Sixties City presents a wide-ranging series of articles on all aspects of the Sixties, penned by the creator of the iconic 60s music paper  Mersey Beat

Mersey Groups of the Sixties and Fifties


"All too often, books about The Beatles intimate that the group virtually created the Mersey scene, presuming that it was only in the wake of their success that groups in Liverpool began to emerge. Numerous writers have taken the line that it was only following The Beatles' national breakthrough that every youngster in Liverpool suddenly wanted to join a group . . . ."

But Bill Harry, founder of 'Mersey Beat', points out here that there were upwards of 350 bands in existence at any given time in the late 50s and early 60s before, and from which, The Beatles emerged . . . . .


"Over the decades I have continually been able to contact musicians who were active on Merseyside during the 1958-1965 period and the list has been growing constantly. Here is the latest one I have updated, January 2006"

click on a letter to see the names of the artists
and links to relevant information pages
                                                                                                  


John Lennon and Bill Harry
"When Cavern disc jockey Bob Wooler and I put our heads together in 1961 to make a list of Merseyside groups, we came up with a figure of approximately 250. Time was to prove we had drastically under-rated the growth of musical groups in the area, no doubt due to the vast amount of venues where aspiring musicians could practice their trade. 
The groups are from the entire Merseyside area, which includes Liverpool, Birkenhead, New Brighton, the Wirral generally, Chester, Widnes, Warrington, Runcorn, Crosby, Formy and Southport. These are all genuine Mersey groups, although some groups in other parts of the country arose with the same name as some of them, such as: The Jets, The Dakotas and The Rebel Rousers."
Bob Wooler

"The most popular line-up was a quartet with three guitarists – lead, rhythm and bass – plus a drummer. The three guitarists up front would engage in vocal harmony. The Beatles were particularly adept at this as Paul McCartney, being left-handed, could use the same microphone as John Lennon, when they sang together – also producing a visual effect that many of the other groups couldn’t imitate. This basic line-up was the one generally referred to when people later talked of the ‘Liverpool Sound’ or the ‘Mersey Sound’, and it was most apparent with groups such as The Beatles, The Searchers, Faron’s Flamingos and The Swinging Bluejeans. However, this image tends to make people forget just how extensive the range of the music scene in Liverpool was: there were duos, trios, quintets, and groups with pianos and saxophones in their line-ups."   
Bill Harry


Abraham & His Lot
Ahab & His Lot
Abstract Minds
Adam & The Apples
Adam & The Sinners
Al James & The Coasters
Al James & The Tornadoes
Al Quentin & The Rock Pounders
Alby & The Sorrals
Alfie Diamond & The Skiffle Kings
Amos & The TTs
Amos Bonny
Arrow & The Archers
Aarons
Abstracts
Addicts
Advals
Acorns
Agents
Alabamy Coasters
Alamos
Alaskans
Albany Four
Alibis
Alley Cats
Alligators
Almost Blues
Alphas
Ambassadors
Anzacs
Apaches
Approachers
Aristocrats
Arrows
Assassins
Atlantas
Atlantic Skiffle Group
Atlantics

