Bobbie Clarke
Encyclopedia
Bobbie Clarke is an English
rock
drummer
. He has cut hundreds of records and played in numerous bands with many international rock legends. He is regarded by critics as an important figure in the configuration of early British rock and roll, although he is often chiefly remembered for his long term association as the drummer with Vince Taylor
and The Playboys.
Clarke was the first drummer in Europe, and quite possibly the first rock drummer in the world to use a double bass drum kit with special pedals, long before Ginger Baker
or Keith Moon
. One of his flamboyant tricks was a thundering drum roll executed while drinking a coke.
(born 2 May 1924, in Acton
, West London), a jazz artist who was popular in England in the 1950s. By 1958 he shifted to the flourishing rhythm and blues, and rock scene, joining Vince Eager
's Beat Boys, composed of Tony Belcher (guitar), Alan Le Claire (born Alan Cocks, 26 August 1938, in Dulwich, South-east London) (piano), and Tex Makins (born Anthony Paul Makins, 3 July 1940, in Wembley, Middlesex) (bass), and performing at the London coffee bar “the 2 I's”. Vince Eager was born Roy Taylor, 4 June 1940, in Lincoln, Lincolnshire and was a former member of The Harmonica Vagabonds, The Vagabonds Skiffle Group, Vince Eager and the Quiet Three).
With the addition of guitarist Big Jim Sullivan
(born James George Tomkins, 14 February 1941, at Uxbridge Hospital, Uxbridge, Middlesex), The Beat Boys for a time became Marty Wilde
's Wildcats, recording three tunes “High School Confidential”, “Too Much” and “Mean Woman Blues”. Subsequently, the same band again became The Beat Boys, backing up Billy Fury
.
who was brought to the UK from America by his brother in law, Joe Barbera who had hit it big in the cartoon industry with his company Hanna/Barbera. At that time, rock and roll was experiencing phenomenal growth and American rockers were in high demand in England. Concerts starring Gene Vincent
, Eddie Cochran
, Chuck Berry
and Bill Haley & His Comets
(referred to collectively as the American Invasion), played to crowds of UK teenagers in sold out halls.
In September 1960 Clarke and his band became Vince Taylor's Playboys with Kenny Pavell (guitar), Clive Powell (piano), and Tex Makins (bass). Clive Powell later became notable as Georgie Fame
. When Kenny Pavel left the band to play for Cliff Richard
's Drifters
, he was replaced for a while by 16-year-old Jimmy Page
, future guitarist of Led Zeppelin
.
In 1958, their first records, “I Like Love” and “Right Behind You Baby” were released by Parlophone
, with Tony Sheridan (Lead Guitar), Tony Harvey (Rhythm Guitar), Brian 'Liquorice' Locking (String Bass), Lou Brian (Piano) and Brian Bennett (Drums). In 1959 “Brand New Cadillac” was released. On 19 August 1960, Palette Records
Ltd. released “I'll Be Your Hero” and the famous “Jet Black Machine” with Tony Harvey (Lead Guitar), Johnny Vance (Bass), Alan Le Claire (Piano) and Bobby Woodman (Drums). It stayed in the charts 9 weeks and reached the top 15. The single might have been a bigger hit, but UK teenagers of the time, under the influence of the media, were guided to listen to a more 'clean' sounding Cliff Richard and his band The Shadows
.
, which contained lead guitar player Tony Harvey. Despite their differences, Vince was still friends with the band and asked, considering that he had never been to France, if he could come to Paris with his friends and if necessary, sing for free.
signed the group to a six-year record deal on the Barclay label, with Bobbie Woodman changing his name to Bobbie Clarke.
For the next two years, Bobbie Clarke with his band, once again called Vince Taylor and his Playboys (Vince Taylor et ses PlayBoys) toured Europe including The French Riviera, Brussels, Belgium, Spain, and The Netherlands in between recording several LP albums and numerous 45 RPM singles, at Barclay Studios in Paris, such as “Sweet Little Sixteen”, “C’mon Everybody”, “Twenty Flight Rock
”, “Love Me”, “Long Tall Sally”, “So Glad You’re Mine”, “Baby Let's Play House”, “Lovin Up A Storm” to name a few.
