Graham Nash going to play with the Hollies?

[christocello]

According to German music magazine "Good times" (No. 2/2017, pg. 67) Graham is planning to play some concerts with nowadays' Hollies.
"Good Times" journalist Frank Witzelmaier spoke with Peter Howarth, who told the magazine that Graham has been asked to play some concerts with the group in the U.S, England and in Australia. However, a contract still hasn't been signed...

[JamesT]

Interesting development. I wonder if this is related to the BBC Proms In The Park rumour discussed here months back?

[greengoddess]

Surely it's old news since the Australian tour has just been completed. I don't think The Hollies will be returning to Australia within the next year or so.

[christocello]

The interview took place during the latest "Frontm3n"-Tour in Germany. (Frontm3n is an unplugged formation consisting of Peter Howarth, Mick Wilson (10cc) and Pete Lincoln (Sweet)). In the interview Howarth is quoted, that the Hollies are going to tour Australia and Germany soon, while Wilson said, that 10cc recently had been playing a concert in Ludwigshafen (September 2nd and 3rd, 2016). So I assume the the interview must have been made during the Frontm3n's concerts in December 2016 and January 2017 in Germany. Let's see what will happen...

[knut]

You never know. I think Graham is interested. Bobby and Tony probably both are positive to do a reunion with Graham. The problem is Allan's voice. I think Allan could "do a Brian Wilson" and be present and let the others cover his voice. But what we do not wanr is a repetition of RAH with Allan joining Crosby & Nash on Bus stop or something like RRHOF. I do think he could tackle LCWIABD if all is properly prepared, though.

[gee]

While I could see Graham appearing as their special guest - giving both a publicity boost - and maybe at last doing 'Marrakesh Express' together (?)....somehow I can't see Allan Clarke being involved

Graham is still a recording and performing artist as are The Hollies but Allan is long retired now for one thing

and not just re Allan's voice situation (hopefully he could manage a few songs himself plus join in with a 'group sung' few numbers etc and also play some harmonica and guitar - he COULD certainly be included !) but I don't know how good the relationship currently is between Allan and Tony Hicks

Could Allan's ego take NOT being the mainman lead singer onstage anymore  - presumably even with Graham Nash also guesting they would keep their current (actually longtime now !) band line up onstage of course - whether some older fans liked it or not


Graham has no 'issues' at all with either Tony or Bobby but do remember that Clarkey and Tony were rather 'cool' later on - to put it very mildly ! - and that might be one reason Tony & Bobby decided to miss that Induction show fiasco


- a decision which I bet they never regretted for a moment....

don't suppose Terry Sylvester will be there...unless he just runs onstage !

[cameron]

I read somewhere that Allan wanted to "bow out finally" after his performance with Nash and Crosby at the Royal Albert Hall. He said it was a nice way to close off his career singing with the man who started it with him nearly 60 years before on stage at such a prestigious place and being so well received with a standing ovation. I don't think Allan would settle for not being the front man and letting Peter Howarth sing, though he should know by now that ALL Hollies fans consider him to be THE definitive front man of the Hollies.

Graham hinted in a radio interview last year (or maybe the year before) that the BBC approached him about a one off special, perhaps with the BBC Concert Orchestra, to get the original Hollies back together and he was really keen on the idea. I think if it did happen, it would be Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Graham Nash, Ray Stiles, Ian Parker, Steve Lauri, Peter Howarth and Allan Clarke featuring on the just encore perhaps. It's a shame that Bernie Calvert will most likely be overlooked, despite being a key original Hollie who all parties seem on good terms with - and he can still play and play well. I think it's a given that Terry Sylvester won't be invited, he sealed his own fate there at the RRHOF. Ditto Eric Haydock after his scathing review of the band in the recent book by Brian Southall and indeed their fairly recent lawsuits against him using the Hollies name.

If it could be the core of Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Graham Nash, Bernie Calvert and Peter Howarth, with the others supporting in the background (much like the aforementioned Brian Wilson tour) then it will be fantastic, but I bet it turns into the current incarnation of the Hollies with Graham Nash guesting with them.

If nothing else, it would be lovely for the guys (Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Graham Nash and Bernie Calvert) to get together even just for a photoshoot - they were the main Hollies that everyone widely remembers. It seems almost a crime that such a highly prolific 1960s band should have their core members still with us and they are seemingly indifferent to it! How about one last push to seal their place in rock history. If they reunited even just for a photo, it would be all over the news and would raise their profile significantly and reignite wider interest in the band.