Avalons
Avengers
Aztecs



Babs and Joan
Bags Blue Beats
Barbara Dee
Barbara Grounds
Bennie & The Jumpin’ Beans
Bernadette O’Toole
Bernie & His Tornados
Bertie Collins & The Sundowners
Beryl & The Centremen
Beryl Marsden
Beryl Ward
Beverley Fraser
Billy Butler & The Tuxedos
Billy Forde & The Phantoms
Billy & The Sinners
Bob Evans & The Five Shillings
Bobby & The Bachelors
Bobby & The Be-Bops
Bobby & The Halers
Bob’s Vegas Five
Brackenwood
Bruce & The Cavaliers
Bruce & The Spiders
Buddy Dean & The Teachers
Bachelors
Backbeats
Banshees
Beat Boys
Beat Cats
Beatcombers
Beathovens
Beatles
Beatwoods
Beechwoods
Belltones
Big Lox Blues Band
Big Three
Bikinis
Bill Culshaw Band
Black Abbotts
Black Cat Trio + One
Black Cats
Black Bisons
Black Diamonds
Black Hawks
Blackjacks
Black Knights
Black Velvets
Blackwells
Blak Katz
Blue Beats
Bluebirds
Blue Boys
Blue Chips
Blue Country Boys
Blue Diamonds
Blue Four
Blue Mountain Boys
Blue Mountain Showband
Blue Notes
Blue Prints
Blue Streaks
Blues Angels
Blues System
Bobby Bell Rockers
Boleros
Bootleggers
Boot Hill Billies
Boys
Breakaways
Broadways
Brokers
Buccaneers
Buffaloes
Bumblies



Cadillac & The Playboys
Carl Vincent & The Counts
Carl’s Combo
Carol & The Memories
Carole & The Corvettes
Cass & The Cassanovas
Cash & The Cashmen
Chick Graham & The Coasters
Christine Ching
Chris & The Diamonds
Cilla Black
Clay & The Classics
Clay Ellis & The Raiders
Cliff Roberts’ Rockers
Collage
Cy & The Cimmarons
Cy Tucker’s Friars
Cadillacs
Calderstones
Caribbeans
Carrolls
Cascades
Casuals
Catalinas
Cavaliers
Cave Dwellers
Cavemen
Caverners
Centaurs
Centurians
Centremen
Chain Gang
Challengers
Champions
Chants
Charmers
Cheats
Cheaters
Checkers
Chee Sydney Group
Cheetahs
Chelseas
Chessmen
Chuckles
Cimarrons
Cirques
Citadels
Citrons
City Beats
City Kings
Clansmen
Classics
Clayton Squares
Climbers
Clive Lord Five
Coasters
Cobblestones
Coins
Collegian
Columbians
Comets
Commadores
Commancheros
Concords
Condors
Confederates
Connaughts
Connoisseurs
Conquerors
Conquests
Conspirators
Contenders
Contrasts
Convicts
Copicats
Corals
Cordelles
Cordes
Corsairs
Corvettes
Counts
Countdowns
Country Four
Crackerjacks
Cracksmen
Creoles
Crescendos
Crestas
Cresters
Crosbys
Crossbeats
Cross Rocks
Croupiers
Cruisers
Crusaders
Cryin’ Shames
Curiosity Shoppe



Dale Roberts & The Jaywalkers
Danny & The Asteroids
Danny & The Escorts
Danny & The Hi-Cats
Danny & The Strollers
Danny Havoc & The Secrets
Danny Havoc & The Ventures
Danny Lee & The Stalkers
Dave Eager & The Beavers
Dave Ellis Trio
Dave & The Devil Horde
Dave & The Corvettes
Dave & The Rave-Ons
Dave Bell & The Bell Boys
David John & The Mood
Dean & The Capitols
Dean Curtis with The Renegades
Dean Devlin & The Dynamites
Dean Fleming & The Flamingos
Dean Stacey & The Dominators
Dee & The Dynamites
Dee Young & The Pontiacs
Dee Fenton’s Silhouettes
Denis & The Newtowns
Denny Seyton & The Sabres
Derry & The Seniors
Derry Wilkie & The Others
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen
Dino & The Wild Fires
DJ & The Jets
Dixie & The Daredevils
Duke Duval’s Rockers
Dakotas
Daleks
Daltons
Dark Ages
Darktown Skiffle Group
Dateliners
Dawnbreakers
Daybreakers
Deacons
Dealers
Deans
Debutones
Decibels
Dee Beats
Dee Jays
Deepbeats
Deerstalkers
Defenders
Defiants
Del Renas
Del Rio Mountain Boys
Delacardoes
Delemeres
Delltones
Delmonts
Delmont Four
Delta Combo
Deltics
Demoiselles
Demons
Demon Five
Denems
Dennisons
Deputies
Detonators
Detours
Diablos
Dials
Diamonds
Dimensions
Dions
Diplomats
Djangobeats
Dollies
Dominators
Dominant Four
Dominating Dominators
Downbeats
Drifting Cowboys
Drone Tones
Druids
Dynachords
Dynamic Dawnbreakers
Dynamics
Dynamites
Dynamos


