The Merseybeats

The Merseybeats, originally known as the Mavericks and later the Pacifics, were formed in late 1960 by Tony Crane and Billy Kinsley in Liverpool, England. Their career began in earnest in the early 1960s after renaming themselves The Mersey Beats in February 1962 and becoming known as The Merseybeats soon after. The group initially consisted of Tony Crane (vocals, lead guitar), John Banks (drums), Aaron Williams (rhythm guitar), and Billy Kinsley (vocals, bass). Their first hit single was "It's Love That Really Counts" in 1963. In early 1964, the group underwent personnel changes but returned to its original lineup by the end of that year after several changes including Johnny Gustafson on bass. The Merseybeats' self-titled album was released in late 1964 and included notable tracks such as "Don't Turn Around" and "Wishin' And Hopin'". In early 1966, Crane and Kinsley formed a vocal duo called the Merseys. The Merseybeats continued to tour and release music, notably reuniting in 1993 after several occasional reunions during the 1970s and 1980s. Tony Crane's son Adrian joined the band permanently in 2000 with Billy Kinsley leaving in 2020.