Vince Taylor




Introduction

Vince Taylor was a pioneering front man from the early days of English rock and roll, fronting The Playboys, during the late 1950s. But it was in France that his career really took off, dressed from head to toe in Black Leather, in the early 1960s.During his career, Taylor recorded many songs but never achieved a best-seller hit. Although,"Brand New Cadillac", a self-penned song, became his most-remembered work which has been covered by many other artists, such as The Clash.
On the brink of becoming a huge international star, he had a break down - joining a religious movement.
Afterwards he fell into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.He attempted many comebacks during the years until his death.

Biography


Vince Taylor was born Brian Maurice Holden on July 14th 1939 in Isleworth, Middlesex, England.
In 1946, his family immigrated to America and settled in New Jersey where Brian's father took work in a coal mine.

By 1955, his sister married Joe Barbera aka “Joe Singer”, who was claimed by some to have been Joe Barbera of Hanna-Barbera productions, the successful animated cartoon company who had produced Tom & Jerry cartoons. As a result, the Holdens moved to California where Brian attended Hollywood High School and studied radio and weather reports. He eventually took flying lessons at Glendale School and obtained a pilot's license.
In 1957, impressed by the music of Bill Haley, Gene Vincent and Elvis Presley, Brian began to sing at parties, school proms and amateur gigs. Backed by a local band, he started playing for the benefit of the American Legion as well as a few nightclubs along Zummah Beach. Joe Barbera, his brother-in-law, then became his manager.
When Barbera went to London on business he asked Brian to join him to check out the British music scene the following year. American rockers were high in demand in the UK. There he met a lad called Paul Taylor who gave him the address of The 2 I's coffee-bar in Old Compton Street in Soho. In August 1958, Brian went there with Barbera and Hollywood guitarist Bob Frieberg. They approached the members of the main resident band at the 2.I's comprising drummer Tony Meehan, bass player Tex Makins, and guitarist Tony Sheridan to become his backing group,The Play-Boys.
Whilst looking at a packet of Pall Mall cigarettes he noticed the phrase, “In hoc Vince’s”, and Brian very much liked the actor Robert Taylor, thus giving rise to his new stage name of 'Vince Taylor'.

The Playboys made their live debut at the Shepards Bush Gaumont. Then following gigs were few but Vince Taylor soon scored a short-term contract with Parlophone label that released his first single for Parlophone, “I Like Love”coupled with “Right Behind You Baby”, in november 1958. This record was recorded by a new line-up of The Playboys featuring guitarist Tony Harvey, bass player Brian Locking and drummer Brian Bennett who would later replaced Tony Meehan once again in the Shadows.

In December 1958, Vince Taylor, deputized at short notice, at the Regal, Colchester, for Cliff Richard who was suffering from an acute sore throat.

TV Producer Jack Good gave Vince Taylor and his band the opportunity to shine on his new show “Oh Boy” in late 1958 and early 1959 on the same bill as Neville Taylor & The Cutters... Tony Harvey soon left to join Clay Nicholls & his Blue Flames, and to be replaced by pianist Bryan Pugh aka “Lou Brian”,formerly with Colin Hicks & His Cabin Boys. Then Vince Taylor had fallen out with Tony Sheridan, who went on to front the Oh Boy’s resident trio, and replaced him with Joe Moretti, another ex-Cabin Boy. Vince Taylor went berseck after Jack Goode had demanded him to cut his hair or he wouldn't appear on the show anymore.

In February 1959, after these TV appearances, Vince Taylor & The Playboys went on the road in North England along with Johnny Duncan & The Bluegrass Boys, Billy Fury and Jill Day.

In April 1959, Vince Taylor released his second single for Parlophone-Odeon, “Pledgin' My Love” b/w “Brand New Cadillac”. The B-side “Brand New Cadillac” was probably his most-remembered work. It was an original composition, inspired by a lunch in the "Star Restaurant", on Old Compton St, and produced by Norrie Paramor, on which Joe Moretti played lead as he did a year later on Johnny Kidd & The Pirates’ British classic "Shakin' All Over".
Unfortunately they couldn't get any airplay on the B.B.C because of the name "Cadillac".
Parlophone wasn’t satisfied with the immediate results and broke the contract.