Earl Preston & The Realms
Earl Preston & The TTs
Earl Royce & The Olympics
Eddie & The Cadillacs
Eddie & The Earthquakes
Eddie & The Phantoms
Eddie & The Razors
Eddie & The Team Mates
Eddie Dean & The Onlookers
Eddy Falcon & The Vampires
Eleanor Russell
Earls
Earthlings Blues Band
Easybeats
Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group
Eddie Lee Five
El Diablos
Elektones
Electrons
Epics
Escorts
Everests
Excelles
Excerts
Excheckers
Executioners
Exiles
Explorers
Expressions
Eyes


Faron & The Burnettes
Faron & The Crossfires
Faron & The Tempest Tornadoes
Faron’s Flamingos
Foo Foo’s Flashy Falcons
Four Hits & A Miss
Frank Knight & The Barons
Freddie & The Fireballs
Freddie & The Rousers
Freddie Starr & The Delmonts
Freddie Starr & The Midnighters
Freddie Starr & The Ventures
Fabulous Adders
Factotums
Fahrenheits
Falcons
Fallons
Fast Cats
FBI
Federal Five
Feelgoods
Fenton Weill Five
Ferrymen
Few
Firebrands
Firecrests
Fire-Flites
Five Stars
Fix
Flames
Flintstones
Flyaways
Flyovers
Foggy Mountain Ramblers
Fontanas
Footappers
Fortune Tellers
Four Aces
Four Aristokats
Four Clefs
Four Dees
Four Dimensions
Four Dymonds
Four Gents
Four Jays
Four Just Men
Fourmost
Four Musketeers
Four Originals
Four Sounds
Fruit Eating Bears
Futurists


Gary B Goode & The Hot Rods
Gee Gee & The Go Men
Gene Day & The Django Beats
Geoff Stacey & The Wanderers
George Collins & The Sundowners
Gerry & The Pacemakers
Gerry Bach & The Beathovens
Gerry De Ville & The City Kings
Group One
Groups Inc.
Gus & The Thundercaps
Gus Travis & The Midnighters
G Men
Galaxies with Doreen
Galvanizers
Gay Tones
Gems
George Nield Trio
George King Group
Georgians
Ghost Riders
Gibson James Band
Gibsons
Gin Mill Skille Group
Globetrotters
Gonks
Good Times
Griff Parry Five
Groupiers
Gunrunners


Hank & The Drifters
Hank Walters & His Dusty Road Ramblers
Hank’s Hoppers
Highly Inflammable
Howie Casey & The Seniors
Hailers
Hammers
Handful
Harlems
Hawaiian Eyes
Heralds
Heartbeats
Hellions
Hi-Spots
Hi-Tones
Hi-Cats
Hideaways
Hi-Fi Three
Hi-Hats
Hi-Spots
Hillsiders
Hobos
Hornets
Hot Rods
Hot Shots
Huntsmen
Hustlers
Hylites
Hy-Tones


Ian & The Rebels
Ian & The Zodiacs
Irene & The Sante Fes
Irene & The Tallboys
Irene Brown
Irene Carroll
Ice Blues
Illusions
Impacts
Incas
Inmates
Interns
Invaders
Invisible Men


