IT’S the end of an era as one of the longest-running bands in British history has decided to call it quits.
They announced they will play their last gig and then retire after this year’s Glastonbury festival.
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Contemporaries of The Beatles, The Searchers will play a “final farewell tour” across the UK before their last ever show at Glastonbury this summer.
The band said their age is a contributing factor in their decision, but also more traffic on the roads makes it tougher for them to get to gigs.
“Age slows you down a bit. We did between 180 and 200 shows a year.
“But driving up and down the motorways is the hard part because the traffic is so much heavier than it ever was …”
In an interview with The Guardian, bassist and singer Frank Allen, 81, said about gigging into their eighties: “There was never a problem with recovering from a show because that’s the thing that brings you to life.
“We were always fit to do a show. It’s just the driving up and down motorways.”
John McNally, 83, formed the band when he was just 16 years old and in the early days found fame playing shows in Liverpool and Hamburg, Germany.
Some of their biggest hits have included 1963’s Sweets for My Sweet, Needles and Pins and Don’t Throw Your Love Away.
Frank explained The Searchers had never played Glastonbury because “no one’s asked us.”
“The Searchers are finally performing at the greatest music festival of them all. What a way to round off a tour and a career,” he said.
Fans slam Glastonbury as ‘worst one ever’ as full lineup announced
John added: “A Glastonbury debut at 83! Can anyone top that? … We can’t wait to see our fans again for this incredible final farewell.”
The Searchers have sold an estimated 50 million albums over their expansive career.
They also have had series of different line-ups including the late Eddie Rothe, who was engaged to singing TV personality, Jane McDonald.
Eddie was the drummer in the band for decades until 2010 when he became engaged to Jane.
He died in 2021 from lung cancer.
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Glastonbury 2025 – rumoured acts
THE Glastonbury line-up hasn’t been confirmed – despite the fact tickets for the 2025 event sold out in minutes. Here are some rumoured acts.
Basement Jaxx sparked speculation they will be playing at Worthy Fam after leaving a “Glastonbury shaped gap” in their latest tour schedule.
It came after the hit duo announced their first live shows in 10 years – with gig-goers calling out a key “clue” in the order of their concert dates.
Yet acts including Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Eminem are rumoured to be in the mix.
Canadian songstress Alanis Morrisette and Simple Minds have also been tipped to take to the stage.
The event will run from Wednesday, June 25 to Sunday June 29 for 2025.
