Lyn Paul was a member of the New Seekers during the group's most successful years, from 1970 to '74. These pages provide a brief history of the New Seekers (line-up by line-up) with links to biographies and career profiles of the other group members and the team behind the scenes. Click on the name of a band member to find out more.
There are also discographies listing the New Seekers' singles, albums, videos and DVDs as well as the group's television appearances, including their appearances on Top Of The Pops.
From 1969 through to the present day the New Seekers have been through many line-ups. As one journalist put it: "Over the years, the group have seen more changes to their line-up than the Chelsea football team". The glory years came between 1970-74 and the line-ups that people remember most fondly are those that featured Lyn Paul, Peter Doyle, Peter Oliver and Eve Graham.
To find out more about each incarnation of the group click on the years listed in the table below.
Pictured (left to right):
Paul Layton, Vikki James, Marty Kristian, Donna Jones and Mick Flinn.
At the start of the 1990s the New Seekers were still performing at concert and cabaret venues in the UK and Europe. They also made a number of appearances on European TV shows, including Let's Have A Party in 1993 and the OPA Oldie Parade in 1994 and 1995. Vikki James joined the line-up and is pictured on a number of CDs released in Europe featuring re-recordings of the New Seekers' original hits.
In 1994 the New Seekers contributed two tracks to Thommy's Christmas Party - a double-CD released in Germany featuring Christmas songs recorded by acts from the 1960s and 1970s. The album was subsequently re-released as Christmas Stars Of The 70's.
As the '90s progressed the New Seekers continued to pop up on the nostalgia circuit. A concert on 28th March 1998 in Antwerp, where the New Seekers shared the stage with Dave Berry and The Marmalade, was later released on DVD as Vol. 4 of The Golden Years In Concert series.
In October 2000 the New Seekers performed at the Seventies Sensations concert at the OGAE Convention in Brighton. The show included all of the group's hits from the '70s, plus covers of The Seeker, I Can't Let Go, The First Cut Is The Deepest, Massachusetts and Wake Up Little Susie. As an encore the group performed Then Came You and Love Forever.
During 2001 Cathy Logan (pictured left with Mick Flinn, Marty Kristian and Donna Jones) performed with the New Seekers at three concerts - at the Antwerp Sports Palace (February), at Rhuren, Holland (22nd September) and at a "Danda Banda" charity gig in Brentwood (2nd November). Brian Engel also returned to the line-up for the gig in Holland (Mick Flinn and Donna Jones were in Australia at the time).
On 13th October 2001 former New Seeker Peter Doyle died from cancer. Peter had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999 - a particularly cruel irony. Despite radiotherapy treatment and the removal of his voice box, a tumour appeared in 2000 which could not be operated on. With his passing the music world lost one of its most under-rated talents.
Pictured (left to right):
Mark Hankins, Donna Jones, Paul Layton, Francine Rees and Mick Flinn.
2002 saw a number of new names in the New Seekers' line-up - Isobel Davies, Mark Hankins and Francine Rees.
Neither Vikki James nor Cathy Logan were available for an engagement on 22nd February at the Butlins holiday resort in Minehead, so the group asked Isobel Davies to join them on stage (Issy was a member of the ABBA tribute band Chiquitita and performed in the West End in Abbamania). Cathy returned to the line-up for the New Seekers' next gig on 2nd March at the Warners Bembridge Coast Hotel on the Isle of Wight.
On 27th April the New Seekers played at the Warners Nidd Hall Hotel, Harrogate. Missing from the line-up on this occasion was Marty Kristian. Mark Hankins, who would normally have played guitar in the New Seekers' backing band, stepped into the breach. Mark has continued to perform with the group ever since.
On 8th June an ex-schoolfriend of Lyn Paul's, Francine Rees, was the next to step into the breach, joining the New Seekers on stage for their gig at Warners Bodelwyddan Castle. Also joining the group that night (on backing guitar) was Fran's husband Roger Warburn. During the 1970s Fran and Roger performed as the duo Sam and Samantha and in 1976 released a single Music Music Music / Laughing Policeman (Alaska ALA 1017).
Other 2002 Cabaret Dates
18th October - Warners, Holme Lacy House
9th November - Butlins, Skegness
16th November - Pontins, Brean Sands
2003 Cabaret Dates
1st February - Warners, Lakeside
22nd March - Warners, Gunton Hall
9th April - Butlins, Skegness
27th September - Warners, Thoresby Hall Hotel, Notts.
2004 Cabaret Dates
7th March - Butlins, Skegness
22nd May - Warners, Littlecote House Hotel, Hungerford
25th September - Warners, Thoresby Hall Hotel, Notts.
