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Post by dirtyfaz on Oct 26, 2016 23:09:32 GMT
A couple of years back my partner got tickets to the Beach Boys. Me in my infinite wisdom blurted out they are not the real Beach Boys and only contain one real BB and another who was a sometimes BB. She got kinda shirty on me about doing that as I seemed to do to all the old bands we went to see. Learnt my lesson and now keep my mouth shut about such things.
I also did that about the Hollies when we went to see them. Don't do it anymore.
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malco
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Post by malco on Oct 27, 2016 1:33:12 GMT
when The Searchers recorded 'when You Walk In The Room' both frank Allen and Mike Pender co sang lead.
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Post by eric on Oct 27, 2016 10:03:43 GMT
I used to question the validity of bands that possessed very few of their original members. I even wondered whether or not I should go to see The Hollies without any of Messrs Clarke, Nash, Sylvester, Calvert and Haydock in the line-up. Thankfully, I went to see the Peter Howarth led Hollies who thrilled me (and the large audience) with a great performance. I have also enjoyed stunning performances by Brian Wilson and his band and The Who, both acts missing essential original members.
For me, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott provide a significant musical and emotional link to the band’s past. But more importantly, they have preserved the integrity of The Hollies’ music by engaging excellent musicians and maintaining elite standards of performance. I believe that Brian Wilson (and Al Jardine), Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey have done the same. In short, they are all great acts that are well worth the price of admission.
It does not concern me to hear Howarth sing lead on the classics sung by Clarke. Nor does it concern me that Al Jardine’s son sings some high parts that Brian and Carl Wilson used to sing. It is just such a pleasure to hear the music of The Hollies, The Beach Boys and The Who played live, and played so well. We are very fortunate that The Hollies (and the others) continue to perform for us and it will be a sad time indeed when they call it a day.
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Post by gee on Oct 27, 2016 12:02:48 GMT
Later versions of a group keep a band's 'flag flying' I feel...and the public will always want to be entertained
I recall that a latter day version of the Merseybeat group The Fourmost had NO orginial members and were unkindly tagged by some in Liverpool as; 'The FRAUDmost' !
but even today the current touring version of 'The Fourmost' actually DOES have a present day band members link directly back to the original sixties outfit...
today they are led by drummer/vocalist Kevin Clarkson, who has been drummer for quite a long time now and he was in the band alongside now retired longtime bassist/vocalist Bill Haisman...while Bill was in the band alongside original member guitarist/vocalist Brian O'Hara (Bill had replaced original bassist/vocalist Billy Hatton in the 80's) - so the overlap of new band members gradually coming in over a very long time period is there linking today's touring version of The Fourmost back to the hit making sixties version of the band...
the original sixties Fourmost were forced to change their personnel too bringing in George Peckham on guitar/vocals in early 1966 when Mike Millward sadly died of leukaemia at a young age (Their pals The Beatles sent a wreath to Mike's funeral)
so change is inevitable over time, and today's 'Fourmost' ARE the descendant band from the original version...just as the current Hollies, Searchers, Dakotas etc all are too...
recently Chicago at long last were finally inducted into that R'n'R Hall of Fame - only the original 'Magnificent Seven' members were inducted tho' almost an entire second eleven members have been part of Chicago since....fair enough the originals are THE Chicago of course but it's true to say the versions since are part of the ongoing group legacy too
In The Hollies case Alan Coates was not always recognised as a 'true Hollie' tho' he sang on records - including a UK chart single 'The Woman I Love' and German chart single 'Stand By Me' and gave the band around 18 years service on and off...longer than Nash / Sylvester combined !
so while the MAIN seven Hollies members during their hit making days were those inducted to that Hall of Fame figures such as; Don Rathbone, Mike Rickfors, Alan Coates, Steve Stroud, Denis Haines, Carl Wayne, and the current quartet alongside Tony and Bobby ARE 'Hollie' members too as far as I'm concerned (there were a few other keyboardist 'sidemen' like Dave Carey and the odd deputy like Jamie Moses etc , but those I would not consider proper band members really as they were brief additional musicians )
Hollies 'newboys' Peter Howarth and Steve Lauri have been in the band over TWELVE years now and appeared on three albums (doesn't time fly ?)
so I think original members plus key later members are THE members...but later proper band members again even in just 'touring' eras after hits and records have ended DO deserve proper credit as band members (as opposed to clear 'sidemen' or women helping out etc)
don't get me started on groups like The Moody Blues later trying to 'airbrush out' of their history keyboardist Patrick Moraz (who was there from mid 1978 to 1991) doing that in retrospect following bitter legal issues (after they had promoted Moraz to their public as being a full band member themselves in summer 1978 and had duly credited him as such on four studio albums and in band photos etc !)
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Post by gee on Oct 27, 2016 15:52:58 GMT
Re The Searchers - John McNally was the founder and today he's viewed as their leader - however looking back at those early sixties days it seems hard to believe John really was their 'leader' then
Indeed if anything John looked to be the most junior Searcher then
- Chris Curtis was their spokesman, a co-lead vocalist, chief songwriter, chief song finder, the one who got interviewed most...while Tony Jackson and Mike Pender were main co-lead vocalists, Mike was lead guitarist
John rarely sang at all - only 'High Heel Sneakers' and 'Everything You Do' on the early albums, often in performances he just strummed his backup guitar and grinned !
even later on in 1965 when they sang 'When I Get Home' on the 'Sunday Night at The London Palladium' DVD it's notable that Mike sings lead and plays lead guitar, Chris sings high harmony vocals and plays drums, even Frank Allen has a featured vocal part, sings backup vocals and plays bass guitar....John just strums his guitar and doesn't sing at all
John apparently had wanted 'This Empty Place' as a 1964 single...but clearly his views didn't count anywhere near as much with producer Tony Hatch as those of Chris Curtis at that time
later around the time of the 'Take Me For What I'm Worth' album in 1965 John's profile increased, he had a couple of his songs on that album then after Chris left in 1966 John became regular third harmony vocalist and took a higher profile generally
but circa 1961-64 if John really was their band leader back then...he certainly hid it well !
I saw The Searchers in concert several times - one of the best ever was on their named '20th Anniversary' tour in 1982 (tho' I think they actually formed in 1961)
it was the long serving Mike Pender / John McNally / Frank Allen / Billy Adamson line up, and they had just done the two superb albums on Sire Records, plus a new single 'I Don't Want To Be The One' which they sang with the setlist alternating famous old sixties hits/album and EP tracks with modern album tracks from the 1979 and 1981 Sire albums; 'Searchers' and 'Play For Today'
they kicked off with; 'Sweets For My Sweet' then did 'Hearts in Her Eyes' then 'When You Walk in The Room' etc....it was a really brilliant concert !
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Post by JamesT on Oct 27, 2016 19:12:00 GMT
Those two Sire albums are wonderful; I only wish they'd play more from these in concert these days. The Searchers still perform a wonderful show these days.
