The Searchers

The Searchers grew out of an earlier skiffle group called The Army Generations, formed by guitarist John McNally in 1955, with his friends Ron Woodbridge on vocals and guitar, Tony West on bass and Joe Kennedy on drums. As The Searchers, they were originally the backing group for singer Johnny Sandon but decided to branch out on their own. When Pye Records recording manager Tony Hatch heard a demo they had made he was so impressed that they were immediately placed under contract. They covered The Drifters' 1961 hit "Sweets For My Sweet" as their first song, and it reached No. 1. They performed what were intended to be their last shows in 2019, but returned for farewell tours of the UK in 2023 and 2024. They announced their retirement on 22nd March 2025. Members history 1957 to 1959 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals Big Ron: Vocals Brian Dolan: Guitar Tony West: Bass Joe Kennedy: Drums 1960 to Feb 1962 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals Chris Curtis: Drums, Vocals Mike Pender: Guitar, Vocals Tony Jackson: Bass, Vocals Johnny Sandon: Vocals Feb 1962 to July 1964 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals Chris Curtis: Drums, Vocals Mike Pender: Guitar, Vocals Tony Jackson: Bass, Vocals July 1964 to April 1966 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals Chris Curtis: Drums, Vocals Mike Pender: Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Vocals May 1966 to December 1969 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals John Blunt: Drums Mike Pender: Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Vocals January 1970 to December 1985 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals Billy Adamson: Drums Mike Pender: Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Vocals 1986 to 1998 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals Billy Adamson: Drums Spencer James: Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Vocals 1998 to 2010 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals Eddie Rothe: Drums, Vocals Spencer James: Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Vocals 2010 to 2019 John McNally: Guitar, Vocals Scott Ottoway: Drums, Vocals Spencer James: Guitar, Vocals Frank Allen: Bass, Vocals