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Post by gee on Jul 6, 2019 20:34:58 GMT
I suspect some of Terry's 'issues' are self created - he knows how much he blew it both re his career and finances by walking out on The Hollies even if at the time the band was at a low ebb in their career
The passing of Jimmy Griffin largely blew away Terry's standing as part of 'Griffin and Sylvester' in the USA on the Soft Rock Cafe thing....leaving him just on the nostalga circuit as a ex-Hollie singing Clarke's LCW and covers plus some other Hollies hits to make up his normally brief show way down the bill on a package etc
compared to that the current Hollies are doing well as a touring act still with their own show while Nash has continued his career and now even Clarke has a new album due out
All of which Terry will be acutely aware of...and it really must get up his nose big time !
Terry is now even eclipsed by his old school friend Badfinger's Joey Molland as the known 'name' when they appear together which really must be galling as well...
I think Terry's once superb voice began to deteriorate even before Allan Clarke's voice gave up if those youtube postings are anything to go by
Now he constantly snipes at Nash and Clarke...probably in some kind of attempt to hold some sort of platform of fame by his association with them even if through some kind of feud thing - tho' they probably are quite unaware or even care !
the fact Terry rants away...then speaks of having NO problems with any of The Hollies members seems strange and I suspect Terry is just trying to cling on to his links with all things Hollies etc
as I've said before - and it's mega unlikely I know - IF Nash called everyone together....Clarke, Hicks, Elliott etc for a big Hollies reunion show with all up for doing it....and were to invite Terry to take part would he reject the offer out of hand on principle after the Hall of Fame fiasco ??
- or would he JUMP at the chance to boost his bank balance and public standing ....??
I can guess....
whatever Terry's standing now is probably the most disappointing thing in The Hollies history as he was such a key figure for many years and SHOULD hold a higher position re both the band and many of their fans
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Post by anthony on Jul 7, 2019 6:15:23 GMT
Hi Gee, I'm a big fan of the Sylvester Hollies years, had their biggest hits, Heavy, LCW and Air that I breathe. I think he is a victim of the Hollies not really being regarded as one of the great groups. His behaviour at times hasn't helped as we know, the Hall of fame was an embarrassment . He looked like he had just come back from seeing the soccer . Do feel sorry for him re the singing at the end, In all honesty I think the only Holly the public would know is Nash. So in real terms the general public would think nothing of Sylvester. Such as shame really. these days his voice is on the way out too. I don't think the Hollies fans give the Sylvester years the respect it deserves. Most of the talk here is Rickfors, Howarth etc.
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albatros
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Post by albatros on Jul 7, 2019 7:32:52 GMT
Hi Anthony! I fully agree with you. Terry Sylvester was the perfect successor to Graham Nash. Terry's voice was much better suited to Alan Clarke`s than Graham. In this cast I have visited many Hollies concerts. Some of my favorite LP's are also with Terry Sylvester - especially ANOTHER NIGHT. That his voice has also declined over the years, you have to understand - he always had to sing these very high notes and the Hollies have given in this time, especially since 1974, many concerts. And demonstrably, the voice in the age eh and flatten anyway. The mistake the Hollies made was that Allan Clarke sang almost all the songs. No break over the entire concert. He ruined his voice with it. Maybe also his lifestyle specially in the 70th and eearly 80th. Smoking and so on. It would have been better to divide the solo singing at the concerts. During the Rickfors period they have done that. That's just not possible then in the age as usual. See Allan Clarke. My conclusion is: Terry was simply worth gold for the Hollies at this time, even as a songwriter. I think he can still live very well today on the royalties he contributed to the songwriting at the Hollies.
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Post by gee on Jul 7, 2019 12:47:23 GMT
I don't think Terry was better vocally than Graham just different and it was a most important change in their sound as it suited the changing times from the sixties style to the seventies
Graham and Allan blended perfectly as two dynamic voices of full power - listen to 'Tomorrow When it Comes' as they almost 'shout' the song in a mega tight harmony co-lead only altenating lines at the ending....
also their respective falsetto ranges blended perfectly as on 'Try it' re the bridge lines as first it's Clarke; 'it's Beautiful seeing all the colours of a rainbow...' then Clarke-Nash; 'Beautiful...'