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Post by gee on Oct 27, 2016 19:46:54 GMT
I have a Searchers in Concert DVD featuring Spencer James in place of Mike Pender - it's good but annoyingly there are interviews BETWEEN songs - why not put those at the end of the concert Spencer was slim with a mop of curly blonde hair when he joined the group...now he's 'tubby' and Bald and looks like a Teddy bear ! lol he's good singer/guitarist tho' and 'Somebody Told Me You Were Crying' is a stand out song from his era I agree they ought to feature tracks from the two Sire albums more
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Post by johnt on Oct 27, 2016 19:53:58 GMT
I used to question the validity of bands that possessed very few of their original members. I even wondered whether or not I should go to see The Hollies without any of Messrs Clarke, Nash, Sylvester, Calvert and Haydock in the line-up. Thankfully, I went to see the Peter Howarth led Hollies who thrilled me (and the large audience) with a great performance. I have also enjoyed stunning performances by Brian Wilson and his band and The Who, both acts missing essential original members. For me, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott provide a significant musical and emotional link to the band’s past. But more importantly, they have preserved the integrity of The Hollies’ music by engaging excellent musicians and maintaining elite standards of performance. I believe that Brian Wilson (and Al Jardine), Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey have done the same. In short, they are all great acts that are well worth the price of admission. It does not concern me to hear Howarth sing lead on the classics sung by Clarke. Nor does it concern me that Al Jardine’s son sings some high parts that Brian and Carl Wilson used to sing. It is just such a pleasure to hear the music of The Hollies, The Beach Boys and The Who played live, and played so well. We are very fortunate that The Hollies (and the others) continue to perform for us and it will be a sad time indeed when they call it a day. I agree with Eric. I still go and see the Hollies whenever I can and I will while Bobby and Tony are still there. Only last week, we combined a holiday in Devon and Cornwall with Hollies concerts in Barnstaple and Truro. A 800 mile round trip altogether. I like to listen to the reaction of the audience during and after the concerts. There were standing ovations at both venues which were full houses and I heard people saying that was one of the best concerts they had ever seen. Everyone appeared to have a good time and that's what it's all about. By the way, Bobby is three-quarters of the way through writing his book, apparently. I also pulled in a Searchers concert earlier this year and they are still good to watch. They have a new drummer since the last time I saw them who has settled in well. One thing I like about a Searchers concert is that they stay around for a while after each concert, happily chatting to fans and signing autographs.
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Post by gee on Oct 28, 2016 12:12:10 GMT
Interesting point here about seeing The Hollies while Tony and Bobby are still there...
neither are getting any younger are they ? - so when the time comes they do decide to finally 'call it a day' and retire from playing, probably departing the band together, they may well formally disband the group...and 'retire' the band name.
OR they might choose to become the 'executive managers' and perhaps appoint Ray Stiles as their group leader with Bobby picking and training up a decent new drummer well before he steps down
they might keep the band going for touring purposes, if only to ensure they rake in the majority of the cash from shows their band name will attract (we all know that a zillion guys WILL leap up with 'their' Hollies tribute bands IF the official band disbands when Tony and Bobby retire, as The Hollies vast back catalogue of songs is already in place...and people will always want to hear them performed live)
with Peter Howarth lead vocals, Steve Lauri high harmony vocals, plus Ray Stiles harmony vocals and Ian Parker vocals too they already have FOUR singers all of whom can sing lead vocals so the overall vocal sound won't change very much even minus Tony, while Steve Lauri is a lead guitarist so really only a new drummer would be required to complete a five piece performing concert group.
remember Ray Stiles was vocally 'underpinning' Allan Clarke's deteriorating lead voice for a good while in the late 90's....and most people never even noticed !
Ian could sing 'We're Through', Steve sing 'King Midas...' and 'I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top', Ray sing 'Tiger Feet' while Peter does his acoustic solo spot...that's a chunk of the concert show already in place....
with Howarth-Stiles-Lauri-Parker doing the vocal harmonies and Peter singing the songs we all know....
really only Steve needs to learn to play the banjo and guitar/sitar (if he doesn't already) and Tony could teach him those if required again well before he steps down...
Some will REFUSE out of hand to watch them - the 'there's NO original members left' line doesn't really wash as NONE of the first 'Hollies' line up from 1962 have been there since Allan Clarke retired in 1999 ! - but given they won't vocally be that different and will still be doing the same setlist of hits etc that is just people's own choice to REFUSE to accept them as 'The Hollies' (some already don't of course) - if they are playing in your town and you refuse to go...who's really missing out ?
BUT the wider public will very likely quite readily 'accept' them without question won't they...?
and any ongoing 'post Hicks-Elliott' Hollies would continue to do what they have been doing for a long time now, entertain the paying wider public, and 'plug' the classic band's back catalogue
some fans would then call them just a 'Tribute band' and NEVER 'accept' them of course - but in the wider scope of things that doesn't really matter much does it...?
those who don't like the current line up have given up already...while many of those who DO like them would very likely accept a revised line up that still featured the same lead singer, high harmony vocalist, and tight harmonies with a decent guitarist - all of which would still be in place...
the current core band with a new drummer certainly could go on provided Tony and Bobby wanted it too
I expect MANY folks who post here might not want that...but given how less and less decent bands there are playing sixties/seventies etc music (besides 'pub bands' standard etc) - what would YOU think re the idea of them continuing on after Tony & Bobby do inevitably retire ?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2016 14:23:25 GMT
Ray Stiles is only 11 months younger than Tony Hicks. So there's probably an equal chance on who retires first.
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Post by cameron on Oct 31, 2016 20:56:59 GMT
I think with the Hollies, Tony and Bobby are a very integral part of the Hollies sound - their playing is very recognisable and dare I say it, iconic. That's what gave them the courage to carry on I think. Allan was THE voice of the Hollies though; we saw how the Mikael Rockfors fronted Hollies really struggled and the press gave them a hard time despite them turning out arguably two of the best albums that the Hollies ever produced, but because Allan Clarke wasn't singing on it, everyone was losing their minds. This is what annoys me: Mikael Rickfors was a great bluesy singer who had that way of conveying emotion like Allan Clarke did, I can see why Tony thought him a logical replacement. But even the Hollies themselves seem to brush over that phase of their career, and it's only in the last ten years that 'The Baby' has cropped up in their recent live set. But when Allan retired and Carl Wayne moved in, it was like the tables had completely turned and Carl was celebrated for taking up the role of their lead singer. Fair enough, Carl, like Mikael, had a strong unique voice and he was constantly crossing the line of pushing himself to the limit vocally. I just don't think that Peter Howarth sings in the same style as those three whatsoever. He's a very talented session singer who's musically trained and technically perfect. But that doesn't excite me as a listener. It's all a bit sleek sounding, missing an "edge" that certainly gave the early Hollies records something unique. People would applaud Allan for hitting the long 16 bar note in 'The Air That I Breathe' at the end of their set because you could see how much he was putting in to hit the notes. Peter just breezes it, he can do it no problem, night after night. It's not the same - does that make sense?
And then there's the vocal blend - Tony was always a fairly "anonymous voice" in the mix, quite hard to pick out sometimes. Their secret was always the soaring high harmony, again, Terry Sylvester fitting the bill perfectly and his replacement Alan Coates, who arguably sounded even more like Nash than Sylvester did! That is lost now, despite having an extra singer on stage! Interesting how you compare them to the Brian Wilson Band, Brian has bought in younger singers who can hit his original falsetto notes, and that's why they're the better band of the two Beach Boys outfits because their sound is more like the original records. People want nostalgia, people want the originals, I don't think the Hollies will carry on when Bobby and Tony retire because they know this too. I think they're just enjoying themselves, not taking it all too seriously and enjoying it while it lasts and so are the fans who want to see them. You can't blame anyone for that. We could sit here all day demanding Allan and Graham back, but that wouldn't be the same either. I personally view the Hollies as they were and the Hollies as they are now as two completely different bands. When you take it in that context, it's not so bad.
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Post by gee on Nov 1, 2016 10:26:53 GMT
Tony Hicks voice turns two distinctive harmony singers - Clarke/Nash or Clarke/Sylvester - into a complete 'unified sound'
'Stewball' (1966) and 'Be With You' (1976) are two most interesting songs as each have sections sung by Clarke...on to the duo of Clarke/Nash or Clarke/Sylvester...then the complete 'Hollies sound' of first Clarke-Hicks-Nash and later Clarke-Hicks-Sylvester where in both cases we can clearly see how Tony's voice slots in between the very distinctive lead and high harmony voices to create a unique unified sound
Besides their soaring high harmony sound Nash had both a dynamic and haunting voice (i.e. 'I've Got A Way of My Own' / 'Stop Right There') while Sylvester had both the emotive and intimate voice ('Cable Car' / 'Mr. Heartbreaker')
....and each perfectly suited their respective eras - say 'Just One Look', 'Bus Stop', 'On A Carousel'....then 'He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother', 'Gasoline Alley Bred' and 'The Air That I Breathe'
Alan Coates had a fine 'Nash like' voice that made an important addition later too - his high harmonies were strong and combined well with Clarke and Hicks, notably on; 'Shine Silently', 'Stand By Me' and 'Find Me A Family',
Mike Rickfors, Carl Wayne, and Peter Howarth have each made their notable contributions too but the 'Classic Hollies' vocal sound was of Allan Clarke's assertive voice combined with strong distinctive high harmonies of Graham Nash and Terry Sylvester, unified into one 'sound' by Tony Hicks harmonising voice
Maurice Gibb did likewise for Barry and Robin's voices in The Bee Gees too.
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Post by cameron on Nov 2, 2016 19:39:09 GMT
I get what you're saying, and as a Hollie-nut I can pick his voice out but it took me a few years after discovering the Hollies to be able to pick Tony's voice out in the mix. They do a similar vocal arrangement as detailed above in their live version of Amazing Grace circa 1970 - 1976 and Tony's lower harmony rounds it off beautifully. It's most noticeable here because there's no accompaniment as they're singing A Capella.
Tony has an INCREDIBLE ear for harmony. Allan and Graham/Terry generally always sang in thirds or octaves but Tony just does it own thing. It's incredible, because it's not always logical but it always works. He's not just an octave lower in the bass register like just about every other lower harmony singer on the planet, he sings his own little arrangements with some interesting melodic progressions. I think a folk influence plays a part there. I remember he once said in an interview of those early 1980's sessions with Bruce Welch that he'd turn up to the studio with vocal scores and tell Tony off for not following them, but then admit that what Tony was actually singing not only sounded "right" but sounded nicer than what had been written in the score! Tony joked that he was relieved that his inability to read musical notation went un-noticed! Haha.
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Post by gee on Nov 2, 2016 19:59:26 GMT
a couple of interesting tracks re Tony's voice are;
'Look at Life' (1969) - Tony sings lead with Terry high harmony, no Allan Clarke voice for once, so we see how Tony's lead voice differs a little from his lower harmony voice
'Hearts Don't Lie' (2009/10) - Peter Howarth sings lead but Tony does ALL the harmony voices credited as 'close mike harmony'
besides Peter singing 'forever' on the fadeout Tony does all the vocals on 'Dolphin Days' too of course, and he harmonises with himself on 'Pegasus' (1967) and 'Hillsborough' (1989) too
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Post by cameron on Nov 3, 2016 3:36:44 GMT
Tony sings the bridge on 'Look Through Any Window'
the middle verse on 'Carrie Anne'
the second verse on 'Open Up Your Eyes'
and less recognisably, the bridge section on 'Won't You Feel Good That Morning'
solo vocal on 'Born A Man'
but I think that's just about it in terms of the solo spotlight. He was a reluctant singer by his own admittance.
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Post by knut on Nov 3, 2016 9:39:08 GMT
Back to the status of The Hollies vs other bands below the Beatles in the 60's. Have a look at the NME poll charts.
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Post by gee on Nov 3, 2016 14:43:54 GMT
Interesting those chart placings there Knut !
note how back then at the time of the late sixties/early seventies 'the group's group' The Hollies actually got ABOVE so many of the 'classic bands' that so many writers and later fans have enthused about as being so influential (notably Stones, Who, Kinks etc....)
twice The Hollies top The Rolling Stones position ...and look just where The Who are each year ?
The Tremeloes were pretty high up the listings from 1967 onwards too...ironic that Christie were placed above them in 1970...when their big hit 'Yellow River' was actually The Tremeloes playing !
