hi Jenny, attached are a few pics from a couple of the shows we went to. The couple of pictures of the boys in their blue shirts were taken from Hall For Cornwall in Truro back in March and the white shirts were from Princess theatre in Torquay last Friday.
Link to the last Solid Silver show finale - courtesy Toni Baker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKJETUNdetg&list=UU1vI9d67E1rIXMc2iJI8-qQ&index=1
Posted April 28th
The Solid Silver 60's Show
By Graham Clark - Gig Correspondent
The Yorkshire Times
With a touring schedule that would put some of today's younger acts to shame, this Sixties package tour is not just a trip down memory lane.
Wayne Fontana's waistline may have grown somewhat since the Sixties but his voice is still intact and is as strong as ever. His introduction to the songs was as entertaining as his singing: he could always have another career as a comedian. As well as singing his own hits such as Game of Love, Pamela ("Graham Gouldman who wrote this track wrote hits for the Hollies and Herman's Hermits, I ended up with this!). His rendition of Roy Orbison's Its Over showed that Fontana can still hit the high notes whilst he visited the 1980's with a heartfelt cover of Labi Siffre's Something Inside So Strong.
The Merseybeats are still a solid viable act. They reminisced about how 2 young American songwriters on the 60's used to stand out the recording studio asking the Merseybeats to record one of their songs to give the duo a break. The duo in question turned out to be the Walker Brothers. With Don't Turn Around, Wishin and Hopin along with Sorrow it is easy to forget how many hits the band have had.
You can see where the likes of David Bowie got his early influences from whilst watching Dave Berry perform The Crying Game: he still has a huge stage presence. He joked "I might be the oldest act on the tour, but at least I can still fasten my jacket!" Memphis Tennessee still sounds good and Berry still has the voice too. His hit Little Things might now be better known due to the toilet roll advert ,"50 years in the music business down the pan" he joked.
Mike Pender closed the show being the original voice of The Searchers. Now grey haired but still looking trim, he might not have had the stage presence of Fontana and Berry but he had a bigger choice of hits at his disposal. Sweets for My Sweet and Needles and Pins received the most enthusiastic response.
The New Amen Corner performed a dual role as the backing band for the solo artists and well as singing their own hits, If Paradise Is Half as Nice sounded still as good even without Andy Fairweather-Low in the group.
The fans seem to return to these tours year after year and after seeing these seasoned professionals tonight, it is easy to see why.
Posted April 27th
Solid Silver Tour - The Anvil, Basingstoke
Posted April 22nd
"Fan club member Maureen spent a weekend away on tour, 19th - 21st April"
Maureen and her friends, Cath, Sue, June, Lesley, Carrie, Elaine and Laura were at the Cliffs Pavilion Southend, then Maureen, Cath, Sue, June saw the Alexandra theatre show in Birmingham........ Maureen said she just love 60's music.
Maureen sent us an assortment of memorable tour photographs
"The show"
"fab one of Lou in action "
"Lou, Toni and Bob in performance "
"Tony full of fun"
"Signing autographs & time for beverages "
"Billy in song "
Posted April 20th
SOLID SILVER 60S
19th April
Yippee The Merseybeats, once again looked stunning in their white shirts for their performance at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth.
A great action photo of Tony & Billy
in full voice during the grand finale
Lou, fascinating drummer to watch
Bob & Frogman Curtis, were havin' fun and a laugh during the finale !
Tony & Billy in unison "Fabulous"
The Merseybeats included their hit recording Mr Moonlight, the song enhanced with blue spot lighting
All on stage for the finale
Great photo of Billy with Howie Casey, who popped along to see the show,
reminder, that Howie performed with Tony & Billy on the BBC radio show '12 Hours To Please Me'
Liverpool born Howie, is a successful musician, forming his own band in 1959, the Seniors, later becoming Howie Casey and the Seniors.
He has worked with many headline artists, including Sir Paul McCartney and appeared on several tracks on the album 'Band On the Run'.
