Peers of the Beatles and Gerry & the Pacemakers, the Searchers (named after the classic John Ford-directed Western) were one of the leading lights of Liverpool's mid-1960s Merseybeat scene. Although they never came close to the Fab Four's massive international success, the group, anchored by singer/guitarists Mike Pender and John McNally, racked up a number of U.S. and U.K. hits, including "Needles and Pins" and "Ain't That Just Like Me," before losing steam. The oft-underrated group launched a commendable comeback in '79, but it failed to place them prominently on the musical map, ultimately leaving Pender and McNally to soldier on separately with their own versions of the band.
































