The Searchers are an English rock band who emerged as part of the 1960s Merseybeat scene{1} along with The Beatles, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and Gerry & the Pacemakers.

The group possessed a sound that was one of the most distinctive in a rock scene crawling with hundreds of bands. Their music was built around the sound of a crisply played 12-string guitar, coupled with strong lead vocals and carefully, sometimes exquisitely arranged harmonies, so that they could credibly cover American R&B standards.

Interestingly, their 12-string guitar sound would become a key ingredient in the success of the Byrds, who even took the riff from "Needles And Pins" and transformed it into the main riff of "Feel A Whole Lot Better."

The band took their name from the classic 1956, John Wayne western, [The Searchers.] Pender claims that the name was his idea, but McNally ascribes it to "Big Ron" Woodbridge.....MORE.....(full Searchers biography) ←