what Terry added was a more pathos tinged high harmony as opposed to Graham's dynamic or haunting high harmony voice
Terry could turn up the vocal power as on 'Wheels on Fire', 'I'll Be Your Baby Tonight' etc...but it's on 'I Shall Be Released' then numbers such as 'My Life is Over With You', 'Don't Give Up Easily' and of course 'He Ain't Heavy' etc where Terry's more emotive pathos tinged mature sounding high harmony voice really comes into it's own
on the wordier seventies era numbers such as 'Gasoline Alley Bred' Terry really stands out and he harmonises perfectly with Tony Hicks too (those calls of 'Gasoline Alley...' etc) and he adds his distinctive high harmony voice on 'Isn't it Nice ?', 'Man Without A Heart' and 'I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top' while his high harmony on 'Look at Life' with just Tony minus Allan's voice shows his quality in another light
Terry's voice was perfect for The Rickfors Hollies sound too - he adds SO much to 'Touch', 'Words Don't Come Easy', 'Magic Woman Touch', 'The Last Wind' etc plus the rockier numbers such as 'If it Wasn't For The Reason'
Terry's angelic sound on 'Jesus Was A Crossmaker' plus his sincere lead voice stood out and later he was perfect on 'The Air That I Breathe' notably on the duet with Clarke mid way through
I think Nash was vital for 1963 to 1968 and Sylvester was vital from 1969 onwards - Terry deserves much praise for becoming such a key Hollies vocalist so very quickly in early 1969 as Nash had 'grown up' singing with Clarke since their childhood days and Terry Sylvester simply slotted in and sounded as if he'd always been there
Both Nash and Sylvester each gave the band a fine solo balladeer too, and both were fine songwriters who also pulled Clarke and Hicks together as a songwriting team
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albatros
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Post by albatros on Jul 7, 2019 14:11:34 GMT
Hi Gee! The Hollies with Graham was a perfect band and also a perfect song writing team. I think, that Graham was the head of this writing team. They had have great harmonies - no question about. Grahams voice was like a trumpete and he can sing without to fall into falsetto so high. But Terry have the much smother voice. For myself perfect for the Hollies sound.
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Post by stuball on Jul 7, 2019 14:31:09 GMT
I've always thought Terry had the perfect high harmony voice for The Hollies whether singing with Allan and Tony, or Mikael and Tony, or singing solo. And his voice was still superb on his work with James Griffin in the early 80's. But the million dollar question is: whatever happened to his vocal chords between that time and '93-94, when he put out that atrocious 'I Believe' German CD? I find that disc far too painful to listen to anymore.
Nothing sadder really, than a singer who's lost his voice. Perhaps that accounts for some of Terry's bitterness. That, plus being continuously on the bottom of the has-been's tour bill, must take its toll. And to ladle on another helping of misery, Nash and Clarke ruining his Hall Of Fame moment, and there you have the perfect storm.
Sad to witness his decline. I used to think very highly of his abilities, but that's all very much in the past now.
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Post by cameron on Jul 7, 2019 17:13:17 GMT
I think another thing that sticks in Terry's craw is his lack of involvement on the LTAW documentary, which to be fair, does completely brush over the Sylvester years anyway, and Allan's comment that Graham leaving was "the start of the total disintegration of the Hollies". Perhaps Clarke is aware of Terry's anger and resentment, hence the comment that single handedly made Terry's contributions viewed as less than Grahams in both the eyes of Allan Clarke and the general public. However, I personally don't believe that Allan meant that remark as a swipe at Terry. Graham was their leader, the frontman, the ego pushing the group forward. With Clarke too reluctant to do this, it left the door wide open for Tony, and we all know how that ended. I think this is what Allan refers to by this comment.
I don't see the RRHOF thing as a "fiasco". Terry looked to be pushing everyone's buttons from the get-go with his scruffy appearance (that looked like someone had shoved a jacket on him) and he effectively stormed the stage to try and get in on Allan's redemption moment, to sing the only Hollies hit that you can unquestionably call all Allan Clarke's own. Allan does actually tolerate Terry for a good minute or so, and Terry grabs the mic just before the guitar bridge, so there's a whole 20+ seconds of Allan watching Terry getting ready to sing. Terry manages a verse, then Allan, realising that Terry's voice was arguably worse than his own (listen very carefully, you can hear Allan's vocal under Terry's), makes a gesture for him to hand back the mic, which Terry ignores, so Allan intervenes. Then Terry awkwardly dances behind them, partially removing his jacket, and appears to whisper something to Allan while he's singing. A frustrated Nash puts his back to Terry, before visibly ordering him off stage. Terry exits to the right, Little Stevie takes Nash and Clarke off to the left. So in my eyes, Terry is no saint in this. It's not like he stormed the stage and was booted off, which is what he insinuates. All I do know is that I bet Tony and Bobby were sat at home feeling glad that they didn't get involved!!
