Liverpool has many bands that were, so to speak, left in the shadow of The Beatles. Bands that were distinctive, interesting, and unique in their own right. One of them is Gerry and the Pacemakers, whose members also hailed from Liverpool. They are closely associated with the concept of Merseybeat. Next on liverpoolski, we’ll look back at these talented musicians, their career, and what made them special.
What the Band is Known For
Gerry and the Pacemakers are considered a beat group and were one of the best in the Merseybeat style. This musical movement and genre emerged in Britain in the 1960s and was particularly prevalent in Liverpool. It combined pop-rock, elements of rhythm and blues, as well as some features of rock and roll and skiffle. Gerry & the Pacemakers made a significant contribution to this musical style, no less than that of The Beatles. Like the famous foursome, they were also produced by George Martin.
The group was the first act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart with their first three single releases. This shows that Gerry and the Pacemakers consistently maintained a high quality of songs at the time. This achievement was unmatched, let alone surpassed, for 20 years! The singles were titled: “How Do You Do It?”, “I Like It”, and “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Another undisputed hit for the band was “Ferry Cross the Mersey”. It refers to the River Mersey, which flows through Liverpool and gave its name to the “Merseybeat” movement.
The band also had some success while touring in North America, with as many as seven of their songs reaching the top 40 in the United States. Of these, “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” particularly stands out. Their 1963 song “How Do You Do It?” became a number-one hit in Britain. And, of course, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” became the anthem of Liverpool FC and, subsequently, many other sports teams.
The History of the Band and Gerry Marsden
The band’s founder is Gerry Marsden, who formed it in 1956 with his brother, Fred. He led the group for many years until he retired in 2018. When Gerry passed away in 2021, his final bandmates returned to touring under the name Gerry’s Pacemakers. This move was prompted by a wish the leader had expressed shortly before ceasing his musical activities.
In its early days, the band included Les Chadwick and Arthur McMahon, in addition to Fred. At that time, Gerry was still working as a courier for British Rail. During the same period, the boys from The Beatles were gaining momentum, so the young men led by Marsden were in fierce competition with them, often playing in the same Liverpool areas.
Soon, there were some changes in the line-up. McMahon, or Arthur Mac as he was known, was replaced by Les Maguire, who was also a fine piano player. The name was also changed from Gerry Marsden and the Mars Bars after the manufacturer of the Mars chocolate bar complained.
Decline in Popularity
However, from around 1965, the popularity of the boys from Gerry and the Pacemakers began to fall rapidly – both in Britain and in the USA. They lacked the innovative ideas of The Beatles and fell behind many other bands of the “British Invasion,” and so they came to be considered unfashionable.
Note: “British Invasion” is a term used to describe the influence of British rock bands and performers on the American music market. This period in music history is characterised by numerous British bands and artists “invading” the US market and gaining enormous popularity there.
In 1966, the band broke up, and much of what they had recorded before then was never even released.
A Second Wind
Nevertheless, Gerry Marsden did not disappear from the radar, becoming a popular cabaret artist and children’s television performer. In 1972, the band’s leader decided to assemble a new line-up. The group now included Jose McLaughlin, Billy Kinsley, and Pete Clark.
In April 1973, this second version of the group took part in a recording for John Peel’s show on BBC Radio. They remain the only original Merseybeat act to have recorded a Peel Session. Tracks from the show were included on a 2018 album released on Parlophone Records. For some time, Gerry toured with the old music, experimenting with the band’s line-up. But by that year, his age was beginning to show, and he had to retire.
Key Aspects of the Bandleader’s Career
Despite the decline experienced by the first line-up of the band, Gerry was a true leader who knew how to learn from his mistakes. Figuratively speaking, whenever he fell, he would pick himself up and carry on. By the mid-80s, Marsden was touring for nine months of the year, performing in Europe, North America, and Australia. His team organised nostalgic cabaret and rock shows.
During that time, Gerry Marsden returned to the top of the British charts twice. He achieved this by re-recording two of his hits created during the Pacemakers’ era. But what was unique about this musician is that he donated all the profits to charity. He also responded to tragedies that occurred at football matches involving fans. This was the case after the death of 56 people at the Bradford City stadium fire, and again after the Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 Liverpool fans died. In those difficult times, he released a new version of one of his old songs for charity.