Posted April 18th
SOLID SILVER 60S
On April 16th the Solid Silver 60s show arrived at The Kings Theatre, Southsea,
an elegant Edwardian playhouse, which retains most of it's original Italian style decor.
Another fabulous night out, great performances from all the artistes.
The Merseybeats looked stunning in their white shirts and sounded brilliant.
THE SHOW
Closing bars of 'Let It Be Me'
Frogman Curtis - Sax Player in New Amen Corner, playing above in one of the theatre decorative boxes.
Interval - autographing for fans
and then ..........all on stage for the grand finale
In duet finale - Tony & Billy
by Alan Cooper
Old rockers never die, they just go on tour.
Nostalgia is big business, and this show is a sure-fire hit, bringing together performers who thrived in the shadow of The Beatles, and have never lost the urge to play music. So The Merseybeats star alongside Dave Berry, Wayne Fontana and Mike Pender, original voice of The Searchers, with New Amen Corner, a 60s tribute showband. who add sonic gloss to proceedings. “There’s at least £1,000 worth of heating allowance up on this stage,” quippped Dave Berry, whose energetic rock ‘n’ roll set was topped off with a soulful rendition of his worldwide hit, The Crying Game. Fontana showed he’s still in possession of a fine falsetto, bravely taking on Roy Orbison’s In Dreams and succeeding. The Merseybeats, including two founding members, can still belt out a tune, as can Mike Pender, whose Searchers numbers were a highlight. An enthusiastic audience lapped up hit after hit, and the feelgood factor was palpable.
Pender even sneaked in an ELO song from the 70s, Don’t Bring Me Down, and made it sound like a 60s original.
We left the Kings having stomped and cheered to Glad All Over, and a finale was never more apt.
Posted April 13th
From fan club member Janice
Another 3 great performances from the Merseybeats at Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. Unfortunately I'm always too busy enjoying myself to remember to take photos but I did manage one when the band came out at the interval in Dundee, and of course I had to be in it! I'm sure they've picked up a few more fans during the tour as I've heard many comments about how good they were.
Posted April 12th
More images from the Solid Silver Tour - The Merseybeats at the Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh - Wed 10th April
courtesy of Sylvia (Mike Pender's website & facebook Administrator)
The Merseybeats with big 'Ron' (friend) Sylvia with The Merseybeats
also from Sylvia - Link to youtube
The Merseybeats at the Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh - Wed 10th April
I absolutely LOVED Out of Time from the Merseybeats and I told Tony and Billy during the interval.
You can hear how much the audience loved it too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsSLp1kQv8I
Posted April 9th
"Fan club members have been out and about with their cameras"
from fan club member Sue
The Grand, Wolverhampton
Great photo of Bob with Pete Hilton, who has covered on drums, for Lou, whilst he took a few days rest,
the tour has been quite strenuous for Lou after his recent ill health.
Tony & Billy
and
from fan club member Maureen
The Grand, Wolverhampton
Bob Packham
Tony Crane Toni Baker
All on stage for the grand finale
and
from fan club member Wendy,
who nabbed the boys for a personal photo in Tunbridge Wells
Posted April 7th
"Exquisite drawing of Tony"
A fan club member has sent in this drawing as a tribute for his forthcoming birthday,
the sender and the artist (M - A) wish to remain anonymous.
This drawing is under copyright of The Merseybeats website and may not be copied or reproduced in any way.
Posted April 7th
Images Solid Silver 60s Finale
New Theatre, Woking - Saturday 6th April
Posted April 3rd
John Banks
25th Anniversary
Tony and Billy will quietly pay tribute to John Banks, The Merseybeats drummer
on the 25th anniversary of his death.
John sadly died on 20th April 1988, at the young age of 44.
John was drummer during the years 1962 - 1966
link The Merseybeats family tree
(Billy, Aaron, Tony, John)
From around 1970 John had been living and working in Tel Aviv, Israel,
in 1988 with ill health he was returned home and later died.
Tony Crane, Billy Kinsley, Aaron Williams and Johnny Gustafson were key in a benefit concert that was held at the Montrose club in Liverpool.
