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History of Pacemakers Timeline

(1929–Present)

The history of pacemakers traces the development of electrical devices used to treat slow or irregular heart rhythms, from bulky external machines to sophisticated, minimally invasive implants. Less

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Go to: Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Formation and breakthrough

Gerry Marsden forms the group

1956

Gerry Marsden formed the group in 1956 with his brother Fred, Les Chadwick, and Arthur McMahon.

Image source: Gerry and the Pacemakers

Gerry Marsden forms the group

Arthur McMahon is replaced by Les Maguire

1961

Around 1961, Arthur McMahon, known as Arthur Mack, was replaced on piano by Les Maguire.

1960s career

The group begins recording

Jan 1963

The group began recording in January 1963 with “How Do You Do It?”, a song written by Mitch Murray.

Laurie releases the group’s recordings in the United States

1963

In the United States, the group’s recordings were released by the small New York City record label Laurie, which issued four singles during 1963 without success.

Marsden gives Shankly a copy of the single

1963

During a pre-season trip in 1963, Gerry Marsden gave Liverpool manager Bill Shankly a copy of the single. Shankly was said to have been in awe of the song.

Image source: You'll Never Walk Alone

Marsden gives Shankly a copy of the single

“How Do You Do It?” reaches number one

1963

The group’s recording of “How Do You Do It?” became part of its early breakthrough and established the band as a prominent Merseybeat act.

Laurie releases “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”

1964

After the Beatles broke through in January 1964, Laurie’s next regular single, “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying,” became a major hit.

Image source: Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying

Laurie releases “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”

Laurie couples “How Do You Do It?” with “You’ll Never Walk Alone”

1964

During 1964, Laurie paired “How Do You Do It?” with “You’ll Never Walk Alone” on a single identified as Laurie 3261, achieving some success.

Laurie couples “I Like It” with “Jambalaya”

1964

Laurie paired “I Like It” with “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” on Laurie 3271 during 1964, with some success.

“I’m the One” misses the top spot

Feb 1964

The band narrowly missed a fourth consecutive number one when “I’m the One” was held off the top spot for two weeks by fellow Liverpudlians the Searchers’ “Needles and Pins.”

The group appears in the T.A.M.I. Show

Dec 1964

The Pacemakers appeared in the landmark concert film T.A.M.I. Show, released in December 1964, alongside Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, James Brown, and the Rolling Stones.

Popularity declines on both sides of the Atlantic

1965

By late 1965, the group’s popularity was rapidly declining in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

The band stars in Ferry Cross the Mersey

1965

The band starred in the early 1965 film Ferry Cross the Mersey, for which Gerry Marsden wrote much of the soundtrack.

Image source: Ferry Cross the Mersey (film)

The band stars in Ferry Cross the Mersey

Marsden writes the Ferry Cross the Mersey soundtrack

1965

Gerry Marsden wrote much of the soundtrack for Ferry Cross the Mersey, the film in which the band starred in early 1965.

The group breaks up

1966

The group broke up in 1966, although singer, guitarist, and band leader Gerry Marsden reformed it on and off in subsequent years until his retirement in 2018.

The original group disbands

Oct 1966 - 1967

The group disbanded either in October 1966 or sometime in early-to-mid-1967. Much of its later recorded material was never released in the United Kingdom.

Reformations and recordings

Marsden reforms the group on and off

1966 - 2018

Following the group’s 1966 breakup, Gerry Marsden reformed the Pacemakers on and off through the subsequent years, continuing until his retirement in 2018.

Marsden works with Jose McLaughlin

1970

While working as a solo artist, Gerry Marsden began working with pianist and musical director Jose McLaughlin in 1970.

Image source: Gerry Marsden

Marsden works with Jose McLaughlin

Marsden and McLaughlin reform the Pacemakers

1972

In 1972, Gerry Marsden and Jose McLaughlin reformed the Pacemakers with fellow Liverpool musicians Billy Kinsley on bass and Pete Clarke on drums.