In May 1959, with help from his brother in-law, Joe Barbera, Vince Taylor opened up a club in London called “The Top Ten” in Berwick Street, Soho, where the band performed then Rick Hardy, former leader of The Worried Men, became the resident singer.

Soon after, Joe Barbera, who gave Vince Taylor 9 months to clean up and had to support him and the four band members every week during this period, finally returned to California and Vince Taylor & The Playboys parted company. No sooner had the tour finished than Barbera sacked Brian Locking and Brian Bennett, who had defected to Marty Wilde’s Wildcats – replacing Tex Makins and Bobby Woodman. Joe Moretti went on to replace Denny Wright as guitarist with Johnny Duncan's blue grass Boys and Lou Brian reinvented himself as “Perry Ford” then who would later become successful with the Vocal trio The Ivy League, after a stint in the Echoes, and as songwriter (for Adam Faith).

Vince Taylor also got to California for a short stay then return to UK where he had to find a new manager and contacted Tom Littlewood, who became the new manager of the 2i’s Coffee Bar. Taylor first was backed by the former Terry Dene’s sidemen, bass player Brian Gregg and drummer Clem Cattini, both freshly returned from Sweeden. They were often accompanied at The 2i’s by pianists Mike O'Neill or Miki Dallon. But soon after, Gregg and Cattini accepted Larry Parnes’ invitation to become the core of The New Beat Boys, backing his singers on package tours such as “The Big Beat Show” from august 1959. They actually were brought in to replace Makins and Woodman who had just been elbowed from the band after having missed some rehearsals.

Then Vince Taylor went out on a package tour, the “Big Beat Dance Of '59”, from August 21st to September 26th 1959, with Chas McDevitt & Shirley Douglas, both acts backed by Leroy Powell & the Beatniks featuring future Gladiator Tommy Brown on drums. Taylor eventually would recorded a song composed by Chas McDevitt 'Move Over Tiger', for Palette Records, the following year. After that Vince did a deal with Tom Littlewood, who put him out on the road with Keith Kelly and all-purpose backing band held together by Bobby Woodman.

Late September 1959, Woodman teamed up again with Makins and a Lancastrian guitarist called Kenny Fillingham to become the core of a trio backing Vince Taylor for a 3-week tour of Wales and Brighton. They met Fillingham, formerly with the Dominoes from Wigan during their brief stint with Rory Blackwell & the Blackjacks in Islington, London. They persuaded him to let them bleach his hair before he went back to the fold.

Just before this last tour, Vince Taylor had travelled to Southampton and contacted local promoter Reg Calvert who’d booked for the next season. Calvert then recruited a new set of Playboys: guitarist Brian Marshall and bass player John Cobb aka “Johnny Vance”, both from the Portsmouth-based Strollers, teaming up with lead guitarist Geoffrey Gloverwright aka “Buddy Britten” and drummer Johnny Watson, who had just finished a Summer season at Butlin’s holiday camp in Filey, with Clay Nicholls & The Blue Flames alongside Tony Harvey.
The quartet backed Vince Taylor but also Buddy Britten, Britain’s answer to Buddy Holly, for about 5 months. They were The New Playboys as well as The first incarnation of The Buddy Britton Trio.

Reg Calvert put them out on the road as a package show: they opened the show with Buddy Britten singing lead as The Buddy Britton Trio, Brian Marshall came on as “Tony Trent”, and then Vince Taylor would close the show with them, Buddy playing lead.

In January 1960, Brian Marshall, Johnny Vance and Johnny Watson moved to London with Vince Taylor, leaving Buddy Britten to carry on working for Reg Calvert.
They took a residency at The 2i’s Coffee Bar for 3 months until mid March 1960, backing Vince but also Tony Sheridan, Keith Kelly, Lance Fortune among others.
Weekends, they played other venues: mostly Rock’n’Roll Jamboree Dances organised by Rory “Shakes” Blackwell.
After having supported Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran during their tour of Britain for 4 months,Tony Sheridan would eventually come back to the fold, replacing Brian Marshall, who returned to Portsmouth.
Shortly thereafter, Bobby Woodman took over Johnny Watson on drums and then rolled his mates but also original Playboys’ bass player Tex Makins who was just returned from a Scotland Tour with Vince Eager & His Quiet Three and finally filled in Johnny Vance’s shoes for a short while prior to going on the road once again with Eager.