In 2009, Ko Kantorowitz, a friend of John's from Tel Aviv sent me several photographs for
The Merseybeats fan club magazine, a jolly one of John above.
Posted April 1st
(Photo taken by fan club member Trish)
I believe the photo taken of Tony is with Andy Howells (tbc)
reporter for the South Wales Argus
--- below link to Andy's review of the show ---
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/leisure/reviews/10325721.Solid_Silver_60s_Show__St_David_s_Hall/
Posted March 26th
Tony's weekly tour update came on the road to Swansea...
The guys are still rockin' on tour
(by the laughter and camaraderie, it sounded like they were already partying in the car)
Tony reports - he is pleased at the reception and comments The Merseybeats are receiving,
he said the tour is really going well, he and the band are enjoying their performances and everything is going great.
They had a couple of hiccups with transport last week when Tony's vehicle decided to call it a day and stopped on the way home!
AA recovery rescued the Beats and transported them and the vehicle home, a replacement vehicle used for the other shows.
... It's all go being pop legends on tour ...
We discussed the busy Easter weekend of shows coming up and also spoke of last weekend
when they appeared at Butlins for two performances and were advertised as The Merseybeat Legends ! AGAIN !
(The Merseybeats were fantastic I am reliably informed by a friend who was there)
Link to Interview
Posted March 24th
Link to SS Tour review & photographs in Nottingham Post
Posted March 21st
Milton Keynes Sunday 17th March
Hi Jenny, I thought you might like to see these two video clips that I recorded at Milton Keynes last Sunday, 17th March.
They're not perfect but are worth watching!! I have uploaded them to YouTube and if you wish to give links via the website or use them in any other way, then I don't mind. Hope you like them! Sue xx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDqAcul-BOU - I Saw Her Standing There
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXIGfg7o8FY - Let It Be Me
Posted March 20th
Posted March 18th
Southport Theatre, Southport
photographs courtesy of Frank Neil
and
the other artsites on tour backed by the New Amen Corner
Wayne Fontana Dave Berry
Mike Pender New Amen Corner
Solid Silver 60s Tour
Tony's weekly update came on the road to Truro.....
He recalls the last 10 days have flown by, all the band are really into the tour, and enjoying it.
All the venues so far, have been brilliant, with enthusiastic hyped crowds especially when we sing Sorrow.
Nice seeing familiar faces in the audience, and chatting when we come out to sign autographs.
We have a long drive West today, but so far it has been great .....
Adrian Crane will guest on keyboards in Truro tonight,
and
Toni Baker & Chris Finley will both guest during this coming week.
So all is going well on tour for The Merseybeats
How about this for a fantastic double family photograph
We have father and son - Tony & Adrian Crane
with
The Kinsley family
Billy Kinsley, with his son Jon and his very pretty daughter (Billy's granddaughter) Llenya.
Taken at Southport Saturday 16th
Photo courtesy of Emma
Posted March 17th
' I Had A Ball Last Night '
courtesy fan club member David
Hi Jenny, Well I had a ball last night it was brill to be surrounded with all the 60s icons
I met Billy and Tony as they arrived , they signed my sheet music.
(more memories from David on the fan club page)
David with Tony & Billy
Southport Theatre - Southport
Posted March 14th
Just arrived - more photographs from
THE 60S SPECTACULAR
THE CRESSET, PETERBOROUGH - 21st February
" thanks to Chris "
Posted March 14th
... Solid Silver 60s memories from the fans ...
Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the Merseybeats' performance in
Weston over last weekend. I grew up on Merseyside in the 60's and love
everything to do with that era. Their songs, (and those of the other
artistes on the show) were very nostalgic
Christine
......................................................
TOUR PHOTOGRAPHS
Father and son (Tony & Adrian)
Manchester Opera House
courtesy of fan club member Sue
Good finale group photo - Manchester Opera House
courtesy of fan club member Sue
Three musketeers - Tony, Adrian, Bob
Manchester Opera House
courtesy of fan club member Sue
Nice in the white shirts - Finale Sheffield City Hall
courtesy of fan club member Sue