Chris Curtis, the original drummer of 1960s pop group The Searchers, has died at the age of 63 after a long illness. Curtis was a member of the Liverpool based beat combo from their formation in 1960 through to 1966. The band sold millions of records in their heyday.
Paying tribute to Curtis, the band's original bassist Tony West told reporters yesterday that the drummer "was the epitome of the group itself. He contributed an awful lot to the vocals and the harmonies - his was the distinctive high voice. He was also a very good drummer. I will remember him as full of life and enthusiasm. Although he left the band, he never fully left the musical scene."