Vince Taylor & his New Playboys took part of a benefit for the family of the late Eddie Cochran, who had died in a car crash on April 17, 1960.
On April 30, 1960, they appeared on ABC TV's "Wham!" along with Wee Willie Harris and Johnny Kidd & the Pirates featuring former Playboys Joe Moretti, Brian Gregg and Clem Cattini.
In May 1960, they were joined by another original Wildcat and Beat Boy, pianist Alan LeClaire who had begun a vain quest for solo recognition during the last part of 59.

Then Tony Sheridan was hired by keyboardist Iain Hines and went to Hamburg with the Jets, and played the Kaiserkeller Club from June to September 1960. And another original came back to the fold: Tony Harvey, this once playing on lead.

Vince Taylor moved to Palette Records and recorded with the New Set of Playboys “I’ll Be Your Hero” b/w “Jet Black Machine”, which was released on August 19, 1960.
Vince decided to get dressed in black leather from head to toe on stage after he saw a model dressed with, in a winter sports shop window, in London. This was very unusual and caught the eyes. However American Rocker Gene Vincent already used to wear black leather whe he first visited Britain in late ’59.

Vince Taylor's unstable caracter caused several arguments within the band and The Playboys parted company with him and changed their name to "The Bobbie Clarke Noise". During a British Rock Festival at The Olympia, Paris, in July, 1961, he was spotted by Bruno Coquatrix, who contacted French A&R, Eddie Barclay, who signed him to a six-year record deal on his label that issued 5 EP's and one LP from September 1961 to January 1962.
Vince went to all the top parties in Paris as “The black demon of rock”.
During 1961 and 1962, Vince Taylor toured Europe including The French Riviera, Belgium, Spain, and The Netherlands, with Bobbie Clarke's band, renamed “Vince Taylor and his Playboys”.
By the end of 1962, they even were the top of the bill at the Olympia, Paris but shortly thereafter, the off-stage relationship faltered and Taylor played engagements backed by another English band "The Dragons".

Agreements weren't scarse and Vince started to play dressed from head to toe in leather, but white.
In mid 60s, Vince met Bob Dylan, Nico and a few other people from the Acid Rock scene. A mixture of acid, amphetamines and alcohol proved fatal to his mind and he then joined a religious movement. He had a break down - coming on stage and trying to evangelize the audience, he claimed to be the prophet Matthew. But the audience thought that it was part of the shows.
After that, things went downhill for Vince.
In autumn 1969, musicpapers 'Bonjour les Amis' and 'Disco-Revue' started a support campaign for Taylor asking its readers to write in to Barclay's Record Company saying how much they would love to see the rock star make another record. Eddie Barclay, finally convinced, gave a new chance to Vince who recorded again and performed intermittently throughout the following decades.
During his last years, Vince Taylor lived in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he took work as an airplane mechanic.
He died on August 28, 1991 at 52.

The Story Of The Playboys


Part I. An American in London: 1958 - 1959







In August 1958, Brian Holden aka “Vince Taylor” investigated The 2 I's Coffee Bar with his manager Joe Barbera and American guitarist Bob Frieberg. They approached the members of the house band comprising drummer Tony Meehan, bass player Tex Makins, both from The Worried Men, and guitarist Tony Sheridan from the Vince Eager’s Quartet, to become his backing group. The first gig they did was at the Shepards Bush Gaumont on a Saturday.

Tex Makins
“One afternoon Vince Taylor came in looking for a band to back him on a few shows. We said ok we will do them. One show in particular I remember was at the Shepards Bush Gaumont after the Saturday morning picture show. Vince slayed them. When we left the theatre we were chased by a couple of hundred screaming teenage girls - frightening.”

Whilst looking at a packet of Pall Mall cigarettes he noticed the phrase, “In hoc Vince’s”, and Brian liked very much the American movies actor Robert Taylor, thus giving rise to his new stage name of 'Vince Taylor'.