Jackie & Bridie
Jackie Martin
J.C.& The Strollers
Jeannie & The Big Guys
Jenny & The Tallboys
Jerry & The Juveniles
Jet & The Tornados
Jet & The Valiants
Jill Martin
Jimmy & The Jokers
Jimmy & The Midnighters
Jimmy & The Teenbeats
Jimmy Martin & The Martinis
J.J.& The Hi-Lites
Joan & The Demons
Joan Malloy
Joe Ray Me
Joey & The Kodaks
Johnny Apollo & The Spartans
Johnny & The Falcons
Johnny Autumn & The Fall Guys
Johnny Burns & The Renegades
Johnny Gold & The Country Cousins
Johnny Goode & The Kinfolk
Johnny Marlowe & The Whip Chords
Johnny Martin & The Martinis
Johnnie Paul & The Rockin’ Dee Jays
Johnny President & The Senators
Johnny Ringo & The Colts
Johnny Rocco & The Jets
Johnny Saint & The Travellers
Johnny Sandon & The Remo Four
Johnny Sandon & The Searchers
Johnny Tempest & The Tornadoes
Jackobeats
Jaguars
James Boys
Jaybeats
Jaywalkers
Jensons
Jesters
Jets
Jim Craig Trio
Johnny Gus Set
Jokers
Jubilees


Karina
Karl Terry & The Cruisers
Ken Dallas & The Silhouettes
Kenny Jordan & The Rousers
Keoki & The Hawaiianeers
Kev Kurtis & The Four Escorts
Kim Cross
Kingsize Taylor & The Dominoes
Kliff Hilton & The Merseys
Kuke’s Klan Rhythmic Group
Kandies
Kansas City Five
Karacters
Katz
Keenbeats
Kingfishers
Kingpins
Kingstrums
Kinsleys
Kirkbys
Knights
Knutrockers
Kobras
Koobas
Kommotions
Konkers
Kordas
Krewcats
Kruzads
Kosmenauts


Lee Castle & The Barons
Lee Crombie & The Sundowners
Lee Curtis & The All Stars
Lee Curtis & The Detours
Lee Eddie & The Chevrons
Lee Shondell & The Boys
Lee Shondell & The Capitols
Lenny & The Team Mates
Liam & The Invaders
Liam & The White Brothers
Lilli Leyton
Lorraine White
Los Toros
Lottie & The Weimars
L’Ringo’s
Landsliders
Lavells
Lawmen
Lee Eddie Five
Leesiders
Legends
Les Graham Five
Les Stewart Quartet
Lidos
L’il Three
Lincolns
Live Jive Five
Liverbirds
Lonely Ones
Long & The Short


The Vogue
   The Modern Blues Quartet
   This band came out of a band called The Vogue (pictured).
   Thanks to band member Graham 'Chalky' White for the image and the information.

Mark Peters & The Silhouettes
Mark Peters & The Method
Mark Swain & The Tornadoes
Maura Meadows
Mike & The Creoles
Mike & The Explorers
Mike Byrne & The Thunderbirds
Mike Dee & The Detours
Mike Savage & The Wildcats
Mr Lee & Co
Mr X & The Masks
Myra Grayson
Madcaps
Mafia
Mailmen
Majestics
Mal Craig Three
Managers
Maraccas
Marescas
Markfour
Marlins
Masqueraders
Masterminds
Mastersounds
Mavericks
Megatones
Memphis R&B Combo
Memphis Three
Merchants
Mersey Blues Preachers
Merseybeats
Mersey Four
Mersey Five
Mersey Gamblers
Mersey Gonks
Mersey Men
Mersey Monsters
Mersey Sounds
Mersey Bluebeats
Meteors
Method
MGs
Michael Allen Group
Michael Henry Group
Midnights
M.I.5.
Mikados
Miller Brothers
Minibeats
Minutes
Missouri Drifters
Modern Blues Quartet
Modes
Mohawks
Mojos
Moments
Monarchs
Moonrockers
Morockans
Mosquitoes
Moths
Motifs
Musicians
Music Students
Mustangs
Mystery Men
Mystics


