The Undertakers

Members

Geoff Nugent - guitar, vocals (Born: 23 February 1943, Garston, Liverpool - Died: 12 October 2014)
Brian Jones - saxophone (Born: 27 November 1940, Wallasey, Cheshire)
Chris Huston - lead guitar
Jackie Lomax - bass guitar, vocals (Born: 10 May 1944, Wallasey, Cheshire  - Died: 15 September 2013, Wirral)
'Bugs' Pemberton (Warren Pemberton) - drums (Born: 7 January 1945, Liverpool - Died: 13 October 2013, Los Angeles, California)

Bob Evans - drums
Dave 'Mushy' Cooper - bass (Died: 1998)
Jimmy McManus - vocals
Ike X - lead guitar
Billy Evans - bass guitar
Les Maguire - tenor saxophone
Mike Millward - rhythm guitar, vocals
Billy Good - bass guitar

Formed in Wallasey, Cheshire.
The Undertakers were formed out of Bob Evans and the Five Shillings in the late 1950s, with Geoff Nugent on guitar, Ike X on lead guitar, Bob Evans on drums, Billy Evans on bass, Les Maguire on saxophone and Mike Millward on guitar and vocals.
Bob Evans had previously played drums with the Renegades.
Ike X was replaced by Pete Cook who had previously been a member of the Top Spots.
Mike Millward left and was later in The Fourmost.
Billy Evans was replaced by Dave 'Mushy' Cooper who had previously been in the Top Spots.

In 1959 they became the Vegas Five.
Chris Huston was now playing lead guitar. He had previously been a member of the Casuals (not the Decca recording artsits of the late 60s).
Jimmy McManus was now the vocalist. McManus has previously been in the Top Spots.
Les Maguire was still playing the saxophone at this point but was soon replaced by Brian Jones who had been in the Rebels.
Les Maguire later joined Gerry and the Pacemakers on piano.

In 1961/62 they became the Undertakers after a mistake in the local paper advertising their gig at Litherland Town Hall.

Bob Evans left late in 1961 and was replaced by 'Bugs' Pemberton who had been in Dee and the Dynamites.
Came 12th 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.
Dave 'Mushy' Cooper left in January 1962 and joined Faron's Flamingos. He was replaced by Jackie Lomax, who had also been in Dee and the Dynamites.
Jimmy McManus was sacked in 1962 and Jackie Lomax became the lead singer.
Beryl Marsden occasionally appeared with the group as a guest vocalist.
Secured a residency at the Star Club in Hamburg in 1962.
Signed to Pye Records in 1962 with Tony Hatch as their producer.
Disbanded in 1965.
Jackie Lomax went solo and signed to Apple Records in 1968.
Bugs Pemberton was later in Wolfgang in the USA.

UK Singles

1963 Everybody Loves a Lover/Mashed Potatoes                                             Pye 7N 15543
   (Released July 1963)

1963 What About Us/Money                                                                             Pye 7N 15562
   (Released September 1963)
1964 Just a Little Bit/Stupidity                                                                          Pye 7N 15607
   (Released February 1964. Reached No. 49 in the UK Charts on 11 April 1964)
1964 If You Don't Come Back/Think                                                                Pye 7N 15690
   (Released as The 'Takers on 4 September 1964)



Known Gigs

11 Feb 1962 Liverpool, Orrell Park Ballroom. With Lee Castle and the Barons, and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
23 Apr 1962 Liverpool, Orrel Park Ballroom. With Gerry and the Pacemakers, and The Dennisons.
14 Oct 1962 Liverpool, Orrell Park Ballroom. With The Strangers, The Big Three, and Ian and the Zodiacs.
31 Dec 1962 Liverpool, The Iron Door. With The Blue Mountain Boys, Sonny Webb and the Cascades, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Mark Peters and the Cyclones, Billy Kramer and the Coasters, and Ian and the Zodiacs.
12 Oct 1963 Hastings, The Pier Ballroom. Supported by The Citizens.
24 Oct 1963 Lowestoft, The Royal Hotel. Supported by The Continentals.
25 Oct 1963 Dunstable, California Ballroom. With The Big Three, Jackie Frisco, and The Mark Leeman Five
1 Nov 1962 Chester, Riverpark Ballroom. With The Dennisons.
31 Aug 1963 Liverpool, Stanley Stadium, Prescot Road, Fairfield. Non Stop Beat.

24 Nov 1963 Crewe, Town Hall. With Dene Wayne and the Exiles.
16 Dec 1963 Liverpool, The Cubik.
5 Feb 1964 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. With The Road Runners, and The Panthers.

9 Mar 1964 Bath, The Pavilion.

25 Mar 1964 Dunstable, California Ballroom. Supported by The Clearways, and The Outcasts.
23 Oct 1964 Newcastle upon Tyne, Mayfair Ballroom. Supporting Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. With The Cherokees, and The Overlanders.
22 Nov 1964 East Grinstead, Whitehall. Billed as The Takers.
10 Aug 1965 Liverpool, The Peppermint Lounge, Fraser Street.
11 Sep 1966 Liverpool, The Peppermint Lounge, Fraser Street. With The Notions.