I'll save you the trouble, because the answer is yes.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNXDlSt ... U&index=11

Saw them life in Blazers, Windsor years ago.

Late last year in Worsthorne, a nostalgic night of film footage of local bands playing gigs from the 60/70s was going to be shown. The organiser knowing my mate was in contact with drummer Bobbie Elliot, who was raised in the Pike Hill area of Burnley, invited him as a guest, to the event.
I was told he thoroughly enjoyed it and at the end he was invited to say a few words. The few words was a 20 minute talk of his life in music, which delighted the crowd. On their way home, Bobbie thanked my mate, for inviting him to the event. Seems like he had as good if not better night there, than a music awards night.

Decent covers band but a bit like the X factor lot in that they can sing and perform but have most of their songs written for them.

Saw them live at Preston Guildhall a few years ago -they were really good.

As well as all their well known songs they threw in a couple of 'The Move' classics (as the lead singer at the time was an ex band member) and a brilliant cover of 'Tiger Feet' as the bass guitarist was formerly in 'Mud'

I last saw them almost 20 years ago. As above, they had Carl Wayne (ex Move) as the Allan Clarke replacement & were very good value.

They're on at my local large venue in October; I dont go in much for tribute bands/nostalgia bands (prefer to watch up-coming talent at smaller venues) but I'm tempted to see them - probably for the last time. The venue has c 700 seats currently available (another 300+ in the "gods" if required) and it looks like around half of the seats are already sold - with over 6 months to go. Obviously still very popular.

I'm not sure who their lead singer is now as Carl Wayne passed over 10 years ago. I read an interview with Allan Clarke in the past year and I know he's back singing and recording after having trouble with his vocal cords but I dont believe he's re(re) joined

I knew Carl Wayne had sadly died but didn't realize it was so long ago (2004).

Guess it must have been about 2003 when we saw them then, blimey, 17 years ago, I thought it was about 10

How time flies.

When I see these old bands still performing having had people come and go and barely an original member, I always think of Trigger's broom in Only Fools and Horses.

Singing songs written by songwriters outside the band does not make for a covers band. The Hollies current lead vocal is Pete Howarth who has been with them for over ten years. I see them regularly, presently thinking about Liverpool Phil in April. The band is superb, a great show without other acts to 'support'. Bobby Elliott, ex NGS, has his autobiography out in April too. If you want to hear those songs again from a band who rock, go and see them. Tony Hicks and Bobby are still fantastic players. Cheap at any price. As a matter of interest, in terms of vocal groups, only The Beatles came ahead of The Hollies for weeks on the chart in the Sixties. A little known fact as they are not seen as hip or London.

Written quite a lot of their own material as is show in this Wiki on Tony Hicks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hicks

I first saw the Burnley side of the Hollies (Tony Hicks etc) when they were Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins, playing as second on the bill to Joe Brown and the Bruvvers: this was in a small dance hall in Barnoldswick in about 1960, I certainly can't remember the name of the place. The next time I saw them was in 1963 down the Locarno in Burnley: they had just released "Searchin" which was their second single I think, just before they became a big name group.
On a footballing note, Bernie Calvert the bass player who replaced Eric Haydock, used to stand next to me and my brother on the Longside watching Burnley. Also Bobby Elliot the drummer has the same birthday as my brother (8-12-41).

I was at that gig at the Locarno in 1963. Didn't they have a rotating stage? Tony appeared last to huge cheers, memory says.

Yes Bob they came round on a rotating stage.

Saw them many times in my youth at Rawtenstall Astoria and before Graham Nash left to join Crosby and Stills.Think I paid about 6s6d to see them.

Certainly not a covers band as suggested above, how ill informed can you be?

Saw the Hollies at Batley Variety Club in the sixties.
They are the best live band from the sixties I have seen( and I have seen many)
Regarding the Locarno there was a revolving stage with The Denis Langfield Orchestra and The Ralph Barton Trio sharing the stage.
Denis Langfield had 3 singers with the Band , Glen South Frankie Martin ( I think he was called ) and a young lass ( not sure of her name) who sang the hits of Lulu,Cilla Black,Dusty Springfield,Connie Francis and the other top girl singers
Brilliant memories of the best pop decade ever The Sixties imo

Saw them at the a Cavendish club in Blackburn.. At one point they were second in popularity to the Beatles..

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2020 4:46 pm

Saw them at the a Cavendish club in Blackburn.. At one point they were second in popularity to the Beatles..

who...Blackburn??!*?!

My sister used to be friends with Bobby Elliot back in the day. He lived not far from us at the time.

Wow I didnt realise we has so many X Factor / Simon Cowell fans on here. I mean they only wrote 1 of their first 12 singles!!

Each to their own I suppose but if you like this kind of thing check out all the Stock, Aitken & Waterman Hit Factory acts cos they will be right up your (tin pan) alley

Or you could have said they only wrote seven of their first 19 singles. SAW? X Factor? You have cloth ears. Quality performers.

Vino blanco wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2020 4:08 pm

Yes Bob they came round on a rotating stage.

You mean like Nelson Imp?

In fact there two local lads in the original Hollies
One from Nelson. The other Roughlee.

And Bernie Cavert, who joined a while later, came from Brierfield.

Tony Hicks lived next door to my Junior 4 / Year 6 teacher, Mrs Crangle at Marsden County Primary school. My friend and I always used to walk home from school past Causey Foot off Hibson Road in the vain hope that we might see him around 1965 - 1967.

Air that I breath and He ain't heavy are 2 of the finest songs by a "pop" group ever written.

Up there with the very best for 3 part harmonies.

Shame Devils Advocate doesn’t know the difference between a devils advocate and a plain old wind-up merchant.

Theres been some **** posted on here over the years but Devils Advocates 'contribution' to this thread is right up there

ngsobob wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2020 4:06 pm

I was at that gig at the Locarno in 1963. Didn't they have a rotating stage? Tony appeared last to huge cheers, memory says.

I, too, was at that gig, and clearly recall the rotating stage. I'm assuming you went to NGS. So did I. We possibly know each other, although I have lived away from E Lancs for many years.

The Hollies used to have the uk record for the longest time span between number one records:- I'm Alive in circa 1965 and the rereleased He Ain't Heavy about 23 years later. I'm not sure if this still stands since I seem to remember seeing that Tom Jones had beaten this record.

Hey Devils Advocate, what's your game now can anybody play

When we we're on t' board our games are simple
I play the joker, you play the wa-nker
Then you play with older boys and pIssheads
What's the attraction in what you're doing

Hey Devils Advocate, what's your game now can anybody play


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgA4-bLcoN8

I have their greatest hits on vinyl!

Great band in their time with Allan Clarke and Graham Nash up front. Really distinctive sound.

Never really liked them.

Bobby Elliott used to play in a band with Glyn Thomas, who was in our squad circa 1959/60

saw them in ryde iow around 1968 ...ahead of there time back then .