Derry Wilkie and the Pressmen

Members

Derry Wilkie - vocals (Born: 10 January 1941, Kent Gardens, Liverpool - Died: 22 December 2001)
Bob Pears - bass guitar, vocals
Ritchie Prescott - lead guitar, piano
Dave Roberts - rhythm guitar, baritone saxophone
Tommy Bennett - drums
Phil Kenzie - tenor saxophone

Dave Carden - lead guitar
Aynsley Dunbar - drums
Ad Flowerday - lead guitar
Willie Van Geffen - lead guitar
Howard Morris - bass guitar
Ernie Hayes - lead guitar
Derek Bond - bass guitar
Mike Holmes - drums

Formed in Wallasey in April 1962.
Also billed as Derry and the Pressmen.
Derry Wilkie had previously been in Derry Wilkie and the Seniors, and Howie Casey and the Seniors.
In May 1963 Derry Wilkie and the Pressmen won a 'Beat Group' competition, winning a Decca recording contract, but Decca made excuses and didn't give it to them stating that Wilkie couldn't stand still in front of a microphone and they didn't write their own songs. They also said they weren't commercial enough. Although recordings were made, none of them were released.
The group did record a song with the Oriole label's leading A&R man, John Schroeder, aided by recording engineer Geoff Frost, at the Rialto Ballroom in Liverpool. The song was 'Hallelujah, I Love Her So'. It was recorded live without an audience. The song was included on the 'This is Merseybeat' LP released by Oriole in July 1963.
Aynsley Dunbar replaced Tommy Bennett on drums in August 1963, when Bennett left to get married.
Auditioned in front of Henry Henroid at the Rialto Ballroom, Liverpool in December 1963, to be considered for playing at The Star Club in Hamburg.
Ritchie Prescott left in 1963 because he didn't want to go professional. He was replaced by Dave Carden who had played with Freddie Starr and the Midnighters.
In late 1963, Freddy Starr needed a group to take to Germany with him. So several members of the Pressmen left for Germany without warning. Dave Carden, Dave Roberts, Bob Pears and Ainsley Dunbar went to Hamburg as The Flamingos backing Freddy Starr till the end of 1964.
Derry Wilkie and Phil Kenzie were forced to form another group in early 1964 with Willie Van Geffen on lead guitar, Howard Morris on bass guitar and Tommy Bennett, brought back briefly on drums, but soon to be replaced by Mike Holmes.
Mike Holmes had previously been in The Four Dees.
Derek Bond replaced Howard Morris.
Derek Bond had previously been in The Rainchecks.
The new group was called Derry Wilkie and the Others and they played for about 18 months and then reverted back to the name Derry Wilkie and the Pressmen in mid 1965 with Derry, Ernie Hayes, Derek Bond, Phil Kenzie and Mike Holmes.
They disbanded for good in early 1966.
The Pressmen then became part of Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages until mid 1966 when Derry, Ernie, Derek and Phil joined The Freddie Mack Show also known as This'N'That.