The Shadows incredibly still made the top twenty in both 1969 and 1970 - despite disbanding at the end of 1968...and just reforming (minus Bruce Welch) for a short Far East set of shows in 1969 and a studio album 'Shades of Rock' in 1970 but did no UK live shows
interesting how in 1967 The Seekers were ABOVE The Jimi Hendrix Experience...!
- the biggest selling UK chart album of 1969...'Abbey Road' ?, 'Let it Bleed' ?, 'Nashville Skyline' ?, 'Hair' Soundtrack ? - no 'The Best of The Seekers' !
I was surprised when I discovered 'In The Hollies Style' WAS in the NME 'Top Twenty' albums chart...yet curiously never charted in the BBC official album chart I think they got from 'Record Mirror' - a strange discrepancy
re Tony Hicks, he also took a featured verse lead vocal on 'Too Much Monkey Business' (1964) and note how his lower harmony vocal 'rises up' in the harmonized sound towards the fore in the repeated vocal conclusion of 'When I'm Yours' (1979)
- Tony sang on some early hits in full harmony of course such as 'Just One Look' and 'Here I Go Again' etc...and he also took a co-lead vocal feature on his 'Blue in The Morning' (sung in full harmony) in 1972 on 'Romany' album, and quite a bit of 'The Last Wind' (1973) was sung in CSN style full harmony too.
Tony has said that when he played his demo of 'Pegasus' to Graham Nash he was quite ready to 'bin it' if Nash wasn't impressed...but Graham loved it and told Tony he should sing it himself...!
so Tony was indeed never a great fan of doing the leads himself, and with Allan, Graham, Terry, Mike, Carl, Peter etc probably was quite content to just do the lower harmony vocals
in concerts Tony sang most of his 'Long Dark Road' of course, and later did a fine rendition of the old McGuinness Flint hit; 'When I'm Dead and Gone' (they should have recorded that with a Hicks lead vocal I think)
- apparently they first had Peter sing 'Dolphin Days' but Peter then said Tony really ought to do it being an 'ex-Dolphin', so even now Tony needs a 'prod' to take the lead vocal role
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Post by cameron on Dec 4, 2016 10:22:09 GMT
It's just been announced on the Tremeloes' Facebook page that as of December 8th, 2016, the Tremeloes will be no longer. Original drummer Dave Munden is leaving. The three other members plus a new drummer will tour as "The Sound Of The Tremeloes" but it's another 60's band that are calling it a day after being available to see live in one guise or another for 50 years.
Now we have a Hollies and Tremeloes similarity: December 8th was the date of the Hollies' last concert with Graham Nash in 1968 and will be the last date that the Tremeloes play.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 10:44:22 GMT
It's just been announced on the Tremeloes' Facebook page that as of December 8th, 2016, the Tremeloes will be no longer. Original drummer Dave Munden is leaving. The three other members plus a new drummer will tour as "The Sound Of The Tremeloes" but it's another 60's band that are calling it a day after being available to see live in one guise or another for 50 years. Now we have a Hollies and Tremeloes similarity: December 8th was the date of the Hollies' last concert with Graham Nash in 1968 and will be the last date that the Tremeloes play. Sad, but at least they're being honest. Go and see The Fortunes or The Swinging Blue Jeans (to name just two) and you won't see any original members.
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Post by gee on Dec 4, 2016 11:37:53 GMT
on the Anniversary of John Lennon's death too....
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Post by johnt on Dec 5, 2016 21:07:43 GMT
....and on our drummer's 75th birthday!
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Post by jumbo2 on Jun 15, 2018 16:50:15 GMT
The Hollies and The Tremeloes were on the first package tour that I saw in early 1967, together with The Spencer Davis Group and Paul Jones. I've still got the ticket (cost me 10 shillings!) and the programme. Adding to Gee's posting, Rick Westwood retired from the Trems a few years ago and Davey Freyer had also left so their current line-up is Dave Munden (the only original member remaining), Joe Gillingham, Syd Twynham and Jeff Brown. As Gee said, they are still touring. However Brian Poole, Chip Hawkes and Dave Munden have currently joined forces as Brian Poole and The Tremeloes and are appearing in the latest Sixties Gold Tour with The Searchers, P J Proby, Wayne Fontana and Gary Puckett and The Union Gap. This tour is currently running in the UK throughout October.
