The Merseybeats: Biography

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• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

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• David Bowie
• The Big 3
• The Mindbenders
• The Applejacks

• The Beatles
• Dusty Springfield
• The Shirelles

• Rupert's People
• Rockin' Horse
• Quatermass

Formed:

Jan 1, 1962 in Liverpool, England

Disbanded:

Jan 1, 1966

Genres:

British Invasion Oldies Music, Rock Music

Decades Active:

1960's|1990's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

The Merseybeats were one of the better Liverpool bands of the British Invasion, scoring several large and minor hits in the U.K., although they made no impact whatsoever in America. Friends of the Who (with whom they shared management for a time) and the Beatles, the band leaned toward mid-tempo harmony numbers, with the occasional ballads and ravers thrown in. Not nearly as distinguished as top-line British Invasion pop-rockers like the Hollies and the Searchers, The Merseybeats did have classy taste in cover material, recording the original version of Bacharach/David's "Wishin' and Hopin'" (a hit in the U.S. for Dusty Springfield), reaching the U.K. Top 40 with "I Stand Accused" (covered by Elvis Costello), and releasing covers of "Mr. Moonlight" and "Fortune Teller" before the Beatles and the Stones recorded their more famous versions. Like many of the original Liverpool bands, they were crippled by a lack of songwriting talent. After breaking up in 1966, members Tony Crane and Billy Kinsley formed the Merseys, who landed a huge British hit with "Sorrow" (covered by David Bowie on Pin Ups) the same year.

- Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide