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.
Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
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.[1] 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 first asked to join as rhythm guitarist, but was turned down as they didn't need a new member; but shortly after, the Rousers were to do a radio performance, and Allen was asked to do a one-time performance with them as a rhythm guitarist. After the radio appearance, Frank managed to persuade Cliff Bennett into letting him join in as a full time member.
He eventually changed over to bass guitar in early 1962, following the departure of Ben Jordan.[2] As a member of the Rebel Rousers, he played on six of their singles, released from July 1961 to March 1964, and contributing to their 1964 Extended Play.
The Searchers
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.[3] He remained with them until they played their final gig in March 2019, when the Searchers retired the band.[4] The Searchers announced a 2023 tour, in which Allen will be performing.
Allen wrote a book of touring recollections called Travelling Man in 1999.[5] 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.[6]
Allen was heavily influenced by American rock and roll artists of the 1950s:[7]
The only mentors were the early rock and roll stars. It was Elvis and the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly and people like that, Little Richard, Fats Domino. In the main, Elvis changed everything for me. Lonnie Donegan of course in England. I suppose Lonnie to a very great extent because, although skiffle was a very short-lived fad and it was a very simple, very crude style of music, it allowed anyone who could play anything on a guitar at all to believe they can get up on stage and do something without any great amount of talent. Three chords and you were away, you could play with your friends and you could all hide each other’s faults.
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