[moorlock2003]

Jeez Louise, can't these guys ease out gracefully and retire already? Talk about flogging a dead horse...
Besides, Howarth is BORING.

[knut]

We live in a free world Moorlock. You do not have to go. It is allowed to be polite too.

[moorlock2003]

Howarth is not a lead singer like Clarke, Rickfors, or Wayne...

[gee]

Howarth has  lasted many years longer in The Hollies (over 12 1/2 years now) than Rickfors did (less than 2 full years)

....and to date Howarth has not been asked to leave the band as Rickfors was by Tony Hicks in 1973

[greengoddess]

Peter Howarth is an excellent singer as were Allan Clarke and Carl Wayne. Mikael Rickfors was good but not right for The Hollies - in my opinion.

[dirtyfaz]

I think if Allan was all well vocally and came back into the band then Howarth would be no longer needed same as Rickfors in 73.
Not taking sides here just saying.

[greengoddess]

Well Allan can no longer sing so there is no point in speculating.

[gee]

Actually, given past experiences and that their hit record making days are well behind them now, I'm not so sure that if Allan's voice by some miracle suddenly 'came back' to full strength - and his hearing improved as well - that Tony Hicks WOULD have him back by now !

it may sound crazy but do bear in mind that Allan, due to his 'attitude' and uneven personality (remember his onstage 'digs' at Graham Nash ? i.e. 'I thought he was dead...' etc - that one really infuriated Tony !) , was causing them a fair bit of trouble for a number of years, both intentionally and unintentionally I suspect

- and don't forget TWICE he 'walked' from the group...and Terry Sylvester spoke of; 'Allan made his annual threat to leave...'

interestingly Terry Sylvester, for all his later online 'rants' aimed at (the much more famous in the USA) Graham Nash, actually really seemed to be far more upset about Allan Clarke 'snubbing' him at that Hall of Fame induction show...('I thought Allan and me were fine...' Terry later said)

Sylvester and Clarke had enjoyed a fine songwriting partnership over 1969-71 and later with Hicks from 1974 to 1978 and had worked together for over a  decade in the band so Terry's shock at later being virtually ignored was understandable

I've heard original Hollies drummer Don Rathbone once had an uncomfortable later meeting with Allan too...

I suspect that if Allan had got a major solo hit with say 'Drift Away' or his fne cover of 'Born To Run' NO WAY would he have even considered returning to The Hollies...something that was always in the back of Tony Hicks mind I bet...


- the sad fact also is that  quite a few concert venue managers in several countries were left fuming and most irate about Clarkey's attitude of 'I'm THE STAR' - sadly he upset quite a number of people by forever moaning about the size and quality of his dressing room, the venue itself, this, that, whatever - longtime Hollies tour and road manager Rod Shields once said a good 75% of his job was 'keeping Allan happy' !

Tony and Bobby were effectively running the band for a long time before Allan retired and by now would be so used to being FULLY in charge without any argument or 'sulks' etc that I do wonder if they would ever seriously consider having back a vocally recovered Clarkey for a moment...

besides the vocals a fair bit of Carl Wayne's contribution was 'repairing' The Hollies 'PR' both with fans...and disgruntled venue managers ! (I know the guy who managed 'The Cresset' venue in Peterborough REFUSED to consider ever having The Hollies back with Allan Clarke - but they did perform there again later with Carl....)

Ray Stiles would very likely NOT want to be part of a Hollies with Allan again either - poor Ray was vocally supporting Clarkey's fast failing pipes on the lead vocals for several years...but got nothing but insults for all his vital support work ! (belittling 'jokey' remarks like; 'see him...he used to be a piece of mud !' etc)

I suspect by the end of the nineties Tony Hicks - who was never 'close' to Allan - had simply 'had enough' and I've heard Tony REFUSED to ever tour with Allan again...possibly saying something like; 'either you go or I do and I ain't leaving' ! (something to that effect) - maybe that's really why Tony and Bobby decided to pass up attending that USA Hall of Fame induction fiasco...?