I feel that Terry has always been treated as the 'hired help', as was Bernie. The difference was, Bernie was just grateful to be there and doing what he was doing, Terry, not so much, he wanted more. The Hollies had spent their earlier years being wild and free, and I feel that perhaps Terry had some catching up to do when he joined them. The only time Terry mentions Tony on his Twitter feed is in relation to all the attention and things that they used to get up to with women - but Hicks had met Jane around 1970/71 and was married soon after, so I expect that Terry's account is greatly exaggerated. We all know that being a full-time Hollie wasn't the most exciting thing in the world. Terry is also trying to make a big deal about Nash and Clarke smoking weed, but come on, it's hardly up there with a night out with the Rolling Stones, is it? Clarke/Hicks/Elliott/Calvert all tell stories of life as a Hollies and their most fond memories seem to be routed in the mid-late 1960s, ie, before Terry joined the band. By 1969, they were very much 'workmen' getting as much out of the music business as they possibly could after having enormous success playing it 'safe' with what they put out in 1969 after Terry joined.
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Post by Gralto on Jul 8, 2019 14:19:53 GMT
Looking back at this thread, I see I copied and pasted some Terry Twitter words from July 2017: ================ Writing a book is deffo on me bucket list Sandra, need to find a publisher who believes in the project. ================
Now, nearly 2 years to the day and he posts this three days ago: ================ If ever I get around to writing a book, believe me there’ll be a lot of people shaking in their boots ================
He's been running this tired old line for many, many years now - long before 2017. My question is - what's stopping him? A packed out schedule? I see a LOT of watching sport on television in his posts. Perhaps twice a week he might like to re-allocate the 2-3 hours in front of a box with moving images to another screen where he actually has to sit, think and then create something. I have absolutely no doubt he'd have some cracking stories which may have others members fearful, but realistically, this book of his ain't gonna happen. Ever. I'm calling it early. Well, not really. I'm sure most who read this board are similarly never expecting to read a book with Mr Sylvester's name front and centre. Please Terry, prove us all wrong and start the frigging thing.
I'm with James T on this one - I've just about reached my limit on hearing how many times he was wronged at the RNRHoF event, or how many times he can take cheap shots on people like Clarke and Nash. Yes, the HoF event was a bit of a PR disaster and poorly handled by several responsible. But it was 9 years ago and he should just let it go and be thankful he's even in there. For all his incessant Nash bagging, Terry only has his statuette due to Nash's subsequent high profile work post Hollies. All the other CSNY pre-bands were in there except for them. Yes, The H probably would have got in eventually but the push came from the esteem in which Nash is held in the USA.
And let it be said that for all of Terry's excellent work in the band for 12 years, he was coming into a group that had already scaled the heights for half a decade and was firmly established in the highest echelon of British bands. As Peter C has rightly said, the two men he bags are the two he owes for his career in The Hollies and who gave him a very comfortable life thank you very much. It must be nice to walk into a band with a recent number one album (Hollies Greatest), a dozen Top 10 singles and years of groundwork slogging around the world to establish themselves in multiple territories already accomplished.
If someone can point me to where a Sylvester release - single or album - made a Top 100 chart somewhere, anywhere on the planet, I'd be much obliged. I'm not aware of any at present.
Perhaps a bit of positivity towards his past pals might actually bring out some good things. The Twitter facts as they stand: Nash: Tweets - 362; Followers - 47,500 Sylvester: Tweets - 3618; Followers - 548 Clarke: (not on Twitter)
Apologies for writing negativity here - there is so much on the www as it is and this site is generally pretty upbeat (regardless of what some may think!) - but I think Terry needs to be called out here for his ongoing public bitterness which does nobody any good, especially him!
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Post by Gralto on Jul 8, 2019 14:28:04 GMT
And Gee, to your poser about answering the call if asked, I suspect your hunch on this would be identical to mine. In a heartbeat. And I reckon he'd even do it if they said it was on condition that he leave his Liverpool FC guernsey in Miami! :-)
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Post by stuball on Jul 8, 2019 16:51:20 GMT
When you look at today's massive world of popular music, and consider how tiny The Hollies portion of that gigantic jigsaw is, and if you were then to surgically remove from it the infinitesimal, barely detectable morsel known as Terry Sylvester, you can understand to some degree why he uses Twitter in the way he does. It's his only current form of attracting any attention at all, good or bad. Like a man drowning in an ocean of 'Who Cares?', Twitter is his only means of staying relevant. And in today's jaded world, if you have nothing worthwhile or noteworthy to say, being outrageous will attract some short-lived attention. Well, a measly 548 followers, plus us at this site.
