The Undertakers’ Guitarist Geoff Nugent Dies Aged 71

Tributes have been paid to The Undertakers’ guitarist Geoff Nugent who has died. He passed away yesterday at the age of 71.

The Merseycats rock ‘n’ roll charity posted Mr Nugent’s photograph on their website with the words “too old to rock, too young to die”, describing him as “a great loss to the music scene on Merseyside”.

Meanwhile among the many tributes paid online was one from Ian McNabb who wrote “saddened to hear of the loss of the great Geoff Nugent. Thoughts with his family and friends. we have lots another great. Sleep well brother”, while the Merseyside branch of performers’ union Equity said: “So sad to hear of the death of a great Merseybeat legend and Equity member Geoff Nugent. An amazing musician and great guy.”

Mr Nugent was born in Liverpool in February 1943 within a couple of days of future Beatle George Harrison, and the two were childhood friends growing up in Speke, where they learned to play the guitar together.

The Undertakers were originally called Bob Evans and the Five Shillings, with Geoff Nugent singing and playing rhythm guitar. In 1959 they became The Vegas Five, one of the first rock and roll groups in Liverpool.

Over the years Mr Nugent raised many thousands of pounds for charity through work with the Merseycats and Merseyrats, and recently he had joined other musicians to record a song for the campaign for a statue to Brian Epstein. last month he had added his distinctive hand prints – he lost an index finger in an accident – to the Casbah Coffee Club Walk of Fame.

It is understood he had been due to play a gig last night but had not turned up. Meanwhile The Undertakers were due to travel to Hamburg this weekend to take part in the 55th anniversary of the Kaiserkeller, appearing on stage with singer Beryl Marsden.

Merseyrats founder Dave Jamieson, who has been friends with Mr Nugent since they were teenagers, said: “Geoff was a gentle man and would help anybody out. I run the Lathom (Hall) and he did the compèring.

“He was an absolutely brilliant musician and singer in one of the best bands to come out of Liverpool. If anyone should have made it then it should have been The Undertakers.”

And neighbour and friend Peter Hodgson added: “Geoff was an absolute diamond, an absolute gentleman.”