23rd October - Warners, The Bembridge Coast Hotel, Isle of Wight
12th November - Butlins, Skegness
29th January - Warners, Cricket St. Thomas, Chard, Somerset
6th March - Butlins, Skegness
11th April - Butlins, Skegness
7th May - Warners, Alveston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire
15th October - Warners, Gunton Hall, Suffolk
29th October - Warners, Cricket St. Thomas, Chard, Somerset [show cancelled]
20th December - Warners, Nidd Hall Hotel, Harrogate
In the Autumn of 2005 ex-New Seeker Eve Graham emerged from retirement to promote a new CD and DVD, The Mountains Welcome Me Home.Keith Potger, who founded the New Seekers in 1969, also released a solo CD, Secrets Of The Heart. Meanwhile, it was announced that the New Seekers would be undertaking a full-scale tour of the UK in 2006. The group refreshed its stage act, adding the song Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream, featuring Francine on lead vocal, and re-introducing an old favourite When I Was Small. In December 2005 the New Seekers Official Facebook Page/a> was launched.
2006 Concert and Cabaret Dates
Saturday, 4th February - Warners Hotel, Sinah Warren, Hayling Island
Saturday, 25th February - The Stables, Milton Keynes
Thursday, 23rd March - Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone
Saturday, 1st April - The Forum, Malvern
Wednesday, 5th April - Leeds City Variety, Leeds
Friday, 7th April - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton [show cancelled]
Saturday, 8th April - Plaza Theatre, Stockport
Sunday, 9th April - Theatre Royal, St. Helens
Thursday, 20th April - Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe
Friday, April 28th - Pavilion Theatre, Cromer
Friday, 5th May - Arts Centre, Haverhill
Saturday, 6th May - Marina Theatre, Lowerstoft
Thursday, 11th May - Palace Theatre, Mansfield
Saturday, 13th May - Pavilion Theatre, Worthing
Friday, 19th May - Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar
Sunday, 21st May - Town Hall, High Wycombe
Thursday, May 25th - Tameside Theatre, Grays, Essex
Saturday, 3rd June - Oakengates Theatre, Telford
Saturday, 10th June - Orchard Theatre, Dartford [show cancelled]
Thursday, 15th June - Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
Saturday, 24th June -Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn
Saturday, 15th July - Theatre Royal, Margate
Sunday, 16th July - Pavilion Theatre, Weymouth
Friday, 28th July - Playhouse Theatre, Whitley Bay
Saturday, 5th August - 'Music By Twilight' charity show, Rickmansworth
Sunday, 20th August - Playhouse Theatre, Weston Super Mare
Friday, 25th August - Saturday, 26th August - Pizza on the Park, London
Friday, 8th September - Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
Saturday, 9th September - Millfield Theatre, Edmonton
Saturday, 23rd September - Warners, Thorsby Hall Hotel, Notts.
Friday, 6th October - Playhouse Theatre, Harlow
Sunday, 29th October - Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock
Saturday, 9th December - Warners, The Bembridge Coast Hotel, Isle of Wight
On Friday, 23rd June 2006, mid-way through their UK tour, the New Seekers appeared on the TV show This Morning, hosted by Ruth Langsford and Philip Schofield (ITV1, 10.30am - 12.30pm). The group closed the show with a rendition of I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, performed outdoors on the south bank of the River Thames. On 7th December, two days before their last live date of the year, the New Seekers performed at the annual Christmas party for war veterans organised by the Not Forgotten Association. The party was held at St. James's Palace and was attended by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
February 2007 saw the release of a CD, The New Seekers Live In Concert, recorded during the group's tour of the UK the previous year. The New Seekers then embarked on another tour, starting on Thursday, 15th March with a reunion concert with Keith Potger, the ex-Seeker who had created the "new" group after the original Seekers had disbanded.
