Gerry & The Pacemakers + Herman's Hermits Tour NZ   7 Feb 2011

It was called the British Invasion… From 1964 – 1966, the USA and the rest of the world couldn’t get enough of British pop groups. What began with The Beatles take over of America set off by their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, soon opened the door for fellow Liverpool band also managed by the mercurial Brian Epstein, Gerry & The Pacemakers led by Gerry Marsden and Manchester band Herman’s Hermits to follow, and in the sixties what was big in British and American pop culture soon spread down under to New Zealand.

Following Gerry’s successful 2009 Concert Hall tour of New Zealand he is returning in March 2011 for a 10 date theatre tour with fellow British Invasion band Herman’s Hermits who haven’t performed on our shores for over 15 years, in what promises to be an evening of hits, nostalgia and rocking sixties fun.

50 years ago in 1959 Gerry Marsden formed the group with his brother, Fred, Les Chadwick and Arthur McMahon. They rivaled the Beatles early in their career, playing in the same areas of Hamburg, Germany and at the famed Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.

The band was the second to sign with Brian Epstein, who later signed them with Columbia Records (a sister label to The Beatles label Parlophone under EMI). They began recording in early 1963 with "How Do You Do It?", a song written by Mitch Murray that Adam Faith had turned down and one that The Beatles chose not to release (they did record the song but chose to release their own song "Please Please Me"). The song was produced by George Martin and became a number one hit in the UK, until being replaced at the top by "From Me to You", The Beatles' third single.

Gerry and The Pacemakers' next two singles, Murray's "I Like It" and Rodgers and Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone", both also reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. Never before had the first three singles by a performer all reached the top spot (the feat would not be bettered until The Spice Girls did it in the 90’s). In the halcyon days of 1963 Gerry & The Pacemakers enjoyed the status of being one of Britain’s most popular bands and were on tour with The Beatles as well as topping bills in their own right. "You'll Never Walk Alone" had been a favourite of Gerry Marsden's since seeing Carousel growing up. It soon became the signature tune of Liverpool Football Club. To this day, the song remains a football anthem, there and elsewhere, a phenomenon due to Gerry Marsden, rather than its Broadway composers.

Despite this early success, Gerry & The Pacemakers never had another number one single in the UK. Gerry Marsden began writing most of their own songs, including "It's Gonna Be All Right", "I'm the One", and "Ferry Cross the Mersey", as well as their first and biggest U.S. hit, "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying", which peaked at #4.

They also starred in an early 1965 film called Ferry Cross the Mersey (sometimes referred to as "Gerry & The Pacemakers' version of A Hard Day's Night"), for which Marsden wrote much of the soundtrack. The title song was revived in the 1980s as a charity single for a ferry disaster appeal, giving Gerry another British number one in association with other Liverpool stars, including Paul McCartney and Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Holly Johnson. Additionally You’ll never walk alone hit the No. 1 spot in the 1980’s when rerecorded by Gerry and a celebrity ensemble to raise money for the Bradford Football Club’s stadium fire disaster.

Gerry still tours regularly in the UK where he headlines 60’s tours at such prestigious venues as The Royal Albert Hall and London Palladium, the US where he is still a popular draw-card, Asia and Australia where he regularly tours. Coming back to New Zealand by popular demand, two years on from his last trip he is looking forward to joining up with his old buddies Herman’s Hermits to make a night to remember for fans young and old.

Herman's Hermits, who are one of the most successful groups throughout the world. From their beginning in Manchester, England, on April 1st 1964, the band has chalked up over 23 hit singles, 10 hit albums, 3 major movies and countless television shows and concert tours all over the world - up to date they have total record sales of over 75 million.

Since 1971 and the departure of Peter Noone to pursue a solo career in the entertainment business, the group has never stopped. Original member Barry (the Bean) Whitwam. has guided the band from strength to strength into one of the hardest working acts in the business - they still average more than 200 concerts per year.

Their touring schedule takes them throughout the UK and abroad to Germany, Belgium, Holland, the Scandinavian countries, the U.S.A., Canada, Australia on a regular basis and now back to New Zealand, whose audiences haven’t seen them live on stage since the early 90’s. They’re still packing in the audiences at every venue and delighting them with their solid musicianship, vocal ability and dynamic stage presence.

The 'Golden Oldies' still make up a large part of their show - much to the enjoyment of their fans, who can't resist singing along to Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter, Silhouettes, Dandy, Henry VIII and others too numerous to mention.

Gerry’s Hits include: Ferry cross the Mersey, I like it, You’ll never walk alone, How do you do it, Don’t let the sun catch you crying, I’ll be there.

Herman’s Hermits Hits include: A must to avoid, No milk today, Dandy, There’s a kind of hush, East West, Sleepy Joe, Henry VIII, Mrs Brown you’ve got a lovely daughter

TOUR DATES

INVERCARGILL

CIVIC THEATRE March 31st

Ticket Direct www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 224-224

CHRISTCHURCH

JAMES HAY THEATRE April 1st

Ticketek www.ticketek.co.nz 0800 TICKETEK

BLENHEIM

MARLBOROUGH CIVIC THEATRE April 2nd

2 Shows 4pm and 8pm

Ticket Direct www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 224-224

WELLINGTON
OPERA HOUSE April 3rd

Ticketek www.ticketek.co.nz 0800 TICKETEK

PALMERSTON NORTH
REGENT ON BROADWAY April 6th

Ticket Direct www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 224-224

NAPIER
MUNICIPAL THEATRE April 7th

Ticket Direct www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 224-224

HAMILTON
FOUNDERS THEATRE April 8th

Ticketek www.ticketek.co.nz 0800 TICKETEK

TAURANGA
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH April 9th

Ticket Direct www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 224-224

AUCKLAND
BRUCE MASON CENTRE April 10th

Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.nz 09 970-9700

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