Allan on Vintage TV - Sep 30th

[Stranger]

Allan Clarke is being interview on Needle Time on Vintage TV (Sky 369 where I live) tomorrow night. Graham was on a few months ago. I think the show is an hour long so hopefully it will be good.

I think they post the shows on their website afterwards.

[JamesT]

Watched the last 3/4 of the interview on Freeview (although the quality was like watching a video on YouTube, for some reason). What an excellent interview, interspersed with footage such as Carrie Anne from Croatia, The Air That I Breathe from Supersonic and He Ain't Heavy from Top Of The Pops in 1988. I've got to say, I thought Allan came across as very humble and was pretty candid about his retirement from the band. He also seemed thankful and humbled by his appearance with Crosby and Nash to sing Bus Stop at the Royal Albert Hall (he was glad people hadn't forgotten him), although he said it will probably be the last time he will sing. This humble, thankful personality seems to be totally at odds with a certain rhythm guitarist's assessment of him. Great interview.

[Stranger]

I agree James, it was a great interview. Very human and casual, more interesting than the usual Hollies stories.

[Deleted]

Regarding the quality, someone sent me the Graham Nash interview on a DVD and that was also dreadful (if someone has both of these in broadcast quality I'd love to hear from you & I have plenty of goodies to offer in exchange!).

[cameron]

I watched it on Sky and noticed that the quality wasn't 100% - I think this is just a fault with the source of the program master. But I loved the interview, Allan came across brilliantly and even managed to speak well of Mr Sylvester! I thought the interviewer asked some great, unusual questions too. It was nice to hear Allan's side of things as he's not often interviewed.

[roots66]

It's now up online.

www.vintage.tv/catch-up/video/3819492611001/

www.vintage.tv/catch-up/needle-time/

[Deleted]

Thanks, finally watched it this morning & loved it! My only minor criticism is the editing at the end, as it seems like he's saying that R&RHoF was at The Royal Albert Hall with David Crosby instead of 2 different events, but otherwise excellent (write a book Allan!).

[stuball]

Great visual quality and a real treat for the eyes. That said, I'm always left slightly deflated after these interviews. I suppose I'm too optimistic, hopeful that new insights are going to be unearthed, but instead without fail, it's the same old same old.

It's as if the interviewer, the night before the taping, bones up on his basic 'Hollies For Beginners': Let's see, Manchester '63, check. Clarke, Nash sang as kids before, check. Group does covers(Coasters, Just One Look), check. Bus Stop US breakout, check. Start writing own hits, check. King Midas, Nash unhappy, leaves for Crosby, Stills & Nash, check. Hollies carry on, mention He Ain't Heavy, Long Cool Woman and Air, check. And this time as a bonus, a very superficial mention of Clarke's solo career, check. Thank you and goodnight!

These interviews seem akin to an endless primary school lesson in 'Hollies For Beginners'. Perhaps if a knowledgeable interviewer asked an in-depth question re group dynamics or specific recording sessions, Allan may have been stumped for an answer. No doubt he would have certainly been surprised.


Someday we'll get a long, candid interview re the group and its fascinating catalogue of music. One can only hope. Until then, be prepared for more exercises in trite questions and glib replies.




,

[cameron]

I was quite happy with the Look Through Any Window interview, lots of new insightful information there. There were a few bits that I liked in this interview that I'd not heard before, namely bits of info about their tours in America in the early days. But I really do agree with what you're saying. I'd love to write a book about the Hollies; "The Hollies In Their Own Words" but it'd be too much work to coordinate. Bobby, having kept a diary throughout his life, always has something new and insightful to say. He's the one Hollie who seems to have all the best stories.

Having said that, if you look on Youtube, Allan and Graham did an interview following the release of LTAW that's about 30-40 minutes long. There's some wonderful stories and anecdotes there and it's brilliant to see the pair bounce their stories off each other. Also, Tony did an interview with a non-descript BBC local radio station when "Radio Fun" was released, that contains about 30 minutes of stories from their early days and working with the BBC. The interviewer was a similar age to Tony, so unusually, Tony was at ease with him and had lots of things to say. Including a great anecdote about when the Hollies were out on the club scene in the 1960's, and Tony got to play on stage in a club with the Who: Half way through the performance, The Who's bassist John Entwhistle turned to Tony when he was fluffing his guitar part for not being able to hear over Keith Moon's drums and said: "it's awful, he's like this every night!"

Most people think that the Hollies are a 'faceless' group that didn't lead an interesting Rock N Roll life, but by all accounts from those in the know, they've got some fascinating stories to tell - someday someone will give them a platform to be told. Hopefully soon before it's too late.

[JamesT]

Personally speaking, I'd quite like to hear more about the 1981 split and reconvening with Graham Nash, then the subsequent parting of ways.

[Deleted]

The trouble is that there's only so much that can be covered in 45 minutes or so... and as most people aren't familiar with The Hollies' story in the same way as they are with The Beatles or The Who or Queen then they need to cover the basics.

One thing that rarely seems to be mentioned is their early friendship with The Rolling Stones, where they even participated in recording session(s).

[Stranger]

Somewhat different Tony interview here: www.mixcloud.com/reading107/the-sir-john-madejski-interviews-tony-hicks-08092013/

[Sharon 22]

Does anyone have this episode of Needle Time with Allan Clarke? And if possible, could anyone send me it through a file transfer to my email? I haven't seen this and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Please let me know. Best regards, Sharon.

[allanangel]

I would appreciate a copy of this interview as well. It is no longer available on the website.

Thanks for posting Tony's interview. Great stuff!