's Golden Stars, resulting in three EPs released that year: in November Bob Steele was replaced by American Joey Greco on lead guitar. Bobbie Clarke and Joey Greco with the Golden Stars also recorded the single “Memphis Tennessee” with Vince Taylor
, that was released by Barclay under the title of "Vince Taylor and The Playboys". Johnny Hallyday joined the French army in June 1964.
. He re-formed The Noise, and with Vince Taylor
played as the opening act for The Rolling Stones
on their first three concerts in France, at the Olympia.
The Bobbie Clarke Noise was regarded by many as the finest rock band operating in France. Barclay released a single under the name “Vince Taylor with Bobbie Clarke's Noise”, “My Babe” b/w “Trouble”. The Noise at that time were: Ralph Danks(guitar), Johnny Taylor (guitar), Bobbie Clarke (drums), “Stash” Prince Stanislas Kosslowski de Rola (percussion), and Alan Bugby (bass) who had just finished playing with Ralph Danks in the Gladiators, and with Johnny Taylor's Strangers (three EPs on the Vega label in 1962 to 1963). In mid 1965, with several bookings lined up, Vince Taylor went away suddenly and the band finally gave up and Johnny Taylor joined a religious movement. Ralph Danks left to play guitar with Three Dog Night
, and later Tom Jones, Elvis Presley
and Bob Dylan
. "Stash" Klossowski (a close friend of The Rolling Stones) would later produce The Dirty Strangers album featuring Keith Richards
and Ronnie Wood.
, consisting of Don Conka (drums), Bryan MacLean
(rhythm guitar), Johnny Echols
(lead guitar) and Ken Forssi
(bass), with the addition of Vince Flaherty (vocals, harmonica). At the same time the band was recording with Vince Flaherty, they were also playing at a club called Bido Lito's with their leader Arthur Lee
, but had not yet obtained a record deal of their own. Two of the recordings, “The Groove” and “Why”, also included, in addition to the Love line up, with Clarke as drummer, Daryl Dragon
(Organ), later notable with The Captain and Tennille, as well as Charles Wright
(rhythm guitar), future founder of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. An EP from the sessions was later released on the Verve label entitled “Vince and The Invincibles”.
In 1966 Bobbie Clarke also played with Frank Zappa
, and cut a record with a band called "The Elves Themselves", augmented by members from Love and Jimi Hendrix
. Unfortunately, Clarke's career in the US was cut short when he was busted for pot
and became the first UK rock musician to be deported. Allegedly the members of Love showed up at the court hearing and told the judge that Clarke would have employment as their drummer if the court would allow him to stay in the United States but he was nevertheless convicted.
. In 1969 guitarist Ritchie Blackmore
asked Clarke to join a new band called Roundabout (which later became known as Deep Purple
). Bobbie brought with him Dave Curtis. Clarke and Curtis became dissatisfied with the style of the music and left to form a new band of their own with Steve Howe
(later to join the band Yes
) and singer/guitarist Clive Maldoon.
(after the first two letters of their three first names), was an evolution from the first incarnation of Deep Purple
, and the ashes of Steve Howe
's popular psychedelic band Tomorrow
. They bridged the difficult period between the psychedelic pop of 1967 and the progressive/heavy rock of 1970. John Newey, for RPM, a division of Cherry Red Records, describes their music as: “…rich in past echoes of the Hollies
, the Move
and Tomorrow yet pointing the way ahead to the might of Queen
and David Bowie
.”
Between May 1968 and mid 1969, Bodast produced an entire self titled album for MGM Records
. In February 1969, The Jeff Beck
Group's drummer was fired and upon Beck's request Bobbie took his place, and did a few gigs at the Marquee in London, but was obligated to get back to work with Bodast, although Beck had expected him to stay with his group. Unfortunately for Bodast, their label MGM Records folded and the album was not released until 1981. The last gig for Bodast was in 1968 when they opened for The Who
and were the backing band for Chuck Berry
at the Royal Albert Hall
. Thereafter, Clarke rejoined Johnny Hallyday
in Paris.
