'Glastonbury brought tears to my eyes. And Paul McCartney is a true gent. And I’ll miss playing in towns like Belfast'
SEARCHERS LEGEND FRANK ALLEN OPENS UP ON THE LONGEST RUNNING POP BAND RETIRING AFTER GLASTONBURY, RECONNECTING WITH PAUL MCCARTNEY AND BEING CELEBRATED ON NEW DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS GREATEST HITS ALBUM
Frank Allen, the lead singer and bass player for the world’s longest-running pop band The Searchers, said he wept after the band signed off its historic 68-year career with a final sold-out show at Glastonbury.
The 81 year old musician was joined backstage by Sir Paul McCartney to reminisce on a lifetime in music. Both The Beatles and the Searchers started in Liverpool and both bands cut their teeth in the clubs of Hamburg in the early 1960s.
Frank Allen said:
“I first met Paul McCartney in 1962 when we both had residencies at the Star Club in Hamburg. I’ve always loved his song writing and bass playing – who doesn’t? We’ve crossed paths a few times over the years and it was very touching that he made our final show and came back-stage after. Paul is a true gent.”
Watch Frank Allen and John McNally reflect on the first time they saw The Beatles:
The Searchers’ final show was one of the biggest stories of this year’s Glastonbury, as the band played to a packed Acoustic Tent to 10,000 fans. They played their three No.1 Hits, ‘Sweets for My Sweet’ (1963), ‘Needles and Pins’ (1964), ‘Don't Throw Your Love Away’ (1964) and a medley of other famous hits including ‘When You Walk In The Room’. There was controversy following the show as fans demanded to know why the BBC had not filmed this historic swan song from the world’s longest-running pop band. Luckily there is some fan footage taken on mobile phones:
After nearly seven decades in music Frank Allen finally has some down time, but not before being celebrated on a new album Dreamboats & Petticoats Greatest Hits, which has become the biggest selling Rock & Roll compilation of all time, selling over 5 million CDs across the series. The new album features The Searchers 1964 hit ‘Needles and Pins’ alongside hit songs from Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys and Tom Jones.
Frank said,
“My generation of music fans still love buying CDs and it’s great to be featured on this album. The longest running pop band on the biggest selling compilation… I’m running out of adverbs!”
Dreamboats & Petticoats ‘Greatest Hits’ (3CD) is released on 21st November 2025 on Fontana Records https://dreamboats.lnk.to/thegreatesthits