Bobby Elliott
Encyclopedia
Robert Hartley "Bobby" Elliott (born 8 December 1941 in Burnley
, Lancashire, England) is a rock drummer, best known for playing with The Hollies
, who has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".
Grammar School, but is a self-taught drummer, who learnt to drum with home-made brushes and sticks, on tins and other household items, by copying Chico Hamilton
of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet and Gene Krupa
of the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
Elliott was an original member of Johnny Theakstone and The Tremelos, who formed in 1959. Fronted by the vocalist Johnny Theakstone, Elliott drummed alongside guitarists Gerry Wilcox and Mick Hay, and bassist "Bonny". In late 1960 they sent a demo tape to BBC Radio's Saturday Club
, calling themselves Shane Fenton & The Fentones, but Theakstone 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 Theakstone's mother's request.
Tommy Sanderson became their manager, and negotiated a record deal with EMI who released "I'm a Moody Guy", which reached 19 on the UK singles chart. The next three singles failed to chart, "Cindy's Bithday" was then a minor hit, before the following three singles also flopped, and the band broke up in April 1963.
Elliott also played in Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins, a Manchester band led by guitarist Tony Hicks
who left to join The Hollies
in April 1963. Shortly after, the Hollies drummer Don Rathbone left and Elliott also joined the Hollies, whilst Jewry and Sanderson became the band's joint managers.
As of October 2010 Elliott still plays with the Hollies, and has recorded with almost no other band since 1963.
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, Lancashire, England) is a rock drummer, best known for playing with 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...
, who has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".
Early life
Elliott discovered jazz music when he was 10 or 11 and wanted to become a drummer. He attended NelsonNelson, Lancashire
Nelson is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, with a population of 28,998 in 2001. It lies 4 miles north of Burnley on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal....
Grammar School, but is a self-taught drummer, who learnt to drum with home-made brushes and sticks, on tins and other household items, by copying Chico Hamilton
Chico Hamilton
Chico Hamilton , is an American jazz drummer and bandleader.-Early life through 1960s:Hamilton was born in Los Angeles, California. He had a fast-track musical education in a band with Charles Mingus, Illinois Jacquet, Ernie Royal, Dexter Gordon, Buddy Collette and Jack Kelso...
of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet and Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
of the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
Elliott was an original member of Johnny Theakstone and The Tremelos, who formed in 1959. Fronted by the vocalist Johnny Theakstone, Elliott drummed alongside guitarists Gerry Wilcox and Mick Hay, and bassist "Bonny". In late 1960 they sent a demo tape to BBC Radio's Saturday Club
Saturday Club (BBC radio)
Saturday Club was an influential BBC radio programme in Britain, broadcast on the Light Programme and later Radio 1 between 1957 and 1969. It was one of the earliest - and for several years almost the only - radio programme in the country to broadcast pop music...
, calling themselves Shane Fenton & The Fentones, but Theakstone died before they received a reply. Having been offered an audition, the band's roadie Bernard Jewry (later known as Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust is an English pop singer and stage actor.-Career:...
), stepped in as vocalist, adopting the stage name Shane Fenton at Theakstone's mother's request.
Tommy Sanderson became their manager, and negotiated a record deal with EMI who released "I'm a Moody Guy", which reached 19 on the UK singles chart. The next three singles failed to chart, "Cindy's Bithday" was then a minor hit, before the following three singles also flopped, and the band broke up in April 1963.
Elliott also played in Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins, a Manchester band led by guitarist Tony Hicks
Tony Hicks
Tony Hicks is a guitarist and singer who has been a member of the British pop group The Hollies since 1963.-Career:...
who left to join 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...
in April 1963. Shortly after, the Hollies drummer Don Rathbone left and Elliott also joined the Hollies, whilst Jewry and Sanderson became the band's joint managers.
- For Elliott's career with The Hollies, see The HolliesThe HolliesThe 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...
As of October 2010 Elliott still plays with the Hollies, and has recorded with almost no other band since 1963.
Kit
- Toms:- 8"x10", 9"x12", 11"x14", 13"x16" Birch wood & laminate shells, made by Drum WorkshopDrum WorkshopDrum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
of Oxnard, California - Bass:- 18"x22" with DW 9000 double bass drum pedals
- Snare:- 6.5" x 14" LudwigLudwig-MusserLudwig-Musser is a drum and percussion instrument manufacturer that is part of the Conn-Selmer division of Steinway Musical Instruments.The first product made by the Ludwig brothers, William and Theobaldner , was a bass drum pedal capable of playing faster beats than was typical of products of the...
hammered metal SD. - Cymbals:- ZildjianAvedis Zildjian CompanyThe Avedis Zildjian Company is a cymbal manufacturer founded in Istanbul by Armenian Avedis Zildjian in the 17th century during the Ottoman Empire. At nearly 400 years old, Zildjian is one of the oldest companies in the world...
12" Splash, 14" hi hats, 17" & 18" Custom K Dark Crash, 19" K Thin Dark Crash, 20" Medium Ride - Timbales:- LP 'Tito Puente' 12" & 13"