Allan Schroeder - Radio Waves

Allan Schroeder was one of the original heroes of the MerseyBeat playing with Cliff Roberts & The Rockers and more famously The Black Knights who appeared in the film "Ferry Across The Mersey".

Allan is still involved in the scene and hosts a radio programme dedicated to the MerseyBeat every Monday. Details of how you can listen are shown at the foot of the page.

Allan has kindly send us some never before seen photos of the early days of Cliff Roberts & The Rockers.

 
Cliff & the Rockers who came into existence 1959 - 1960 we originated on the Wirral as a five piece skiffle type set up with a very young Cliff Roberts (Real Name ) on guitar / vocals
 
The line up was Cliff Roberts G/Vocals, Dave Schroeder guitar, Malcolm Linnell
bass guitar, Allan Schroeder drums, Roy McAllister guitar and Alfie Jones debbing because he was good at Skiffle.
 
We where happily playing at local parties weddings etc, I used the round end of a banjo as a drum until I ordered a sparkle piccolo snare drum and cymbal from the catalogue for which I waited, and waited, and waited..
 
We had one of those valve amps with a wire grating over it, and were very popular at the Grosvenor Ballroom Wallasey.
 
Cliff Richard and Move it then emerged and Cliff substituted his guitar for a white Jacket black shirt and white tie, etc.
 
Bob Evans of Bob Evans and the Five Shillings the top group on the Wirral at the time introduced us to the Liverpool scene by recommending us to Wally Hill we travelled by bus and boat to Hollyoak Hall, the Del Renas where on stage playing Red River Rock when we arrived,
 
We where now a Cliff and the Shadows act and from that moment we where booked solid at Holly Oak Hall. Blair Hall, Litherland Town Hall, Aintree Institute, Orrell Park, Lathom Hall, every where.
 
The line up now was Cliff, lead vocals, Frank Bowen, lead guitar, Dave Myers rhythm guitar, Malcolm Linnell bass guitar and Allan Schroeder drums.

 
We became good friends with Bob Wooler who asked us to do lunchtime sessions at the Cavern which meant packing up our jobs. I was eighteen and worked at Cadburys, Dave Myers and Frank Bowen where clerks on the railway. Malcolm Linnell was a shoe repairer and Cliff was in clothes shop work.
 
We invested in a full drum kit. ! phew! African violet suits, and purple ties. Cliff now had a pink jacket and white moccasins. ! ugh !
 
We used various modes of transport to get to the gigs, Uncle Charlie's Van, a sit up and beg ford pop, a television repair van ( Bedford) any good friend who could be used.
 
We were professional for a few months alternating lunchtime sessions at the Cavern with Derry and the Seniors, Cass and the Casanova's, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
 
Then the Beatles came home from Hamburg and spoiled everything.
 

From the original Cavern dressing room L to R lunchtime session
 
Drums: Allan Schroeder just in sight, Frank Bowen, Dave Myers, Malcolm Linnell.
 

The Shell Club Ellesmere Port.
 
L - R Malcolm Linnell, Cliff Roberts, Frank Bowen.

 
Cliff Roberts and the Rockers 2008 Fort Perch Rock.

Steve Roberts ( Cliff's younger Brother) Allan Schroeder, Cliff Roberts. Dave Myers,Wally Shepard.

The Black Knights and that Van

The Black Knights made the newspapers in 1964, but for all the wrong reasons. In those days just affording a van was a problem, so quality wasn't a consideration, you just needed something to get you to a gig, and in the case of the Black Knights with consequences.

 
ALLAN SCHROEDER
www.themerseybeatstory.piczo.com
Hear Allan on MERSEY WAVES Every Mon 8.00pm -10.00pm on 7 Waves Community Radio 92.1fm
 Streaming live on www.7waves.co.uk open the home page click on LISTEN LIVE at the top of the page
 For the very Best in MerseyBeat / Guests / Requests / Interviews / Competitions and much more.
Ring 0151 639 3094
  E-mail studio@7waves.co.uk