Robert Hartley Elliott (born 8 December 1941)[1] is an English rock drummer, best known for playing with the Hollies. He has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".[2]
Bobby Elliott | |
|---|---|
 Elliott performing with The Hollies in 2017. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Hartley Elliott |
| Born | 8 December 1941 Burnley, Lancashire, England |
| Genres | Rock |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Member of | The Hollies |
| Formerly of | Shane Fenton and the Fentones |
| Website | http://www.hollies.co.uk |
Early life
editElliott discovered jazz music when he was around 10 or 11 and wanted to become a drummer.[3] He attended Nelson Grammar School. Elliott taught himself how to play the drums, by using home-made brushes and sticks, on tins and other household items, and copying the playing of Chico Hamilton of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet and Gene Krupa of the Benny Goodman Orchestra.[3] At first, he was a jazz drummer, but changed to rock and roll.[4]
Career
editShane Fenton and the Fentones
editElliott was an original member of Johnny Theakston and the Tremeloes, who formed in 1959, and were fronted by the vocalist Johnny Theakston.[5] In late 1960 they sent a demo tape to BBC Radio's Saturday Club, calling themselves Shane Fenton and the Fentones, but Theakston died before they received a reply. Having been offered an audition, the band's roadie Bernard Jewry (later known as Alvin Stardust), stepped in as vocalist, adopting the stage name “Shane Fenton” at Theakston's mother's request.[5] In 1961, Tommy Sanderson became their manager, and negotiated a record deal with EMI who released "I'm a Moody Guy", which reached 22 on the UK singles chart.[6] The next three singles failed to chart, and the band broke up in April 1963.[5]
The Hollies
edit
Elliott played in Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins, a band led by guitarist Tony Hicks who left to join the Hollies. Shortly after, Don Rathbone left the Hollies and Elliott replaced him.[2]
The Hollies would quickly garner a cult following after their songs Here I Go Again, Look Through Any Window, and Just One Look charted in the British charts. Future hits would include: "Bus Stop", "On a Carousel", "Carrie Anne", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and "The Air That I Breathe", among others. As of 2024, Elliott and Hicks still tour with the Hollies.
In September 1973, they were working on the opening track for their Hollies album, when Paul McCartney offered him the position of drummer in his band Wings, but Elliott declined due to commitments with the Hollies, saying his "heart was with the Hollies".[7][8] The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Elliott and Hicks did not attend the ceremony as they were booked to play a gig with the band in London at the London Palladium.[9]
Personal life
editProminent drummers who were influenced by Elliott include Gilson Lavis, Ric Lee, Cozy Powell and Ian Paice.[10]
Elliott’s hair began thinning at a young age (around the time the Hollies took off). So on stage, he would wear a variety of hats to cover up his balding. This decision would eventually inspire more artists (balding or not) to wear hats on stage, helping to bring wearing hats into Rock and Roll.[11] By the 1970s, Elliott had gone completely bald and eventually, Elliott, a blonde, started wearing a long brunette wig on stage. This wig can be seen on the cover of their 1974 Hollies album.
References
edit- ^ "Bobby Elliott". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- ^ a b Unterberger, Ritchie. "Biography of The Hollies". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- ^ a b "Band profile of Bobby Elliott". Hollies.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- ^ "Why The Hollies' Bobby Elliott prefers Reading's Hexagon to the Paramount Theatre in Manhattan (and what it has to d". Wokingham.Today. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Thompson, Dave. "Biography of Shane Fenton and the Fentones". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- ^ "SHANE FENTON AND THE FENTONES". Official Charts. 1 November 1961. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Bobby Elliott (2020). It's Ain't Heavy, It's My Story. Omnibus Press. p. 221. ISBN 9781913172206.
- ^ Malcolm C. Searles (2021). Riding the Carousel. Troubador Publishing Limited. p. 367. ISBN 9781800463493.
- ^ Michaels, Sean (15 March 2010). "Hollies send former members to pick up Hall of Fame accolade". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Mike Dolbear DRUMS". Mikedolbear.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ Moderator, Mr (18 May 2020). "Rock's Unfulfilled Fashion Ideas: Bobby Elliot and the Baldness Covering Hat". Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion. Retrieved 19 February 2023.