With Peter Howarth now firmly established in the eyes of regular concert fans I think Tony and Bobby are very pleased to have created a successful touring 'post Clarke' Hollies, first with Carl, then with Peter....and if Graham Nash wants to guest with them they would of course be only too delighted....but I can't envisage Allan being involved, and even if he did do a most welcome guest spot it would be just that

NO WAY would they ever consider going from their er 'harmonious' Hicks-Elliott led current Hollies of agreeable hardworking guys who 'gel' as a six piece outfit and who have worked together very well onstage for over twelve years now minus any silly ego trips or 'STAR' figures walking out onstage last etc....back to the same old  'argumentative' and often 'troubled' indecisive band of the eighties and nineties, regardless of vocal ability !

they had quite alot of conflicts re musical direction when Allan was with them too - 'Buddy Holly' was Allan's idea (and regardless of it's merits - or not - the fact is  it got ALOT of critical flak at the time sadly from a number of sources...and was quickly to be found in the 50p deletion bargain bins in the supermarkets, and it's failure probably more than anything else finally scuppered their Polydor days)

- they ended up by 1989 doing the music for a cat food TV commercial in Germany ! (hence 'Baby Come Back' with the line; 'my baby's a cat..' !) an overseas  single it seems Alan Coates  knew nothing about...

 while note all the concert 'covers' and things like Prince songs etc duly vanished...and thanks to Carl 'The Baby' got woken up...after Clarkey 'retired' (Allan insisted on doing covers that HE liked and it seems point blank refused to sing 'Rickfors songs')

SORRY to sound so 'Anti Clarkey' here when I'm not at all, just being realistic here  - I DO rate Allan so very highly of course - he had a fantastic voice, was a superb songwriter, decent guitarist and distinctive harmonica player...and was THE Hollies lead singer of course, who fronted the band so well for over three decades if never 'led it' as he really should have done, especially after Graham departed

- but all of the above is either TRUE or very likely the case...I'm sad to say !

[cameron]

I found out only yesterday that when Allan returned in 1973, he kept his old manager, whereas the rest of the Hollies had theirs. I think Allan became very hung up on Tony taking over "his" band, because when he returned to the fold, he had a lot less say in things than before, particularly when it came to what songs they put on their albums. Let's be honest, Tony was always known for being blunt and ruthlessly honest, so it's easy to see, coupled with Allan's fragile temperament after Nash had left, how it was a recipe for disaster. I can't help but feel that the other Hollies were treading on eggshells somewhat when Allan returned.

I'm not sure it was Allan's idea to do "Buddy Holly" in 1980 - Tony seemed to very much lead the way later on. Either way, it was the straw that broke the camel's back for Terry, who walked shortly after the LP and was venomously against it - just like Graham Nash had been with "Hollies Sing Dylan" in 1968. Allan released "Legendary Heroes" in 1980, which was a superb album. The Hollies should have recorded most of his tracks, unless Allan was holding them back. I think "Slipstream" should have been a big hit for the Hollies, and indeed Allan, but Allan didn't have anywhere near the same profile that the Hollies had.

I remember reading a scathing interview with Allan from a 1978 publication from when he left the second time, around the time of "A Crazy Steal", where he was absolutely slating the LP! It was uncomfortable to read, but I saw his point, it's not a very good album at all, especially by Hollies standards.

Whether anyone likes Peter Howarth or not is irrelevant. The Hollies are a more popular touring band than ever now, hosting a huge two hour show with no support act. There's no arguing with that point. There's virtually no 1960s bands still touring in any carnation that don't fall for the usual Golden Oldies circuit and package tours. Which is why I was very surprised to see the Hollies listed as a headlining act for that Flower Power Cruise, though their manager did say it was unconfirmed and the website shouldn't have posted those details. It's to their merit that they can sell out big venues under their own name night after night, year after year.

[gee]

The Rolling Stones, The Moody Blues still headline their concerts too,  

re the 'Buddy Holly' album, I heard Allan Clarke claim onstage in May 1981 that;

' we recently did an album of Buddy Holly songs which  was MY idea to record  and it was a lot of fun to do...'

- before they sang 'That'll Be The Day' (which surely was the best contender as a single from that album ?)

 so that's why I believe Allan was the chief driving force behind them doing it - he later said in a music press interview that he didn't understand why it failed to sell...

I can guess why - it was the wrong move at the wrong time in too many varied styles for many of the general public, or Buddy Holly fans, or Rock & Roll fans, or many Hollies fans to warm too ! (the intended big TV promotion was minimal if there at all too, I don't remember seeing it at all...)

I've heard Terry Sylvester was as against them doing it as Nash was re 'Dylan' back in late 1968 (if so a case of history repeating itself !)

as for Clarkey slating 'A Crazy Steal' - yes I read that too...but considering HE co-wrote about 80% of the original songs included - bar 'Amnesty' and 'Boulder' - that derision seems very strange indeed !

unless Allan wasn't as involved as stated and the 'Clarke-Sylvester-Hicks' songwriting credit was just a team banner as back in the Nash days of course...(??)