But who would bother to follow a Twitter feed whose high point of the day was 'Got up and took the dog for a walk', or 'didn't write any songs today' or perhaps 'no recordings scheduled for me anymore'.How about 'Took a nap this afternoon'? So being controversial and taking runs at more famous and relevant characters (Nash and Clarke, The Hollies, the RRHoF etc.), allows him to get some attention through association. But at what a cost!
I've always thought highly of Terry Sylvester, so I don't enjoy pointing out his faults. For the life of me, I don't know why he doesn't share on Twitter lots of good old memories of his time in The Hollies, or concentrate on posting old photos of his time in the group. He must also have loads of amusing anecdotes re The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Escorts, not to mention early Liverpool memories. I think if he concentrated on the fun and positive experiences in his life, he would find he would soon have many more followers. Sounding like a broken record with his hate for Nash and Clarke will get you some immediate attention, but it soon get weary and turns people off. And pretending you (may, might, could) one day write a tell-all book on The Hollies, insults your followers intelligence. Writing a book on The Hollies would take a lot of thought, and a lot of time and effort. And then getting it published would be a time-filled and frustrating task. Far easier to send a two sentence angry tweet from the comfort of your sofa.
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Post by gee on Jul 10, 2019 12:59:36 GMT
All valid and accurate points guys !
IF Terry had any idea he would set himself up as a self appointed POSITIVE 'Hollies Ambassador' on Twitter and re his Merseybeat days too
- with his old photos and memories he should do more as Frank Allen does re The Searchers and entertain his Twitter followers with tales of the better days, the places they went, shows they did in the swinging sixties then in the seventies etc...
we would LOVE to hear all about how at The Hit House in Germany in 1965 when The Escorts were supporting The Hollies and two band members were unwell messrs Clarke and Nash joined Terry onstage...as The Escorts !
Terry's account of his being at the same school in Liverpool with Badfinger's Joey Molland, then on leaving school Terry working for George Harrison's brother aged 14 as a panel beater, becoming a 'second generation' merseybeat musician and his first meeting The Hollies at the Cavern Club and becoming friends with the group....his own musical path, supporting The Beatles final show at the Cavern with The Escorts leading on to his days in The Swinging Blue Jeans...
and how he told Robin Britten; 'I am your new Hollie' - George Harrison hugging Terry at Abbey Road saying; 'Congratulations on your new boast !'
then onwards...the Rickfors era....what happened to them in Caracas after Allan had returned and then his Griffin and Sylvester era
Terry has so much he could tell, and by being diplomatic and positive 'bigging up' his Hollie days both pre joining them and in his twelve years or so as a 'Hollie' not only would he endear himself to Hollies fans old and new but he'd build up his own standing too !
even if he is not keen on the current Hollies - and he has both belittled and praised them up ! - he SHOULD give them the 'thumbs up' to get current Hollies fans on his side and more interested in Terry Sylvester as a figurehead member in The Hollies history etc
all helping sales wise re any future book he might eventually write (which should NOT be all 'evening old scores' nonsense)
pity he just can't see the only one his current attitude badly harms...is himself !
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albatros
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Post by albatros on Jul 10, 2019 13:51:51 GMT
Whether Terry really wants to publish a book about himself and the Hollies I doubt. I think he's too lazy to take his time. Although, yes, he has not given any concerts for some time. So he would have enough time. In his place, if he really comes with a book about his time with the Hollies, I would advise him not to overdo it. It would certainly hurt him. Sure, you can write truths, but they should stay in the frame. That with his person at the Hollies not everything went optimally, is known to each of us old fans. For me he was the ideal replacement after Nash's exit. He was the ideal hi-harmony singer during his time with the Hollies. He also contributed many new songs. Of the royalties he still gets for today, he can certainly live well, I`m sure. Even he has no real success with his songs and solo albums. It was not much better with Allan Clarke's solo stuff. Terry had some good songs with him - but the charts did not see them. So he can only look back on the successful time with the Hollies. Of course he never was a partner in the Hollies, but only as a band member - was not funny. The same was true for Bernie Calvert. What Allan Clarke did with the recording at the RRHOF I also found very propocative. You could have let him sing along, right? That he was and is bitter, of course, is clear.
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Post by Stranger on Jul 13, 2019 11:46:38 GMT
I was going to say he's excelled himself in the a'hole stakes today but it is actually pretty sad. Dont think the man has much to fill his days with.