2007 Concert and Cabaret Dates
Thursday, 15th March - Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon
Saturday,17th March - Medina Theatre, Newport, Isle of Wight
Saturday, 31st March - Palace Theatre, Redditch
Thursday, 5th April - Civic Theatre, Doncaster
Saturday, 14th April - Y Theatre, Leicester [show cancelled]
Sunday, 22nd April - Town Hall, Cheltenham
Wednesday, 25th April - Warners Hotel, Bembridge, Isle of Wight
Saturday, 5th May - Babbacombe Theatre, Babbacombe,Torquay
Thursday, 10th May - Pacific Arts Centre, Liverpool
Saturday, 12th May - Royal Hippodrome, Eastbourne
Sunday, 20th May - Ferneham Hall, Fareham
Tuesday, 29th May - Civic Theatre, Darlington
Saturday, 2nd June - Palace Theatre, Newark
Friday, 22nd June - Bescot Stadium, Walsall
Saturday, 23rd June - Pavilion Theatre, Weymouth
Saturday, 30th June - Palace Theatre, Watford
Saturday, 21st July - Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl
Saturday, 28th July - The Sands, Gainsborough
Saturday, 25th August - Pizza on the Park, London [show cancelled]
Saturday, 1st September - Woodville Halls, Gravesend
Saturday, 8th September - Warners Hotel, Harrogate
Saturday, 15th September - Princess Theatre, Clacton On Sea
Sunday, 16th September - Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage
Saturday, 22nd September - Hotham Arts Centre, Bognor Regis
Saturday, 6th October - Lyme Bay Village, Seaton
Saturday, 20th October - Botley Hill Farm, Warlingham
Saturday, 27th October - Regent Centre, Christchurch
In July the New Seekers took time out from their tour to attend the Not Forgotten Association's annual garden party for war veterans at Buckingham Palace. In September the group attended another charity event, this time a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of Patti Boulaye's 'Football Reaching Out For Africa'. The New Seekers closed the first half of the show with Never Ending Song Of Love and I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing.
The New Seekers toured again in 2008. Publicity material for the second show of the tour at the Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, mentioned Lyn Paul's name, implying that Lyn would be appearing in concert with the New Seekers. The gaffe was quickly corrected but, lest there be any doubt, Lyn sent a message to her fans.
2008 Concert and Cabaret Dates
Thursday, 13th March - Town Hall, Hartlepool
Thursday, 27th March - Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon
Friday, 4th April - Pizza Express, Dean Street, London
Saturday, 5th April - Pizza Express, Dean Street, London
Saturday, 26th April - Playhouse Theatre, Weston Super Mare
Saturday, 10th May - Theatre Royal, Wakefield
Saturday, 7th June - Brycheiniog Theatre, Brecon
Saturday, 14th June - Artrix Theatre, Bromsgrove
Saturday, 21st June - Plaza Theatre, Stockport
Friday, 27th June - Kings Theatre, Southsea
Saturday, 12th July - Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Friday, 15th August - Pavilion Theatre, Exmouth
Thursday, 21st August - Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl
Saturday, 23rd August - Garrick Theatre, Lichfield
Saturday, 6th September - Grand Theatre, Lancaster
Saturday, 13th September - Medina Theatre, Newport, Isle of Wight
Saturday, 27th September 27th - Forum Theatre, Billingham
Friday, 3rd October 3rd - Elgiva Theatre, Chesham
Saturday, 4th October - Radlett Centre, Radlett, Herts.
Saturday, 11th October - Towngate Theatre, Basildon
Saturday, 18th October - Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis
Saturday, 25th October - Harlequin Theatre, Redhill
On Wednesday, 18th June 2008 the New Seekers performed at a special show for Veterans Day produced by The Not Forgotten Association at The Tower of London. Less than five weeks later, on Monday, 21st July, the New Seekers attended the Not Forgotten Association's annual garden party at Buckingham Palace.
In January 2009 the New Seekers embarked on a 40th anniversary tour. Prior to their first show at the Shaw Theatre on 31st January, Mick Flinn, Donna Jones and Paul Layton appeared on the BBC's early morning show, Breakfast. As a reminder of the group's glory days, the BBC showed a couple of clips of the hit-making line-up featuring Lyn Paul and Eve Graham. See the clips on YouTube.
In 2010 the New Seekers scaled back their concert and cabaret appearances, reverting to 'one off' shows and private functions.
2010 Cabaret and Concert Dates
3rd April - Warners, Alveston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire
19th June - East of England Showground, Peterborough
27th June - Beaconsfield Golf Club
31st July - Warners Hotel, Sinah Warren, Hayling Island
5th August - Coronation Hall, Mundesley, Norfolk
13th August - Bilzen Belgium Festival
31st August - Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn
2011 brought the sad news that Cathy Logan had died after a long battle with cancer. Cathy, who was first known to New Seekers' fans as Kathy Ann Rae, had replaced Lyn Paul in the New Seekers' line-up in 1976. She died on 11th January.
February 2011 brought better news: on 28th February a CD of long-lost demo recordings was released by Marty Kristian. The CD, titled Echoes, included Marty's demo of Love On Your Mind, the song that Cathy Logan had sung in the 1983 Song For Europe contest as a member of the trio Audio.
During 2001 