The reformed group records for the John Peel Show

Apr 1973

In April 1973, the second version of the group became the only Merseybeat band to record for the John Peel Show on BBC Radio.

Image source: John Peel

The reformed group records for the John Peel Show

The BBC recordings are released

Oct 2018

The tracks from the group’s 1973 John Peel Show appearance were included on Gerry and the Pacemakers Live at the BBC, released by Parlophone Records in October 2018.

Later years and legacy

Les Maguire joins the Royal Navy

1967 - 1985

Some time after the original lineup split during the 1960s, Les Maguire joined the Royal Navy. He was still serving and employed there during 1985.

Image source: Les Maguire

Les Maguire joins the Royal Navy

The Crowd records “You’ll Never Walk Alone”

1985

After the Bradford Football Club stadium tragedy in which 56 people were killed, Gerry Marsden formed the Crowd with other musicians, singers, and radio disc jockeys to produce a new version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

“Ferry Cross the Mersey” is revived for charity

1989

The title song was revived in 1989 as a charity single responding to the Hillsborough football crowd disaster. Marsden recorded it with other Liverpool stars, including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Holly Johnson, and it became another British number one.

Image source: Ferry Cross the Mersey

“Ferry Cross the Mersey” is revived for charity

The Hillsborough disaster claims 97 Liverpool fans

15 Apr 1989

The Hillsborough disaster occurred three days before Marsden joined other performers for the charity version of “Ferry Cross the Mersey.” The disaster was described as resulting in the deaths of 97 Liverpool F.C. fans.

Image source: Hillsborough disaster

The Hillsborough disaster claims 97 Liverpool fans

Marsden records the Hillsborough charity single

18 Apr 1989

Three days after the Hillsborough disaster, Gerry Marsden joined Paul McCartney, the Christians, Holly Johnson, and Stock, Aitken & Waterman to record a new version of “Ferry Cross the Mersey.”

Marsden collapses onstage in Newport

15 Mar 2017

On 15 March 2017, Gerry Marsden collapsed onstage because of a sore knee while performing at a concert in Newport, Wales.

Marsden announces his retirement

29 Nov 2018

Gerry Marsden announced his retirement on 29 November 2018 to spend more time with his family.

Marsden performs at Anfield

6 Jun 2019

Although retired, Marsden surprised Take That fans on 6 June 2019 by singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at the band’s show at Anfield, commemorating Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Tottenham.

Les Chadwick dies

26 Dec 2019

Les Chadwick, the original bass player, died on 26 December 2019.

Marsden releases an NHS tribute recording

2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Gerry Marsden released a new version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as a tribute to the National Health Service.

Gerry’s Pacemakers begin touring

2021

After Marsden’s death in 2021, bandmates from his final lineup returned to touring as Gerry’s Pacemakers, following Marsden’s request before he retired.

Gerry Marsden dies

3 Jan 2021

Gerry Marsden died on 3 January 2021 at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside after being diagnosed with a blood infection in his heart.

Les Maguire dies

25 Nov 2023

Les Maguire, the last surviving member of the classic 1960s lineup, died on 25 November 2023.

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Key Facts

  1. In 1929, Australian physician Mark Lidwill and physicist Edgar Booth developed one of the earliest artificial pacemakers, an external device used to stimulate the heart.
  2. In 1950, Canadian engineer John Hopps created a practical portable external pacemaker, helping advance cardiac pacing technology.
  3. The first successful implantable pacemaker was developed in 1958 by Swedish physician Åke Senning and engineer Rune Elmqvist and implanted in patient Arne Larsson.
  4. Early pacemakers had limited battery life, but the invention of the implantable lithium-iodine battery in the late 1960s greatly improved reliability and longevity.
  5. Modern pacemakers can sense the heart’s rhythm, adjust pacing automatically, and often be implanted through minimally invasive procedures.

Source

This History of Pacemakers timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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