Gerry Marsden dies age 78: You’ll Never Walk Alone singer passes away following short illness

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Gerry Marsden has died age 78 following a short illness.

The Gerry And The Pacemakers front-man – who famously sang You’ll Never Walk Alone – suffered an infection in his heart, it was announced on Sunday.

The news was broken by Gerry’s friend, radio host Pete Price, who shared a photograph of the pair together. 

Pete, 74, tweeted: ‘It’s with a very heavy heart after speaking to the family that I have to tell you the Legendary Gerry Marsden MBE after a short illness which was an infection in his heart has sadly passed away.

‘Sending all the love in the world to Pauline and his family. You’ll Never Walk Alone.’

Gerry is survived by wife Pauline Marsden, whom he married in 1965.

The couple have two daughters, Yvette and Victoria.

Gerry underwent a triple bypass heart surgery in 2003, before having a second heart operation in 2016, and ultimately had a pacemaker of his own fitted, which he once joked wasn’t ‘funny’ given his band’s name.

Asked last year whether he found it ironic that his band was called The Pacemakers, Gerry replied: ‘No. I’m wearing one, for Christ’s sake!’

At of the time of writing, Gerry’s family have not commented publicly on his passing.

Gerry And The Pacemakers achieved fame for their chart-topping hit, You’ll Never Walk Alone, in 1963, which led to the band’s local football club, Liverpool FC, adopting it as one of their traditional chants.

It is still sung by masses of fans to this day and was used across 2020 across the UK and Europe as an anthem of support for medical staff, first responders, and those in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gerry also had success with hits including I Like It, How Do You Do It, and Ferry Across The Mersey – the latter being a nod to Mersyside, where the band originated.

The band were the first ever act to reach number one in the UK charts with their first three single releases.

Gerry was part of the band with his brother Freddie Marsden, along with Les ‘Chad’ Chadwick and Arthur McMahon. They were tipped to rival the Beatles in their early days.

Freddie  – who was the band’s drummer – died in 2006, age 66, from cancer.

He had left the band when they disbanded in 1967. The Pacemakers reformed again in 1973, without Freddie, who was running a driving school by then.

They also reformed in 1993 to mark 30 years of the band. 

Gerry was a fixture on TV and the West End stage. But he quit showbusiness in November 2018.

He received an MBE for Services to Liverpudlian charities at Buckingham Palace in 2003, joined alongside two of his bandmates,

When awarded the honour by Prince Philip, the royal commented that it was nice to see the three old singers back together. Gerry famously replied: ‘Not so much of the old sir!’ 

As the news broke on Sunday, tributes flooded in for Gerry, including one from the ex-CEO of Liverpool FC, Peter Moore. 

‘Tragic news this morning. We have lost one of the most treasured members of the @LFC family. We were honoured to welcome Gerry to Anfield in 2018, and he rewarded us by singing YNWA just before kick off. #RIPGerry,’ was his tweet.

Liverpool FC echoed this on twitter, posting: ‘It is with such great sadness that we hear of Gerry Marsden’s passing. Gerry’s words will live on forever with us. You’ll Never Walk Alone.’

Piers Morgan tweeted: ‘RIP Gerry Marsden, 78. The man who with Gerry And The Pacemakers gave the people of Liverpool two of the city’s greatest anthems. Ferry Cross The Mersey and You’ll Never Walk Alone. Great singer, great character. Very sad news.’