Editing The Merseybeats (section)

==History==
===The Merseybeats===
Originally called the Mavericks, the band was formed by singer/guitarist [[Tony Crane (musician)|Tony Crane]] and singer/bassist [[Billy Kinsley]] in late 1960.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=837}}</ref> They became the Pacifics in September 1961.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4903/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography by Bruce Eder and Richie Unterberger |publisher=Allmusic.com |access-date=25 October 2009}}</ref> They were renamed the Mersey Beats in February 1962 by [[Bob Wooler]], [[Master of Ceremonies|MC]] at the [[Cavern Club]]. In April 1962, they became the Merseybeats. By now Crane and Kinsley had joined up with guitarist [[Aaron Williams (musician)|Aaron Williams]] and drummer [[John Banks (drummer)|John Banks]].<ref name="AMG" /> [[Pete Best]] was offered a position in the group by [[Brian Epstein]] after being dismissed from [[the Beatles]], but turned it down.{{Sfn|Lewisohn|2013|loc=Thirty-One: Some Other Guy}}

They signed a recording contract with [[Fontana Records]] and had their first hit single in 1963 with "It's Love That Really Counts",<ref name="Larkin" /> followed in 1964 by their million-selling record "I Think of You", which gained them their first [[gold disc]].<ref name="AMG" /> They suffered a setback in February 1964 when Kinsley left to form his own band, the Kinsleys.<ref name="AMG" /> He was temporarily replaced by Bob Garner (later of [[The Creation (band)|the Creation]]) and permanently by [[John Gustafson (musician)|Johnny Gustafson]], formerly of [[The Big Three (English band)|the Big Three]].<ref name="AMG" />

With Gustafson they had two more major hits during 1964, "Don't Turn Around" and "[[Wishin' and Hopin']]{{-"}},<ref name="Larkin" /> and released their only album in the latter part of that year. Kinsley returned to the group at the end of 1964.<ref name="AMG" />

The Merseybeats appeared regularly at Liverpool's Cavern Club, and they claim to have appeared there with the Beatles on more occasions than any other band from that era. They were also successful abroad, touring in Germany and the US in 1964, and having their own Merseybeats Show on Italian television.

===The Merseys===
During 1965 their initial success waned, and after a few more singles the band folded in early 1966. Crane and Kinsley continued as a vocal duo called the Merseys.<ref name="AMG" /> They had a major hit with their first single, a cover of [[the McCoys]]' "[[Sorrow (The McCoys song)|Sorrow]]", which reached Number 4 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="AMG" />  The introduction on the record featured a bowed bass played by [[Jack Bruce]]. A line from this song, "with your long blonde hair and eyes of blue," is included in the Beatles' "[[It's All Too Much]]", released in 1969 as part of the ''[[Yellow Submarine (film)|Yellow Submarine]]'' soundtrack album. [[David Bowie]] recorded a single version in 1973 which reached Number 3 in the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="AMG" /> The duo split in 1969, with Crane and Kinsley both going on to front a number of other bands.

===Tony Crane and The Merseybeats===
During the 1970s, Crane continued to tour and perform live as Tony Crane and the Merseybeats with various line-ups.<ref name="AMG" />

===Liverpool Express===
See [[Liverpool Express]]

===The Merseybeats re-formed===
The Merseybeats' original drummer John Banks died on 20 April 1988, at the age of 44.

Kinsley and Crane re-formed the Merseybeats in 1993, and after celebrating 45 years in the [[music industry]] in 2006, they continued to tour and perform on the 'sixties circuit', and at venues in the UK, and across Europe. Kinsley departed in 2020, leaving the band in the hands of Crane and his son Adrian.

Former bassist and vocalist John Gustafson died on 12 September 2014, at the age of 72.