In 1957, at the age of just 16, John McNally formed The Searchers, and 66 years later he is still performing with the band that brought us such number one hits as ‘Needles and Pins’ and ‘Sweets for My Sweet’.

Now local audiences have one last chance to see them as they are coming to the Tivoli on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 April on the first leg of their final tour.

John McNally (guitar, vocals) and the other original member Frank Allen (bass, vocals) are joined by Spencer James (guitar, vocals – Spencer has been part of the line-up for 37 years) and the newly recruited, highly rated Richie Burns (drums).

Frank said: “It’s been four years since our last tour. We all needed a break but now we are ready to come back and do what we do and love best. Mind you, I do sometimes shudder at what we’ve taken on – 43 dates in three months – that’s quite a schedule for a band of a certain age. But I’m really up for it as are the rest of the guys.”

John said: “I set this band up in 1957 and so far things have worked to plan. I thought we would probably do a 43-date UK tour 66 years later. I’m joking of course. Who would have imagined that we are still able to do this – touring the best towns and cities in the UK and still playing to thousands of fantastic fans?”

The band has chosen to call this the ‘Thank You Tour’ as a mark of respect and appreciation for the legions of fans who have supported them over the years. Audiences will be treated to a full set of The Searchers’ best-loved songs, including ‘When You Walk In The Room’, ‘Goodbye My Love’, ’Sugar & Spice’, ‘What Have They Done To The Rain’ and ‘Don’t Throw Your Love Away’. Also included will be material from the 70s and 80s, when the Searchers were signed to Sire Records, becoming label-mates with some of the hippest acts around including Talking Heads, The Cure, Madonna and The Ramones – who covered ‘Needles and Pins’. This was one of the band’s favourite creative periods and saw them recording at Rockfield Studios in Wales (famous for Queen’s recording of Bohemian Rhapsody).

Tickets from the Tivoli box office.