Post by yerblues1968 on Dec 16, 2008 16:48:33 GMT -5

Gerry and The Pacemakers, Gerry (in the center) with Les Chadwick, Arthur McMahon
and his brother Fred Marsden.
GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS - 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
voxy.co.nz
10 December 2008
10 DECEMBER 2008 - It's been 10 years since Gerry & The Pacemakers last toured New Zealand - much to the delight of their adoring fans and this time will be even more special. Gerry is celebrating 50 years since he formed the group that rivaled THE BEATLES in their early career and they're inviting our own Mr. Rock n' Roll, SHANE CORTESE to join the band.

Gerry & The Pacemakers in 1963
50 years ago in 1959 Gerry Marsden formed the group with his brother, Fred, Les Chadwick and Arthur McMahon. They rivaled the Beatles early in their career, playing in the same areas of Hamburg, Germany and at the famed Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.

Gerry and The Pacemakers performing at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
The band was the second to sign with Brian Epstein, who later signed them with Columbia Records (a sister label to The Beatles label Parlophone under EMI). They began recording in early 1963 with How Do You Do It?, a song written by Mitch Murray that Adam Faith had turned down and one that The Beatles chose not to release (they did record the song but chose to release their own song Please Please Me). The song was produced by George Martin and became a number one hit in the UK, until being replaced at the top by From Me to You, The Beatles' third single.



Gerry and The Pacemakers' next two singles, Murray's I Like It and Rodgers and Hammerstein's You'll Never Walk Alone, both also reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. Never before had the first three singles by a performer all reached the top spot (the feat would not be bettered until The Spice Girls did it in the 90's). In the halcyon days of 1963 Gerry & The Pacemakers enjoyed the status of being one of Britain's most popular bands and were on tour with The Beatles as well as topping bills in their own right. You'll Never Walk Alone had been a favourite of Gerry Marsden's since seeing Carousel growing up. It soon became the signature tune of Liverpool Football Club. To this day, the song remains a football anthem, there and elsewhere, a phenomenon due to Gerry Marsden, rather than its Broadway composers.

Ferry Cross The Mersey 45 record
Despite this early success, Gerry & The Pacemakers never had another number one single in the UK. Gerry Marsden began writing most of their own songs, including It's Gonna Be All Right, I'm the One, and Ferry Cross the Mersey, as well as their first and biggest U.S. hit, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying, which peaked at #4.

"Ferry Cross The Mersey" movie poster

Video clip of Gerry & The Pacemakers performing
"Ferry Cross the Mersey" in their 1965 movie. (3:44 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcjrxp1XiM

A later color video clip of Gerry & The Pacemakers performing
"Ferry Cross the Mersey" from their 1965 movie. (2:38 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M0nePM6eP0
They also starred in an early 1965 film called Ferry Cross the Mersey (sometimes referred to as "Gerry & The Pacemakers' version of A Hard Day's Night), for which Marsden wrote much of the soundtrack. The title song was revived in the 1980s as a charity single for a ferry disaster appeal, giving Gerry another British number one in association with other Liverpool stars, including Paul McCartney and Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Holly Johnson. Additionally You'll Never Walk Alone hit the No. 1 spot in the 1980's when rerecorded by Gerry and a celebrity ensemble to raise money for the Bradford Football Club's stadium fire disaster.

The entrance to the Shankly Gates at
Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England.
Gerry still tours regularly in the UK where he headlines 60's tours at such prestigious venues as The Royal Albert Hall and London Palladium, the US where he is still a popular draw card, Asia and Australia where he regularly tours. This tour represents his first back to New Zealand since 1998 and with it marking his 50th anniversary since founding The Pacemakers and a decade since his last visit. The 66 year old is still feeling at the top of his game when he hits the stage and can't wait to perform for his kiwi fans again.
Hits include: Ferry Cross The Mersey, I Like It, You'll Never Walk Alone, How Do You Do It, Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying, I'll Be There.

Gerry & The Pacemakers sing "Ferry Cross The Mersey"
at The Top of The Pops Show in 1965. (2:42 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=08083BNaYcA

Gerry & The Pacemakers sing "I Like It." (2:11 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOYOJAczH0k

Gerry & The Pacemakers sing "You'll Never Walk Alone." (2:41 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zy3CeI0FCY

Gerry & The Pacemakers perform "You'll Never Walk Alone"
at Wembley Stadium in 1989. (2:56 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ken104pcV2k

Gerry & The Pacemakers sing "How Do You Do It?" (1:51 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zs7OtsvvT4

Gerry & The Pacemakers sing "I'll Be There." (3:06 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYV7Q5SoL3M

Gerry & The Pacemakers were the New Musical Express (NME) Poll Winners in 1964 concert.
Here they sing "I Like It, I'm The One, and Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying." (8:19 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7_ngRUVzq8
TOUR DATES
AUCKLAND, SKY CITY THEATRE March 26th
HAMILTON, FOUNDERS THEATRE March 27th
NEW PLYMOUTH, TSB SHOWPLACE March 28th
PALMERSTON NORTH, REGENT ON BROADWAY March 29th
DUNEDIN, REGENT THEATRE March 31st
CHRISTCHURCH, JAMES HAY THEATRE April 2nd
ASHBURTON, ASHBURTON TRUST EVENTS CENTRE April 3rd
WELLINGTON, OPERA HOUSE April 5th.
www.voxy.co.nz/entertainment/gerry-amp-pacemakers-50th-anniversary-tour/5/6416