, and Barclay released the 45 singles “Ready Teddy” and “C’mon Everybody”. In 1978 T and P Records released more of their efforts under the name “Vince Taylor and his Playboys”
Records, released a digitally remixed CD of the groundbreaking Bodast album (it is closer to the original 1969 mix by Keith West
than previous reissues). On 10–11 May 2003, Clarke performed in Paris at a concert billed as "The Vince Taylor Memorial Concert with the Bobbie Clarke Noise". In 2004, P&C Pin Up Disques, France, released a CD entitled Joey Greco - Bobbie Clarke - JOEY AND THE SHOWMEN - Live 2004.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
. He has cut hundreds of records and played in numerous bands with many international rock legends. He is regarded by critics as an important figure in the configuration of early British rock and roll, although he is often chiefly remembered for his long term association as the drummer with Vince Taylor
Vince Taylor
Vince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
and The Playboys.
Clarke was the first drummer in Europe, and quite possibly the first rock drummer in the world to use a double bass drum kit with special pedals, long before Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
or Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
. One of his flamboyant tricks was a thundering drum roll executed while drinking a coke.
Early career
Clarke originally learned to play as a teenager with Eric DelaneyEric Delaney
Eric Delaney was an English drummer and bandleader, popular in the 1950s and early 1960s.-Career:Delaney was born in Acton, London. Aged 16, he won the Best Swing Drummer award and later joined the Bert Ambrose Octet which featured George Shearing on piano...
(born 2 May 1924, in Acton
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
, West London), a jazz artist who was popular in England in the 1950s. By 1958 he shifted to the flourishing rhythm and blues, and rock scene, joining Vince Eager
Vince Eager
Vince Eager is a British pop singer.As a teenager, he formed the Harmonica Vagabonds, later the Vagabonds Skiffle Group, with Roy Clark, Mick Fretwell, and bassist Brian Locking. The group reached the final round of a televised "World Skiffle Championship", and were offered a residency at the 2...
's Beat Boys, composed of Tony Belcher (guitar), Alan Le Claire (born Alan Cocks, 26 August 1938, in Dulwich, South-east London) (piano), and Tex Makins (born Anthony Paul Makins, 3 July 1940, in Wembley, Middlesex) (bass), and performing at the London coffee bar “the 2 I's”. Vince Eager was born Roy Taylor, 4 June 1940, in Lincoln, Lincolnshire and was a former member of The Harmonica Vagabonds, The Vagabonds Skiffle Group, Vince Eager and the Quiet Three).
With the addition of guitarist Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan is an English musician, whose career started in 1959. He is best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, Sullivan was one of the most "in-demand" studio musicians in the UK, and performed in more than one thousand charting singles over his career...
(born James George Tomkins, 14 February 1941, at Uxbridge Hospital, Uxbridge, Middlesex), The Beat Boys for a time became Marty Wilde
Marty Wilde
Marty Wilde is an English singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, and is the father of pop singers Ricky Wilde, Kim Wilde and Roxanne Wilde.-Career:Wilde was performing under the name Reg Patterson at London's Condor Club in...
's Wildcats, recording three tunes “High School Confidential”, “Too Much” and “Mean Woman Blues”. Subsequently, the same band again became The Beat Boys, backing up Billy Fury
Billy Fury
Billy Fury, born Ronald William Wycherley , was an internationally successful English singer from the late-1950s to the mid-1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death...
.
Vince Taylor and the Playboys
In about December 1958 Bobbie met 19-year-old Vince TaylorVince Taylor
Vince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
who was brought to the UK from America by his brother in law, Joe Barbera who had hit it big in the cartoon industry with his company Hanna/Barbera. At that time, rock and roll was experiencing phenomenal growth and American rockers were in high demand in England. Concerts starring Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
, Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran , was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the...
, Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
and Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
(referred to collectively as the American Invasion), played to crowds of UK teenagers in sold out halls.