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Post by stuball on Jul 13, 2019 13:12:22 GMT
I was going to say he's excelled himself in the a'hole stakes today but it is actually pretty sad. Dont think the man has much to fill his days with. I think you've hit the nail on the head there! And that latest tweet on Clarke's new single? Sounds like a very bitter, and perhaps very envious man, doubling down on his hate. Spewing bile seems to be Sylvester's main pastime nowadays. Sad. Very sad.
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Post by gee on Jul 13, 2019 14:58:18 GMT
how about this voice then from TEN YEARS ago in 2009 ..?
what was that Terry was saying about Allan Clarke should stay retired...?
as for 'singing contest anytime' - Graham Nash must be shaking in his boots....with laughter !
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Post by JamesT on Jul 13, 2019 16:32:52 GMT
Just had a look at the comment on Twitter. Sad, sad man. His telly must have been on the blink.
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Post by Tony Wilkinson on Jul 13, 2019 18:31:14 GMT
It really is a shame, Terry was fantastic with The Hollies,as well as his solo work, He should surely embrace his time with the band and maybe he was roughed up a bit at the RRHOF but most of it was self inflicted, Terry, you should be/are better than that inane comment re Allan...
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Post by paul71 on Jul 13, 2019 20:15:04 GMT
I've just seen Terrys tweet, had to look on his website as he blocked me a few years ago for having the audacity to disagree with him. He's become such a petty little man. He must be a very unhappy and lonely guy.
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Post by gee on Jul 13, 2019 20:39:58 GMT
from happier times....
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Post by madprofessorblyth on Jul 14, 2019 1:21:31 GMT
I've always had the same ongoing eye-roll at what Terry's put on Twitter over the past few years but this is really the final straw for me... I always tried to just enjoy his presence for what it was being the only member of the Hollies on social media (besides Graham who rarely ever posted and was never Hollies related). And I appreciated that he did it all himself and wasn't just sort of a corporate run thing (like Paul McCartney for instance) but really is intolerable now. It's bad enough he thinks some of these things, let alone posts them... I won't repeat anything that's already been said but I agree with so much of this thread (particularly the more recent stuff)... Instead of doing something really nice to help promote his own history and stories and/or the band's history - all he does is put the band tout whilst he simultaneously touts his merits from the group. He spends so much time complaining about the R&RHOF, an institution run by pretentious and rude people - it makes you wonder how he's become exactly that!!
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Post by JamesT on Jul 14, 2019 20:38:35 GMT
Was there not some mention by him of possibly working with Mikael Rickfors a few years back? Again, what came of that?
I met Terry after a concert when he was part of the Solid Silver 60s package in 2011 and he was a pleasant guy, chatted way, had my photograph taken with him and he signed some CDs. His persona on Twitter is completely different and he only seems to engage with some sycophants who regularly comment. It's such a pity things have come to this - I've always preferred the Sylvester lineup to the Nash one. However, Nash still has a powerful voice and tours worldwide, even releasing new music. He's needing a reality check and this latest outburst really displays just how low he's willing to go.
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Post by moorlock2003 on Jul 14, 2019 23:27:22 GMT
The 1972 lineup was the best ever; more rocking and 70s sounding, with 2 superb lead guitarists and three fine singers; great harmonies 70s style. Best best best.
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Post by Gralto on Jul 15, 2019 15:10:48 GMT
For those who haven't seen it and in case he decides to take these down (which he should), here are two recent posts relating to his opinion of ACs new song:
Good gosh after listening to that pile of crap, Allan Clarke should stay retired, embarrassing 👎🚂
I put my cars in a garage, & that’s where the rubbish I just heard belongs, or maybe the trash, 👊 ------------
Some of the responses on Twitter to the above have been very strong in defence of Clarke and putting it back on Sylvester. I do feel sad for Terry - how it's come to all this.
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Post by JamesT on Jul 15, 2019 20:42:49 GMT
I see anyone who disagrees with him is a 'misguided idiot'.
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Post by madprofessorblyth on Jul 15, 2019 21:25:56 GMT
I see anyone who disagrees with him is a 'misguided idiot'. Just saw that myself...insane. True pity how social media works like that, anyone who you disagree with just gets blocked - all it becomes is that his Twitter is just self absorbed and only those typical ones who agree with everything he says stays...and one of them even dares to insinuate that it's really the other way and that Clarke tried to purposely "ruin" Terry's biggest career moment and it's Terry we should be feel sorry for in this mess... I'm at a total loss with it all...when Terry gets a deal from a major label and puts out new music instead of just sitting at home and writing word and emoticons, I'll start taking him seriously again!
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