Neil Olsen & The Four Aces
Nameless Ones
Nashpool Four
Naturals
New Detours
New Detonators
New Pressmen
Newtones
Newtowns
Neons
Night Boppers
Nighthawks
Nightriders
Nightwalkers
Nocturnes
Nomads
Norfolks
Northlanders
Notions
New Angle


Ogi & The Flintstones
Obsession
Onlookers
Opals
Original All Stars
Others
Outkasts
Outlaws
Overlanders


Paul Tempest
Paul & The Diamonds
Paul Francis & The Wanderers
Paul Francis & The Dominant Four
Paul Lacelle with The Defenders (Anfield)
Paul Valance & The Tremors
Peter Demos & His Demons
Pete Picasso & The Rock Sculptors

Phil Brady & The Ranchers
Phil’s Feelgoods
Pride And Joy
Pacifics
Page Boys
Paladins
Panthers
Paragons
Paramounts
Pathfinders
Pattern People
Pawns
Pegasus Four
Pete Kelly Solution
Phantoms
Phantom Five
Pikkins
Pilgrims
Plebs
Plims
Pontiacs
Poppies
Power House Six
Premiers
Presidents
Pressmen
Press Gang
Pretenders
Principles
Profiles
Prowlers
Pulsators
Pyramids



Q Cats with Wilma York

Quarry Men Quiet Ones Quiet Three Quintones


Ray Montrose & The Midnights
Ray Satan & The Devils
Recipe Four
Reds Incorporated
Rhythm Amalgamated
Rhythm & Blues Incorporated
Rick & The Delmonts
Ricky & The Dominant Four
Ricky & The Vibrators
Ricky Gleason & The Rebels
Ricky Gleason & The Top Spots
Rikki & The Red Streaks
Rip Van Winkle & The Rip-It-Ups
Rita & The Renegades
Rita Hughes
Robin & The Ravens
Rock Beat Five
Rockin’ God
Rocky Stone & The Pebbles
Rogues Gallery
Roy & The Globetrotters
Rita Rogers
Rory & The Globe Trotters
Rory Storm & The Hurricanes
Rory Storm & The Wild Ones
Roy & The Dions
Roy Hepworth & The Hepcats
Roy Hunter & The Falcons
Roy Malloy & The Teenbeats
Roy Montrose & The Midnights
Raiders
Rainchecks
Rainmakers
Ramblers
Ramrods
Ranchers
Ravens
Rave-Ons
Rawhides
Ray Tones
Rebels
Red Diamonds
Rebel Rousers
Red Mountain Boys
Red Mountain Rock And Skiffle Group
Red River Rockers
Regents
Remo Four
Renegades
Renicks
Rent Collectors
Rhythm Coasters
Rhythm Four
Rhythm Quintet
Rhythm Rockers
Richmond
Riot Squad
Rivals
Roadrunners
Robettes
Rockerfellers
Rockin’ Clippers
Rockin’ Rhythm Coasters
Rockin’ Rhythm Quartet
Rockin’ Rivals
Ron Pickard Combo
Rondex
Rontons
Roy Marsden Five
Runaways


St Louis Checks
St. Paul & The Angels
Satan & The Hellcats
Savva & The Democrats
Some People
Sonny Kaye & The Reds
Sonny Webb & The Cascades
Sounds Plus One
Steve Aldo
Steve & The Syndicate
Steve Day & The Drifters
Steve Day & The Jets
Steve Day & The Kinsmen
Strawberry Fair
Sandgrounders
Sandstorms
Santones
Sapphires
Scaffold
Schatz
Screaming Skulls
Searchers
Secrets
Seftons
Seniors
Senitors
Sensations
Sentinels
Sepias
Set Up
Shades
Shakers
Shields
Shimmy Shimmy Queens
Silvertones
Sinclairs
Sinners
Skeletons
Skylarks
Skyliners
Skyriders
Smokestacks
Sneakers
Sobells
Sonnets
Sorrals
Soul Agents
Soul Seekers
Spectres
Spidermen
Spinners
Spitfires
Sportsmen
Squad with Rita
Sputniks
St Louis Checks
Stalkers
Statesmen
Stereos
Steve Francis Four
Strangers
Strettons
Subterranes
Sundowners
Sunnysiders
Swaydes
Swinging Bluejeans
Syndicate


