Tony Crane recalled that they had been taken on by a new manager, Bob Wooler the Cavern M.C. who, despite reservations about their name, had assured them he would get them top of the bill at The Cavern that week. Tony bought the paper and found the Cavern advert but they weren't on the bill so he ran round to The Cavern to see him. Tony said to Bob ' We're not there, there's just some group called 'The Mersey Beats'. He said 'That's you, I've changed your name. With the permission of Bill Harry, their name became 'The Mersey Beats' later in 1962 when Frank Sloane had been replaced by John Banks and Dave Elias by Aaron Williams. Billy Butler also joined the group as vocalist for a short time in 1962 before joining 'The Tuxedos'.
They quickly became a cut above most of the other Liverpool groups at that time, both with their great harmonies and style of play. With an all Gibson guitar line-up and the way they looked on stage, they were seen regularly at The Cavern and The Iron Door, as well as all the other major venues. When Pete Best was sacked from 'The Beatles', Brian Epstein suggested that he join The Mersey Beats', telling him: "I have an idea that might work. I’m thinking of signing The Mersey Beats' and I’d like you to join them." Pete turned him down saying, "I'm not working with kids." It was not surprising that they became the 3rd group Brian Epstein signed up to his growing stable but their relationship with him did not last long because of a clash of ideas and the fact he wouldn't supply them with the same suits as worn by 'The Beatles'. The split up was something they would later regret. However, new tailoring saw them credited as the 'Best Looking Group' dressed in tight fitting suits with bolero jackets and frilly shirts, their outfits complete with high heeled zip boots provoked hysteria from their female fans. They also became the first group to appear on colour TV when they played Stockport Town Hall, where closed-circuit colour TV was being demonstrated.
They then signed a recording contract with Fontana and had their first hit single in 1963 with 'It's Love That Really Counts' which was followed up in 1964 with their million selling single 'I Think Of You' winning them their first gold disc. Then, just when it looked like they were heading for the top, Billy Kinsley left the band in 1964 to form 'The Kinsleys'. He was replaced temporarily by Bob Garner and then by Johnny Gustafson, who many regarded as one of the best bass players in Liverpool having played with 'The Big Three' and by this time they'd contracted the name to 'The Merseybeats'. This seemed to give the group a louder sound and they went on to have more hits with 'Don't Turn Around' and 'Wishin' and Hopin'. Further releases were commercial enough and had some chart success but not to the extent of the others.
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| At The Cavern with the late, great Johnny Gustafson 2nd left. |
Johnny Gustafson didn't stay too long and Billy Kinsley returned to restore their original line up. For the next two years, as they continued to make singles, 'The Who's managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp took them on in 1965 and gave them a new lease of life. However John Banks and Aaron Williams didn't seem to be taking things too seriously and the new management team decided that the only way forward was for Billy and Tony to continue as a duo changing their name to 'The Merseys'.
The new sound worked well and they had their biggest success as a duo with 'Sorrow', which was discovered on the 'B' side of 'The McCoys' single 'Fever', and reached No.4 in the charts in the spring of 1966. However, despite a few more attempts, it would be the last hit that the pair would have together and they eventually split up in 1969.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2017/01/mersey-beat-swinging-blue-jeans.html
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2017/01/mersey-beat-swinging-blue-jeans.html
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