THE current line-up of Motown legends The Drifters stop off in Wirral as part of their current tour next month.

Pierre Herelle, Michael Williams, Ryan King and Carlton Powell will be on stage at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on Sunday, January 25 promoting their brand new album La Vie et L'amour (Life and Love).

The Drifters were founded in June 1953 by George Treadwell and Ahmet Ertegun - founder of Atlantic Records.

Their most famous hits include Come on Over to My Place, Under The Boardwalk, and Up on the Roof  and they have gone on to sell more than 214 million singles and 114 million albums worldwide.

They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 in recognition of their global success spanning almost six decades.

The 2014 Spring Summer tour continues to celebrate 60th Anniversary. The current line up perform hits the band's greatest hits. 

Current Drifters member, Michael Williams, said: "The Drifters music is very uplifting and upbeat and the new recordings have been a great success with public.

"The idea of the tour is to honour all of the members before us that have made this brand the successful Dynasty it has become today."

With the exception of the much loved icon Johnny Moore, the current line up is the only complete line up in the group's history to have recorded on both of the group’s historic labels – Atlantic Records with the release in 2009 of Five Decades & Moore and, in 2011 on Sony Music.

Michael Williams continued: "The only original member of The Drifters was in fact Clyde McPhatter who founded the group with George Treadwell and Ahmet Ertegun in 1953.

"Since then there has been a succession of over 65 vocalists throughout the years and many members have come and gone from the line up several times."

Asked why the line-up is constantly changing, Michael said: "George Treadwell realised in the early 1950s that the name of the group was in fact much bigger than the sum of its parts and that he could maintain a quality level by replacing members.

"George would often bring in new, younger line up members to help ensure both the fresh appeal and the longevity of the group.

"Members left for a variety of reasons including dissatisfaction in pay and working conditions or internal conflicts and many would leave, and sometimes return, due to military call up to the army."

He added: "The group has progressed through the years and has evolved musically to stay ahead of changing musical trends.

"There have been numerous musical reincarnations of this group from early doo wop to early rock n roll and pop and on to disco right through to the more recent musical reinvention of the group with brand new contemporary material."

The Floral Pavilion show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are from www.floralpavilion.co.uk or 0151 666 0000.

The Globe has two pairs of tickets to give away for the show. The prize includes a chance to meet the band afterwards.

For a chance to win tell us the name of their new album.

Send the answer to: Drifters comp, Wirral Globe, Haymarket Court, Hinson Street, Birkenhead CH41 5BX.

The entry deadline is 5pm on Wednesday, January 8.