It’s hard to imagine any other music band in the 1960s coming close to edging The Beatles when it came to chart-topping hits. The legendary group has cemented itself in history as one of the greatest bands of all time. However, rock and roll history doesn’t lie, and The Beatles weren’t always at the Number One spot. The Searchers was another British band selling hit singles during the same period.

The band, whose hits included Sweets for My Sweet and Sugar and Spice, sold millions of records back in their heyday, and even knocked The Beatles from the number one spot. Sadly, The Searchers didn’t go on to achieve the same level of success, and one of their own band members even died penniless. In 2003, the original lead singer of the 1960s band, Tony Jackson, died penniless in a flat in Nottingham. He was only 63 years old, and according to the BBC, it is thought that years of heavy drinking led to his death.

His agent at the time, Tony Sherwood, said: “His luck ran out when he left The Searchers. He never had any good luck of any sort after that.”

Mike Pender, also from The Searchers, said: “Tony for me was a great guy – whatever happened afterwards. We both parted in ’64, and I met him occasionally later on, but I only remember the good times.”

Paul Francis, the drummer from another of Tony Jackson’s next groups, The Vibrations, added said: “You’ve got to put Tony up with the likes of Lennon and all those, because he was a major influence on all the bands starting out. And he’s left a fantastic legacy of records.”

Tony was cremated at a small chapel at Wilford Hill cemetery in Nottingham in 2003, attended by fans, family, and some fans.

The Merseybeat band, formed by Mike Pender and John McNally, also had hits such as Needles And Pins and Don’t Throw Your Love Away.

Their final farewell tour concluded at Glastonbury on 27 June, which the band said would be its “last ever show”. Prior to the show, John McNally said: “A Glastonbury debut at 83, can anyone top that? I don’t think life gets any better, does it?

“There will be a few nerves, but in a good way, and we’ll be nicely warmed up from our shows in June. We can’t wait to see our fans again for this incredible final farewell.”