Tony Sheridan
“Joe Singer said that Vince was going to be the biggest thing since Elvis… The only trouble was, he couldn’t sing…”


In September 1958, Tex Makins quickly left, to be replaced by Brian "Licorice" Locking. Next to leave was Bob Frieberg, who couldn’t stand London’s climate and went back home, to California. Tony Harvey from the Spiders was brought in to take over him, then Tony Sheridan eventually switched to lead guitar.
Shortly thereafter, Tony Meehan joined The Vipers and was replaced by Brian Bennett, who had already filled in his shoes in The Worried Men and who would later took over him once again in the Shadows.

Vince At The 2i's Coffee Bar, 1958




The new band backed Vince Taylor at the Hammersmith Odeon. They then became The Playboys – not after the famous magazine but because they always smartly dressed: wearing white shirts, Red Ties, black Trousers and red caps on stage while Vince wore a bright black shirt.
On October 8th 1958, Vince Taylor was mobbed once again at the Gaumont.


Vince on “Oh Boy”


TV Producer Jack Good gave Vince Taylor and his band the opportunity to shine on his new show “Oh Boy”: he made 4 appearances from 20 December 1958 to 10 January 1959. Tony Harvey soon left to join Clay Nicholls & his Blue Flames, and to be replaced by pianist Bryan Pugh aka “Lou Brian”,formerly with Colin Hicks & His Cabin Boys. Then Vince Taylor had fallen out with Tony Sheridan, who went on to front the Oh Boy’s resident trio, and replaced him with Joe Moretti, another ex-Cabin Boy, who had just spent a month in “Mother Goose” backing Vince Eager.

The Playboys featuring Guitar hero Joe Moretti

Joe Moretti
“I first met Vince in January 1959. I had just finished Xmas Pantomime with Vince Eager in Southport & had returned to London to play at the 2 I's. I was actually standing in the 2 I's having a coffee when the guys "Licorice" Locking, Lou Brian & Brian Bennett came in and told me that Tony Sheridan had just quit Vince's band and was I interested in joining the band.
We discussed money etc. and I agreed to join the band. But there was a problem. My wife and I had nowhere to stay. Now, Vince & the guys were sharing an apartment in Knightsbridge, a few miles outside central London, and Vince suggested we go back and stay with them till we got fixed up.”


Vince Taylor had also fallen out with Jack Goode, who wanted him to change his look...
He last appeared on episode #20, aired on January 10th 1959.

Joe Moretti
Jack Goode demanded that Vince cut his hair or he wouldn't appear on the show.Vince went fucking nuts !! " He can shove his show up his ass" he said. We were all very impressed. But eventually,compromise was reached and Vince agreed to to have about a millimeter of hair cut off, and I understand he did do the show. I didn't do the show, because Vince was still plugging "Right behind You Baby." We hadn't recorded " Cadillac" yet. So either Sheridan was with him or he used the house band.


In February 1959, after these TV appearances, Vince Taylor & The Playboys went on the road in North England along with Johnny Duncan & The Bluegrass Boys, Billy Fury and Jill Day.

About that time, Jack Good had hired Brian Bennet and Brian Locking to be Oh Boy’s resident trio, as a result, they had a foot in each camp: on TV with Tony Sheridan and on the road with Vince Taylor
They made 6 appearances from 28 February to 9 May 1959 (episodes #28-#38). During this spell they had become friends with Marty Wilde who would later booked them.

In April 1959, Vince Taylor released his second single for Parlophone-Odeon,“Pledgin' My Love” b/w “Brand New Cadillac”. The B-side “Brand New Cadillac” was probably his most well known song. It was an original composition, inspired by a lunch in the "Star Restaurant", on Old Compton St, and produced by Norrie Paramor, on which Joe Moretti played lead as he did a year later on Johnny Kidd & The Pirates’ British classic "Shakin' All Over".
Unfortunately they couldn't get any airplay on the B.B.C because of the name "Cadillac".
Parlophone wasn’t satisfied with the immediate results and broke the recording contract (they wouldn’t do the same mistake with an unknown liverpuldian quartet 3 years later).

