Gerry and the Pacemakers

Members

Gerry Marsden - guitar, vocals (born 24 September 1942 - Died: 3 January 2021, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England)
Les Chadwick - bass guitar (born 11 May 1943 in Aigburth, Liverpool, Lancashire, England - Died: 26 December 2019)
Les McGuire - piano (born December 27, 1941, Wallasey, Cheshire)
Freddie Marsden - drums (born 23 November 1940, at 8 Menzies Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, died on 9 December 2006 in Southport)

Arthur Mack (Arthur McMahon) - piano

Formed in 1959, they were originally called Gerry Marsden and the Mars Bars, but they were forced to change it by the Mars Company and they became Gerry and the Pacemakers.
Les McGuire replaced Arthur McMahon on piano in 1961. McGuire had played the tenor saxophone in The Vegas Five, who later became The Undertakers.
Came 2nd in a poll held by Mersey Beat music paper of the most popular beat groups on Merseyside, with the results being announced in the issue published on 4 January 1962.
Starred in the pantomime 'Babes in the Woods' at the Odeon, Cheltenham in January 1964.
Gerry and the Pacemakers starred in the film 'Ferry Cross the Mersey' in 1965.
The original line-up disbanded in 1966 but reformed for a short tour with Fats Domino in 1967. Then Gerry Marsden formed a new version of the Pacemakers to play live and eventually tour the cabaret circuit.

Known Gigs

6 Mar 1961 Liverpool, Liverpool Jazz Society (The Old Iron Door), Temple Street. Lunchtime session. With Rory Storm and the Wild Ones, and The Big Three.

7 Mar 1961 Liverpool, Liverpool Jazz Society (The Old Iron Door), Temple Street. Lunchtime session. With Rory Storm and the Wild Ones, and The Big Three.

8 Mar 1961 Liverpool, Liverpool Jazz Society (The Old Iron Door), Temple Street. Lunchtime session. With Rory Storm and the Wild Ones, and The Big Three.

9 Mar 1961 Liverpool, Liverpool Jazz Society (The Old Iron Door), Temple Street. Lunchtime session. With Rory Storm and the Wild Ones, and The Big Three.

10 Mar 1961 Liverpool, Liverpool Jazz Society (The Old Iron Door), Temple Street. Lunchtime session. With Rory Storm and the Wild Ones, and The Big Three.

10 Nov 1961 Wallasey, New Brighton, Tower Ballroom. With The Beatles, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, The Remo Four and Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes. 'Operation Big Beat'.

8 Dec 1961 Wallasey, New Brighton, Tower Ballroom. With The Beatles, Davy Jones, Danny Williams, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Earl Preston and the TT's, and The Remo Four.

9 Feb 1962 Wallasey, New Brighton, Tower Ballroom. With Gus and the Thunderclaps, Gus and the Thunderclaps, and Billy Kramer and the Coasters.

22 Feb 1963 Dunstable, California Ballroom. Supported by The Phantoms.

15 Apr 1963 Wallasey, New Brighton, Tower Ballroom, Cheshire. With Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas, Peter Jay & the Jaywalkers, Shane Fenton and the Fentones, and Jimmy Powell Takes Five.

18 Apr 1963 Birkenhead, Majestic.

19 Apr 1963 Stoke On Trent, King's Hall. Supporting The Beatles. With Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas, and The Big Three. Compere - Bob Wooler. Billed as 'Mersey Beat Show Case'. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20 Apr 1963 Birmingham.

21 Apr 1963 London, Empire Pool, Wembley. With Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Billy Fury, The Beatles, Joe Brown and His Bruvvers, The Brook Brothers with The Rhythm and Blues Group, Mike Berry with the Innocents, Adam Faith with The Roulettes, Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen, The Tornados, Frank Ifield, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan Group, Mark Wynter, The Springfields, and The Joe Loss Orchestra. NME Annual Poll Winners Concert 1962-63.

21 Apr 1963 Okengates, Shropshire.

24 Apr 1963 London, Majestic, Finsbury Park. Supporting The Beatles.

25 Apr 1963 Croydon, Fairfield Ballroom. Supporting The Beatles. 

26 Apr 1963 Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

27 Apr 1963 Liverpool, Signal House.

28 Apr 1963 Manchester, Oasis Club.

10 May 1963 Port Sunlight, Hulme Hall.

11 May 1963 Nelson, Imperial Ballroom.

16 May 1963 Elgin, Two Red Shoes Ballroom, Scotland. Supported by The Big Three.

2 Jun 1963 Brighton, Hippodrome. Supporting Roy Orbison, and The Beatles. With David MacBeth, and Louise Cordet.

14 Jun 1963 New Brighton, Tower Ballroom, Cheshire. Supporting The Beatles. 

18 Aug 1963 River Boat to Margate. This was a 'Beat Boat' trip on the Thames from London to Margate and back. 14 bands played including The Hollies, Robb Storme and the Whispers, Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas, Freddie and the Dreamers, and Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers. The trip cost £2.10.00.

19 Feb 1966 Dunstable, California Ballroom. Supported by The Valkyries, and Johnny Haven and the Just Five.

 

The Fats Domino Tour (His first in the UK)

 

27th Mar 1967 London, Saville Theatre. Supporting Fats Domino. With The Bee Gees.

28th Mar 1967 London, Saville Theatre. Supporting Fats Domino. With The Bee Gees.

29th Mar 1967 London, Saville Theatre. Supporting Fats Domino. With The Bee Gees.

30th Mar 1967 London, Saville Theatre. Supporting Fats Domino. With The Bee Gees.

31st Mar 1967 London, Saville Theatre. Supporting Fats Domino. With The Bee Gees.

1st Apr 1967 London, Saville Theatre. Supporting Fats Domino. With The Bee Gees.

2nd Apr 1967 Manchester, Palace Theatre. Supporting Fats Domino. With The Bee Gees.