Ian Prowse set to play Liverpool Arts Club this weekend marking 20 years since ‘Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?’

Marking 20 years since the immortal Amsterdam hit ‘Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?’, Ian Prowse celebrates with a special re-release out 7th March and an anniversary tour around the UK.

A song that famously reduced the legendary John Peel to tears live on air, ‘Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?’ is a powerful single that has truly stood the test of time. With Ian Prowse’s heartfelt vocals journeying through the region’s astounding history (including the horrors of the Hillsborough disaster) and a gorgeous sweeping musicality, the track is one of the most noteworthy to originate from the ‘UK Capital of Pop’ this side of the millennium.

Now, the 2005 Amsterdam hit is being celebrated to mark its 20th anniversary, with a re-release lined up for 7th March and an extensive UK tour commencing on the same day. Also to look forward to is a mini-documentary featuring some famous faces, more details on this TBC.

Ian Prowse:

‘Writing “Does This Train Stop on Merseyside?” saved my life. After (first band) Pele ended, I couldn’t get arrested. Then this song arrived, and all the doors reopened for me, that was important.

‘That it was John Peel who first recognised its power is an eternal honour. I’m so glad to put it back out there again for its 20th birthday.

‘It’s not mine anymore, it’s yours.’

Merseyside hero Ian Prowse’s journey in music began with indie band Pele back in 1991. The band signed to Polydor and promptly had a Number 1 hit in South Africa with ‘Megalomania’. The band’s relentless touring won them a huge cult live following, with multiple successful headline UK tours. They also opened for The Pogues and Del Amitri on their respective 1992 sold out tours. Along with their acclaim won on the road, Pele saw significant radio success, with their first four singles hitting the BBC Radio 1 playlist. 

Ian then formed Amsterdam in 1999 – while the millennium was a slow start for the band, everything changed in 2005. Their classic hit ‘Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?’ had John Peel weeping live on air every time he played it, and the track was then covered by legend Christy Moore and taken to Number 1 in the Irish LP charts. Amsterdam signed to London independent label Beat Crazy, their first single cracking the top 40 at no.32.

Find out more on the Arts Club website.

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