Take Five
Terry Connor & The Cruisers
Terry & The Tuxedos
Terry & The Zodiacs
That Group
Them Grimbles
Tiffany’s Dimensions
Tiffany’s Thoughts
TL’s Bluesicians
Tom and Bernie
Tommy & The Olympics
Tommy & The Metronomes
Tommy & The Satellites
Tommy & The Teenbeats
Tommy Jordan
Tommy Lowe & The Metronomes
Tommy Quickly
Tony Allen
Tony & The Black Shadows
Tony & The Checkers
Tony & The Quandros
Tony Carlton & The Mersey Four
Tony Christian
Tony Mac Set
Tony & The Triads
Tony & The Tuxedos
Tabs
Talismen
Team-mates
Teenage Rebels
Teenbeats
Te Deum 5
Tenabeats
Teen Tones
Templars
Tempos
Tenabeats
Tennessee Four
Terry Hines Sextet
Texans
Thoughts
Three Bells
Three Deuces
Three of Diamonds
Thrillers
Thunderbeats
Thunderbirds
Tigers
TJs
Timebeats
Tokens
Topics
Topspots
Tornadoes
Trends
Trents
Tributes
Triffids
Triumphs
Tudor Four
Tudors
Tuxedos
Two Tones
Traders
Travellers
Travelons
Trebletones
Tremas
Tremolos
Tremors



Undertakers


Unicorns


Vance Williams & The Rhythm Four
Vic & The TTs
Vic Takes Four
Vicki Cheetham
Vikki Lane & The Moonlighters
Vince & The Hot Rods
Vince Earl & The Talismen
Vince Earl & The Zeroes
Vince Reno & The Sabres
Vinny & The Dukes
Vaders
Valentinos
Valients
Valkyries
Vanguards
Vampires
Vara Sounds
Vegas Five
Ventures
Verbs
Vermont Quarter
Vernons Girls
Viceroys
V.I.C.s
Victors
Vigilantes
Vikings
Vogue
Volcanics
V.I.P.s
Vulcans


Warner’s Combo
Wayne Calvert & The Cimmarons
Wayne Stevens & The Vikings
Wells Fargo
Western Union
Wolfgang Combo
Wump & His Werbles
Walter Quarless Combo
Wayfarers
Waysiders
Weeverbeats
Wheels
Wild Harkes
Wild Ones
Willows
Witnesses
Wranglers
Wreckers
(No group name entries for 'X')


Young Ones
Zenet Trio
Zeniths
Zenith Six
Zephyrs
Zeros
Zwinging Coronets




Mersey Beat Magazine Bill Harry attended the Liverpool College of Art with Stuart Sutcliffe and John Lennon and made the arrangements for Brian Epstein to visit The Cavern, where he saw The Beatles for the first time. Bill was a member of 'The Dissenters' and the founder and editor of 'Mersey Beat', the iconic weekly music newspaper that documented the early Sixties music scene in the Liverpool area and is possibly best known for being the first periodical to feature a local band called 'The Beatles'. He has worked as a high powered publicist, doing PR for acts such as Suzi Quatro, Free, The Arrows and Hot Chocolate and has managed press campaigns for record labels such as CBS, EMI, Polydor. Bill is the critically acclaimed author of a large number of books about The Beatles and the 60s era including 'The Beatles Who's Who', 'The Best Years of the Beatles' and the Fab Four's 'Encyclopedia' series. He has appeared on 'Good Morning America' and has received a Gold Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.


Article Text Bill Harry               Original Graphics SixtiesCity     Other individual owner copyrights may apply to Photographic Images

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