Chris Curtis, drummer with The Searchers, dies at 63

LONDON (AP) _ Chris Curtis, drummer with The Searchers at the height of the British band's fame in the 1960s, has died at the age of 63. <br/><br/>Band members said Curtis, whose real name was Christopher

Tuesday, March 1st 2005, 1:39 pm

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) _ Chris Curtis, drummer with The Searchers at the height of the British band's fame in the 1960s, has died at the age of 63.

Band members said Curtis, whose real name was Christopher Crummey, was found dead at his home in Liverpool on Monday after a long illness. The exact cause of death was not disclosed.

Formed in the same rough-and-ready Liverpool club scene as The Beatles and named after a Western by John Ford, The Searchers briefly rivaled the Fab Four for popularity. After The Beatles' success made Liverpool acts a hot property, The Searchers were signed by Pye Records.

The band scored international hits with ``Needles and Pins,'' ``Sugar and Spice'' and ``Don't Throw Your Love Away.'' Curtis played drums and contributed to the band's distinctive vocal harmonies.

Original Searchers bassist Tony West said Curtis ``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.''

Curtis left The Searchers in 1966, but the band carried on, with several lineup changes. In recent years, members engaged in acrimonious legal battles over the right to the group's name.

Curtis scored a British hit in 1967 with The Flowerpot Men with ``Let's Go To San Francisco.'' He later joined Roundabout, which evolved, after his departure, into hard rock behemoths Deep Purple.

Curtis eventually worked as a civil servant until poor health forced him to retire.