In September 1960 Clarke and his band became Vince Taylor's Playboys with Kenny Pavell (guitar), Clive Powell (piano), and Tex Makins (bass). Clive Powell later became notable as Georgie Fame
Georgie Fame
Georgie Fame is a British rhythm and blues and jazz singer and keyboard player. The one-time rock and roll tour musician, who had a string of 1960s hits, is still a popular performer, often working with contemporaries such as Van Morrison and Bill Wyman.-Early life:Fame took piano lessons from the...
. When Kenny Pavel left the band to play for Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
's Drifters
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
, he was replaced for a while by 16-year-old Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, future guitarist of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
.
In 1958, their first records, “I Like Love” and “Right Behind You Baby” were released by Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
, with Tony Sheridan (Lead Guitar), Tony Harvey (Rhythm Guitar), Brian 'Liquorice' Locking (String Bass), Lou Brian (Piano) and Brian Bennett (Drums). In 1959 “Brand New Cadillac” was released. On 19 August 1960, Palette Records
Palette Records
Palette Records was a record label, founded in Belgium in 1958 by Jacques Kluger. It was linked to the publishing company World Music, which was taken over by BMG Universal Music in 1989....
Ltd. released “I'll Be Your Hero” and the famous “Jet Black Machine” with Tony Harvey (Lead Guitar), Johnny Vance (Bass), Alan Le Claire (Piano) and Bobby Woodman (Drums). It stayed in the charts 9 weeks and reached the top 15. The single might have been a bigger hit, but UK teenagers of the time, under the influence of the media, were guided to listen to a more 'clean' sounding Cliff Richard and his band The Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
.
The Bobby Woodman Noise
The Noise with Bob Steele on guitar was booked to play at the prestigious Olympia in Paris on 7–8 July 1961. The top of the bill was Wee Willie Harris. The other artists were Dave Sampson, Vince Eager, and Nero and the GladiatorsNero and the Gladiators
Nero & the Gladiators were a British instrumental rock and roll band in the early 1960s. The group was led by keyboard player Mike O'Neill as "Nero", and had two minor hits in the UK, "Entry of the Gladiators" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King"....
, which contained lead guitar player Tony Harvey. Despite their differences, Vince was still friends with the band and asked, considering that he had never been to France, if he could come to Paris with his friends and if necessary, sing for free.
Reunion with Taylor
Vince dressed up for the occasion in his black leather gear and added a chain around his neck with a Joan of Arc medallion. He gave such an extraordinary performance at the sound check that even the band was amazed, and the organizers decided to put Vince Taylor and his Playboys at the top of the Bill for both shows. As a result of Vince's exciting performance and his interaction with the band at those two shows Eddie BarclayEddie Barclay
Eddie Barclay was a French music producer whose singers included Jacques Brel and Charles Aznavour. He founded Barclay Records.-Life:...
signed the group to a six-year record deal on the Barclay label, with Bobbie Woodman changing his name to Bobbie Clarke.
For the next two years, Bobbie Clarke with his band, once again called Vince Taylor and his Playboys (Vince Taylor et ses PlayBoys) toured Europe including The French Riviera, Brussels, Belgium, Spain, and The Netherlands in between recording several LP albums and numerous 45 RPM singles, at Barclay Studios in Paris, such as “Sweet Little Sixteen”, “C’mon Everybody”, “Twenty Flight Rock
Twenty Flight Rock
"Twenty Flight Rock" is a song originally performed by Eddie Cochran in the 1956 film comedy The Girl Can't Help It, and released as a single in 1957. Cochran's biographer notes Cochran was granted a co-writer credit, but no royalties, a standard ego-salving arrangement between publishers and...
”, “Love Me”, “Long Tall Sally”, “So Glad You’re Mine”, “Baby Let's Play House”, “Lovin Up A Storm” to name a few.
