The Drifters set to appear at Manchester Palace Theatre

Aug 18 2010 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

IF YOU’RE looking for a job for life, don’t become a member of The Drifters!

The now infamous production line of performers within the 57-year-old group rolls into the Palace Theatre in Manchester next month as part of their latest UK tour.

As many acts strive to push boundaries, there is at least one with a foot planted firmly in the past.

Like groups such as The Temptations or The Four Tops, the current line-up of The Drifters is not the one which graced stages in the 1950s and 60s.

But perhaps dissimilar to the other two, The Drifters have always been more a vessel for singers than a group in the traditional sense, and it may come as a surprise that Michael Williams is one of over 60 different band members to perform under the Drifters banner.

“I was originally just a solo performer,” he remembers through a Deep South drawl. “I was playing a show in New York City when Tina Treadwell walked in.”

Treadwell is the daughter of George Treadwell who took ownership of the band in the 1950s – the name still belongs to the family.

“That’s how the group got together to begin with – it has never been the band members’ group. There have still been truly great names pass through the ranks – such as Ben E King. It’s just not a group in the classic sense.”

As one of the biggest selling bands of all time, The Drifters have collated a huge catalogue of over 50 hits, including timeless classics such as Saturday Night At The Movies, Under The Boardwalk, On Broadway, Up On The Roof, Come On Over To My Place and Kissing In The Back Row Of The Movies.

The group have sold in excess of 214 million singles and 114 million albums across the world and are also one of the longest serving bands in history.

Since 1953, apart from the aforementioned Ben E King, icons such as Clyde McPhatter, Charlie Thomas, Rudy Lewis and Johnny Moore have been part of the ‘immortal’ foursome.

WIth that in mind the current line up of Maurice Cannon, Steve King, Damion Charles and Williams say they are proud and honoured to be the latest chapter in the Treadwell dynasty and uphold the musical and performance values instilled by George Treadwell.

Williams concludes the group is more an academy: “I spent a year as an understudy before I got in full time.

“They still have this very old-school mentality. Everything is original and everyone keeps in line because you know as soon as you don’t – there’ll be someone else willing to jump right into your shoes.”

The Drifters’ appearance in Manchester coincides with the recent release of a brand new album The Drifters: Five Decades And Moore, in memory of the late, great Johnny Moore.

The show starts at 7.30pm on Wednesday, September 8. Tickets are £21, to book phone the box office on 0844 847 2277.