As ITV’s critically acclaimed Cilla sweeps the heart of the nation original Merseybeat star and Brian Epstein mentored Billy J Kramer announces his first UK dates in nearly two decades as he headlines the Solid Silver 60s Show as it returns for a landmark 30th year.
- 30 date UK Tour starts 22nd March in Blackpool
- Over 1 million people have seen The Solid Silver 60s Show over the last 30 years
- Billy J Kramer also to release new autobiographical studio album, I Won The Fight, first new studio album in 30 years
- The Original Voice Of The Searchers, Mike Pender joins the bill alongside PP Arnold, Chris Farlowe, with special guests, The Merseybeats
ITV’s Cilla docu-drama has rekindled our love and interest in that glory period of 1960s Liverpool and the dramatic contribution it made to the UK music scene and beyond.
Music manager, Brian Epstein, the integral cog which propelled not only Cilla, but of course The Beatles to global stardom, also discovered and nurtured a young Liverpudlian, Billy J Kramer.
Although Epstein passed tragically young, for years Kramer led the campaign for the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame to recognise his contribution to music. This was the man who discovered The Beatles and made them the biggest rock and roll phenomenon ever known, and it had appeared that he was all but forgotten. Finally, earlier in 2014, Brian was given his overdue recognition, where he was awarded the Ahmet Ertegun Award For Lifetime Achievement.
Now 50 years on from when it all began, the original teen heartthrob, Billy J Kramer returns to headline the Solid Silver 60s Show as it returns for its 30th year. Kramer had a string of hits both in the UK and US with legendary producer George Martin also recorded several original John Lennon and Paul McCartney compositions. Indeed it was Lennon who suggested to Billy that he should put “J” in front of his surname.
Songs such as Do You Want To Know A Secret, I’ll Be On My Way, Bad To Me, I Call Your Name, From A Window, Little Children, I’ll Keep You Satisfied and Trains and Boats and Planes were all a part of pop culture. With his band The Dakotas, he was an instrumental figure of the music scene of the 60s who was also considered part of the great British invasion in the US in 1964 and 1965.
The Solid Silver 60s Show has hosted many of the greatest names from the era, including Bobby Vee, Chris Montez, Brian Hyland, Gerry and The Pacemakers, John Walker (The Walker Brothers), Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Helen Shapiro, Del Shannon, The Troggs, The Searchers, Dave Berry, Peter Sarstedt, Wayne Fontana, Peter Noone, Freddie and The Dreamers, The Fortunes, Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Vanity Fare, Duane Eddy, and The Crickets.
Billy J Kramer said, “I’m delighted to be coming back to the UK with my band, The Rising. Having been touring in the US for quite a while, we have become like family. To be headlining the 30th year of the Solid Silver 60s which also is my 50th year in the business is a real privilege”
On Cilla Black “Cilla used to tour with me. She had great charm and stage presence”.
On working with Brian Epstein “ He was so put together that you knew he was somebody. People immediately paid attention to him and listened to him. No one else at that time had that way about him”.
On why the popularity of 60s music will never fade “Even if you take away the Beatles catalogue, there are more great pop songs during this decade than any other time in history. Even if you look now everybody is copying the old stuff.
On the new album “In the 60s we used to have 3 hours in a studio to nail an A and B side. With the new album I’ve been able to make the best record I possibly can. I’d say it’s been 50 years in the making! I sent Paul (McCartney) one of the new tracks, To Liverpool With Love, and he said it really captured the period.
Also confirmed for the bill for The Solid Silver 60s Show is the original voice of The Searchers, Mike Pender (Sweets For My Sweet, Sugar And Spice, Needles and Pins, Don’t Throw Your Love Away), Chris Farlowe (Handbags and Gladrags, Out Of Time, Ride On Baby) and PP Arnold (Angel Of The Morning, Boy From New York City, The First Cut Is The Deepest).
For this special anniversary tour, The Merseybeats, (I Think Of You, Don’t Turn Around, Wishin’ And Hopin’) one of the Cavern Club’s original alumni (having performed with The Beatles and Gerry & The Pacemakers) will take to the stage as special guest.
The Solid Silver 60s Show
22 March Blackpool Grand Theatre
23 March Manchester Palace Theatre
25 March Southend Cliffs Pavilion
26 March Halifax Victoria Theatre
27 March Southport Theatre
28 March Skegness Embassy Theatre
29 March Leeds Grand Theatre
31 March Bristol Hippodrome
1 April Cardiff St David’s Hall
2 April Sheffield City Hall
3 April Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
4 April Birmingham Symphony Hall
5 April Woking New Victoria Theatre
8 April Southsea Kings Theatre
9 April Torquay Princess Theatre
10 April Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
11 April Stoke On Trent Regent Theatre
12 April Milton Keynes Theatre
13 April Swansea Grand Theatre
15 April Watford Coliseum
16 April Crawley The Hawth
17 April Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
18 April Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
19 April Gateshead The Sage
20 April Aberdeen Music Hall
21 April Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
22 April Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre
23 April Hull City Hall
25 April Folkestone Leas Cliffs Hall
26 April Eastbourne Congress Theatre
Tickets available at www.flyingmusic.BOXOFFICE.com