Johnny Hallyday's Golden Stars
In February 1963 Bobbie Clarke left Vince and became the drummer for Johnny HallydayJohnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
's Golden Stars, resulting in three EPs released that year: in November Bob Steele was replaced by American Joey Greco on lead guitar. Bobbie Clarke and Joey Greco with the Golden Stars also recorded the single “Memphis Tennessee” with Vince Taylor
Vince Taylor
Vince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
, that was released by Barclay under the title of "Vince Taylor and The Playboys". Johnny Hallyday joined the French army in June 1964.
Second reunion: Vince Taylor and the Bobbie Clarke Noise
In September 1964 the new Noise recorded the first “It's Not Unusual”, a demo tape with Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
. He re-formed The Noise, and with Vince Taylor
Vince Taylor
Vince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
played as the opening act for The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
on their first three concerts in France, at the Olympia.
The Bobbie Clarke Noise was regarded by many as the finest rock band operating in France. Barclay released a single under the name “Vince Taylor with Bobbie Clarke's Noise”, “My Babe” b/w “Trouble”. The Noise at that time were: Ralph Danks(guitar), Johnny Taylor (guitar), Bobbie Clarke (drums), “Stash” Prince Stanislas Kosslowski de Rola (percussion), and Alan Bugby (bass) who had just finished playing with Ralph Danks in the Gladiators, and with Johnny Taylor's Strangers (three EPs on the Vega label in 1962 to 1963). In mid 1965, with several bookings lined up, Vince Taylor went away suddenly and the band finally gave up and Johnny Taylor joined a religious movement. Ralph Danks left to play guitar with Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
, and later Tom Jones, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
. "Stash" Klossowski (a close friend of The Rolling Stones) would later produce The Dirty Strangers album featuring Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
and Ronnie Wood.
Career in the United States
In late 1965, Bobbie Clarke, "Prince Stash", and Ralph Danks moved to Hollywood where Bobbie replaced drummer Don Conka on several studio sessions with the original members of the band LoveLove (band)
Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...
, consisting of Don Conka (drums), Bryan MacLean
Bryan MacLean
Bryan MacLean was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, most known for his work with the influential rock band Love. His famous compositions for Love include "Alone Again Or" and "Old Man".-Early life:...
(rhythm guitar), Johnny Echols
Johnny Echols
Johnny Echols is an American singer/songwriter and guitarist. He has played in bands with performers such as Little Richard, Billy Preston and Jimi Hendrix, and was the guitarist on many recording sessions with Miles Davis...
(lead guitar) and Ken Forssi
Ken Forssi
Kenneth Raymond Forssi, known as "Kenny" early in life and then "Ken" , was an American musician. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest child of Raymond B. and Lola G. Forssi. When he was about 9 years old, his family moved to Siesta Key, on the Florida west coast, and then, shortly moved on...
(bass), with the addition of Vince Flaherty (vocals, harmonica). At the same time the band was recording with Vince Flaherty, they were also playing at a club called Bido Lito's with their leader Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee (musician)
Arthur Lee was the frontman, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of the Los Angeles rock band Love, best known for the critically acclaimed 1967 album, Forever Changes.-Early years:...
, but had not yet obtained a record deal of their own. Two of the recordings, “The Groove” and “Why”, also included, in addition to the Love line up, with Clarke as drummer, Daryl Dragon
Daryl Dragon
Daryl Frank Dragon is a keyboardist, known as Captain in the successful 1970s pop musical duo Captain & Tennille, with his wife, Toni Tennille....
(Organ), later notable with The Captain and Tennille, as well as Charles Wright
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band is a pioneering American soul and funk band. Formed in the early 1960s, they had the most visibility from 1967 to 1973 when the band had 9 singles reach Billboard's pop and/or rhythm and blues Hot 100 lists, such as "Do Your Thing" , "Till You Get...
(rhythm guitar), future founder of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. An EP from the sessions was later released on the Verve label entitled “Vince and The Invincibles”.
In 1966 Bobbie Clarke also played with Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, and cut a record with a band called "The Elves Themselves", augmented by members from Love and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. Unfortunately, Clarke's career in the US was cut short when he was busted for pot
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
and became the first UK rock musician to be deported. Allegedly the members of Love showed up at the court hearing and told the judge that Clarke would have employment as their drummer if the court would allow him to stay in the United States but he was nevertheless convicted.
