Frank Allen

Frank Allen (born Francis Renaud McNeice; 14 December 1943) is an English bass guitarist and singer, who was a long-time member of The Searchers.

Biography Allen's career started aged fifteen in 1958, playing guitar in his own band called The Skyways at local venues such as The Clay Pigeon in Eastcote. Frank started playing bass guitar with Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers during the early 1960s. Allen joined Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers as rhythm guitarist in 1961. He eventually changed over to bass guitar in early 1962, following the departure of Ben Jordan.

When Tony Jackson left the Searchers in August 1964, Allen was asked to join the group. They then recorded "When You Walk in the Room", with Mike Pender and Frank Allen singing a dual lead line. He remained with them until they played their final gig in March 2019, when the Searchers retired the band. Allen has continued to perform with the group since their revival in 2023. Allen wrote a book of touring recollections called Travelling Man in 1999. His definitive and detailed biography of the Searchers entitled The Searchers And Me – A History of the Legendary Sixties Hitmakers was published in April 2009.

Influences Allen was heavily influenced by American rock and roll artists of the 1950s:

Discography

With Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers Cliff Bennett singlesCliff Bennett EPsJuly 1961: "You've Got What I Like" / "I'm in Love With You" October 1961: "That's What I Said" / "When I Get Paid" March 1962: "Poor Joe" / "Hurtin' Inside" July 1963: "Everybody Loves A Lover" / "My Old Stand By" November 1963: "You Really Got A Hold on Me" / "Alright" March 1964: "Got My Mojo Working" / "Beautiful Dreamer" 1964 'She said Yeah'/ 'Doctor Feelgood' / 'You Make Me Happy' / 'Stupidity'

With The Searchers