Clarkey was at least getting to sing ALL the leads at that time...something Terry Sylvester was no doubt very envious of indeed, Terry only got two by then rare leads on '5317704' album to save studio time and costs !

Bobby Elliott rightly or wrongly praised 'Staying Power' as HIS fav Hollies album (possibly just 'PR Speak' of course) and certainly Bobby rates the recent shows in Australia and New Zealand as their best concerts for ages !

re the cruise thing - MANY veteran acts are doing these now, The Moody Blues, The Zombies, and it's not  the 'solid silver sixties' nostalgia package shows that tour the UK etc - indeed it might be the beginning of the current Hollies playing to American audiences, so it's perhaps not quite a case of the 'end of the pier show' career finale that some were thinking at first glance (??)

The fact they STILL have their own show, and have just toured 'down under' in addition to UK and European shows says much re their concert attraction status - sadly pre-Carl Wayne era the band WERE going downhill fast as a concert attraction - I have been told that Germany bluntly told them;

'DON'T come back with Allan Clarke' after that last tour they did there

In the late seventies  Hicks sent Clarke home from an overseas  tour and they finished it without him too....

it's sad re Allan Clarke, remember The Hollies stood by him in 1969 when he had some personal issues (a loyalty he never showed them later in late 1971)

sadly  I can't help feel Allan brought at least some of his problems upon himself, he had enough  'chips on his shoulder' to open a fish shop ! - the biggest was  re Nash's USA fame and success, another re LCW and The Rickfors Hollies getting a early seventies USA tour on the back of HIS song being a big hit stateside....from which he had no benefit at the time, then further 'issues' re Hicks being in control etc - yet HE contributed to all of that by his own actions in many respects...

Allan sided with Ron Richards over 'Marrakesh Express' (an international hit for CSN in 1969) and  opposed them doing Nash's later sixties songs calling them 'very boring' in the UK music press, apparently declined Nash's offer to go with him to the USA, chose to quit The Hollies in late 1971, and had been quite  happy to let Hicks assume full control after Nash departed etc...

[Deleted]

Apr 1, 2017 16:28:01 GMT gee said:

The Rolling Stones, The Moody Blues still headline their concerts too,  

So does Gerry and The Pacemakers, albeit on a much smaller scale!  I saw him a couple of days back playing a small theatre in Margate. He limped on (he had a knee op a week or so before), he looked ancient (finally dispensed with the hair dye), and his speaking voice was little more than a hoarse whisper... yet as soon as he sang he was absolutely superb!  All songs were performed in their original keys, and he hit all the high notes ('Walk Hand In Hand' was a particular highlight for me, as was a lengthy 'Slow Down'). He does have a 2nd guitarist in the band now though (they shared solos between them), I guess largely so that "The Pacemakers" (there are no original members) could do a long warm-up set. Gerry himself was onstage for 50 minutes, and clearly loved every minute.  I had seen him once before (in 1988), but thought he was even better this time... Anyway, I do recommend people go and see him, while one of the few remaining early 60s originals is still around, and still performing well.

[gee]

I suppose Gerry sang;

'when you limp through a storm....'

Great to see he's still going strong and enjoying himself !

[johnt]

I read somewhere that Gerry is retiring after the Sixties Gold tour in the autumn.

[Deleted]

Apr 1, 2017 21:40:13 GMT johnt said:

I read somewhere that Gerry is retiring after the Sixties Gold tour in the autumn.

Can you post a link?

I somehow doubt that very much. He clearly still enjoys what he's doing, as well as being more than capable.

[johnt]

Apr 2, 2017 7:36:37 GMT peterc said:

Apr 1, 2017 21:40:13 GMT johnt said:

I read somewhere that Gerry is retiring after the Sixties Gold tour in the autumn.

Can you post a link?

I somehow doubt that very much. He clearly still enjoys what he's doing, as well as being more than capable.

It was near the bottom of Frank Allen's newsletter on the Searchers' website. 

Click on this link:

www.the-searchers.co.uk/searchnews.htm
 

[JamesT]

I was just going to mention about The Searchers, too. They're just back from Antipodean adventures, too.

[Deleted]

I suspect Gerry will still do the occasional dates. I'll be seeing that tour in Margate (2nd row ticket!), looking forward to it as I've never seen The Searchers (though I've seen Mike Pender) and the Tremeloes (though I've seen Brian Poole).

[Tony Wilkinson]

Here you go, for todays Hollies fans......