Third reunion: Vince Taylor and the Bobbie Clarke Noise
In 1967 Clarke returned to France and reformed "The Noise" with bass player Dave Curtis (ex lead singer of The Tremors), and guitarist Brian Griffiths, and once again gave it a go, with frontman Vince TaylorVince Taylor
Vince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
. In 1969 guitarist Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
asked Clarke to join a new band called Roundabout (which later became known as Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
). Bobbie brought with him Dave Curtis. Clarke and Curtis became dissatisfied with the style of the music and left to form a new band of their own with Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
(later to join the band Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
) and singer/guitarist Clive Maldoon.
Bodast
This new band, named BodastBodast
Bodast were a late 1960s rock group from London. Its most famous member was Steve Howe, later to join Yes.The group recorded an album in 1968. Their label Tetragrammaton Records had success in the United States with Deep Purple, but went out of business just before scheduling a release date for...
(after the first two letters of their three first names), was an evolution from the first incarnation of Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, and the ashes of Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
's popular psychedelic band Tomorrow
Tomorrow (band)
Tomorrow were a 1960s psychedelic rock band. Despite critical acclaim and support from DJ John Peel who featured them on his "Perfumed Garden" radio show, the band was not a great success in commercial terms. They were among the first psychedelic bands in England along with Pink Floyd and Soft...
. They bridged the difficult period between the psychedelic pop of 1967 and the progressive/heavy rock of 1970. John Newey, for RPM, a division of Cherry Red Records, describes their music as: “…rich in past echoes of the Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
, the Move
The Move
The Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
and Tomorrow yet pointing the way ahead to the might of Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
.”
Between May 1968 and mid 1969, Bodast produced an entire self titled album for MGM Records
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
. In February 1969, The Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
Group's drummer was fired and upon Beck's request Bobbie took his place, and did a few gigs at the Marquee in London, but was obligated to get back to work with Bodast, although Beck had expected him to stay with his group. Unfortunately for Bodast, their label MGM Records folded and the album was not released until 1981. The last gig for Bodast was in 1968 when they opened for The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
and were the backing band for Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
. Thereafter, Clarke rejoined Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
in Paris.
The Bobbie Clarke Connection
In 1971-72 he formed The Bobbie Clarke Connection, consisting of: Eddie Ayers (vocals), Jack Moriarty (lead guitar), Tony Harvey (rhythm guitar), James Byrne (bass), Stash Klossowski (percussion) and Bobbie Clarke (drums). They rehearsed and cut demos at Barclay studios in Paris and narrowly missed being signed to the label. The Connection performed live on French TV and then toured Europe, crumbling during the tour in Spain.Fourth reunion: Vince Taylor and the Bobbie Clarke Noise
In 1974 Bobbie's band The Noise again backed Vince TaylorVince Taylor
Vince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
, and Barclay released the 45 singles “Ready Teddy” and “C’mon Everybody”. In 1978 T and P Records released more of their efforts under the name “Vince Taylor and his Playboys”
The Man Who Drummed The World
In October 1987, Black Leather Productions released an EP, recorded in May 1985, entitled Bobbie Clarke, The Man Who Drummed The World. LIVE IN PARIS featuring the songs "Memphis Tennessee", "Twenty Flight Rock" and "Baby Blue".Recent records and performances
In 2000, RPM Records UK, a division of Cherry RedCherry Red
Cherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
Records, released a digitally remixed CD of the groundbreaking Bodast album (it is closer to the original 1969 mix by Keith West
Keith West
Keith Alan Hopkins, better known by his stage name, Keith West was the lead singer of Tomorrow, a 1960s psychedelic rock band. West composed most of the band's songs...
than previous reissues). On 10–11 May 2003, Clarke performed in Paris at a concert billed as "The Vince Taylor Memorial Concert with the Bobbie Clarke Noise". In 2004, P&C Pin Up Disques, France, released a CD entitled Joey Greco - Bobbie Clarke - JOEY AND THE SHOWMEN - Live 2004.