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Post by jumbo2 on Aug 4, 2018 4:24:37 GMT
Blonde vocalist/guitarist Bob Benham then came in to replace Rick.
Hawkes-Munden-Blakley-Benham are the line up on the DJM Records album 'Shiner' (1974) but later Alan Blakley also had to drop out for a time probably due to his ongoing health problems, and Chip also left to go solo - hence Dave and Bob then recruited Paul Carmen and Paul Issac for 'Don't Let The Music Die' second DJM Records album in 1975, it's not bad but as I said doesn't sound vocally much like the well known Tremeloes (Alan Blakley was involved as a songwriter on it).
With his hearing improved Rick later then came back as guitarist alongside Dave and Bob, plus a returning Chip Hawkes
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Hi Guys - It was interesting reading all these posts on The Trems. I need to clear up a few things here for the record. The 'Don't Let The Music Die' LP - was recorded in late 74 and early 75. It was a very advanced project for them at the time - (which also features me on around 5 of the tracks). I joined the Trems in Jan 75 - Jan 1 to be exact - and was with the band for around 14/15 months. Bob Benham and i previously had a band called JUMBO - which Hawkes and Blakely managed via there music company and agency called Gale Music. Paul Carmen was also in JUMBO (as Bass player) JUMBO released 3 singles on CBS - and had a number of tracks in the bag for an album which was never released - These songs are still sitting there - waiting to be heard - and some great songs too - equally as good as anything BADFINGER recorded (IMO). Bob joined the Trems in around 73 when JUMBO disbanded - and when Alan decided to leave - and Len went on a solo adventure in Nashville - they asked me to join - I was then working and touring Australia with a cover band etc. Anyway - To cut a long story short - 'Don't Let the Music Die' - had no involvement from Paul Carmen or Isaac - it was largely all Bob Benham as far as the recordings went - and some great playing by him (and me) Rick on bass and Dave of course on drums - Alan wrote also a couple of tracks. We were trying to break away from the out and out pop image the Trems had at that time - music was progressing - The original album - was just left blank as far as a 'name' - and we had the working name 'as 'SPACE' for the LP. just thought I'd write this to clear up a few things. I'm still intouch with Rick - who is a good friend. Bob Benham and I have many of the original recordings (16 track) we did with 'JUMBO' in 71/72 - and are currently re-recording some parts etc - but keeping many of the original vocals - we hope to release these independantly later this year or early next year. Aaron Woolley It's also interesting to add that Bob Benham - was considered for the 'Stones' when Mick Taylor left in 74. Rob (Bob) was (and still is) a great guitarist - and songwriter (much more depth - than would be assumed from being in a pop band such as The Tremeloes) - It would have been interesting to see how The Stones creativity would have developed with Bob in the band - (we will never know).
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2018 17:42:51 GMT
Thanks for this Aaron, interesting reading. I do touch on the various changes in Tremeloes line-ups in my book 'Channelling The Beat', also praising Bob's contributions.
Here's an interesting interview with Dave, Chip, Rick and Bob (it must've been just shortly before Alan returned and Bob left, as certainly the best known 4 were back together by the time the group appeared on 'Unforgettable' in 1983):
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Post by moorlock2003 on Sept 7, 2018 10:32:56 GMT
There were two different mixes of one of my absolute favorite Tremeloes tracks, "Sing Sorta Swingle". The version on the UK LP differs from the US LP version. I think this track was strong enough for single release. "Suddenly Winter" has long been a favorite as well. Most of the Brian Poole & The Tremeloes tracks leave me cold, but I love their fiery versions of "I Want Candy" and "Uncle Willie".
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