Joe Moretti
“Vince wrote "Cadillac" on a piece of paper on a table in the "Star Restaurant" at the end of Old Compton St. We had graduated from cheese & onions to unimaginable spaghetti and luncheon meat fritters. But there was plenty of it, and it was our one meal a day and Vince is singing " Yea, yea, Baby, Got a Brand New Cadillac," "Nope. that don't work !! "Yeh, the Caddy's Rollin', Rollin' & I'm never comin' back." "Nope. That don't work !" But I think it was only the next day when he turned up with the finished lyrics. Vince wrote "Cadillac" and we recorded it at E.M.I. Abbey Rd. St. John's Wood, London. Norrie Paramor was the Producer. We didn't have much rehearsal and we did it in a couple of takes. Same with "Pledging My Love." Once we had the structure of a song we just blew the hell out of it. But - We had no hype. We couldn't get any airplay because of the names "Cadillac" & "Ford." advertising on the B.B.C was not allowed and they were the main source of airplay.”

On “Brand New Cadillac”, just before the guitar solo, we can hear Vince Taylor calling someone "Scotty":

Joe Moretti
“Vince immediately started calling me "Joey'. It's always used in the U.S for "Joe".Then later he called me "Scotty"… to have an affinity with Scotty Moore, Elvis's guitarist, the name stuck while I was at the 2 I's.”

a few later, Vince Taylor, Pina and Joe Moretti moved into a house in Turnham Green, Near Chiswick, London.

Joe Moretti
“We still didn't have many gigs because " Cadillac " hadn't made it. Zilch airplay. It was big on the Juke Boxes but that was it .Very little publicity,and no sales.
Joe, Vince's manager, had to support himself, Vince, and four band members every week until around June - July when the band split up, a period of 6-7 months. Don't forget that the band was being paid a retainer every week, and although the money wasn't exorbitant, it was a considerable amount…”
“In approximately 6 months we had cut only 2 tracks, done a week's tour and 1 television show.”

In mid May 1959, with help from his brother in law, Joe Barbera, Vince Taylor opened up a club in London called “The Top Ten” in Berwick Street, Soho, where the band performed then Rick Hardy aka “Rick Richards”, former leader of The Worried Men, became the resident singer.

Vince Taylor & The Playboys had a very few gigs and just appeared on BBC Saturday Club (episode #33, aired on May 16th 1959) alongside The Five Dallas Boys; The Ken Jones Five; June Marlow, Matt Monro & The Bill McGuffie Trio…

Soon after, Joe Barbera, who gave Vince Taylor 9 months to clean up, finally returned to California as it became obvious that his protégé was not going to obtain overnight success. And Vince Taylor & The Playboys parted company. No sooner had the tour finished than Barbera sacked Brian Locking and Brian Bennett, who had defected to Marty Wilde’s Wildcats – replacing Tex Makins and Bobby Woodman, left to become Billy Fury’s backing group, the Beat Boys. Joe Moretti went on to replace Denny Wright as guitarist with Johnny Duncan's blue grass Boys and Lou Brian reinvented himself as “Perry Ford” then who would later become successful with the Vocal trio The Ivy League, after a stint in the Echoes, and as songwriter (for Adam Faith).

Joe Moretti
“The split up had to come. The guys were looking for ways to get ahead in the business, and there was a lot of head hunting going on. I was offered the gig with Johnny Duncan's blue grass Boys, a good country band, and the money was good so I told Vince I was quitting. Unfortunately, the bass player, "Licorice" Locking, and the drummer, Brian Bennett quit at the same time, they joined Marty Wilde.”

Part II. An American on The Road: 1959 – 1960


Vince Taylor had to find a new backer and contacted Tom Littlewood, who became the new manager of the 2i’s Coffee Bar. Taylor first was backed by the former Terry Dene’s sidemen, bass player Brian Gregg and drummer Clem Cattini, both freshly returned from Sweden. They were often accompanied at The 2i’s by pianists Mike O'Neill or Miki Dallon. But soon after, Gregg and Cattini accepted Larry Parnes’ invitation to become the core of The New Beat Boys, backing his singers on package tours such as “The Big Beat Show” from august 1959. They actually were brought in as replacement for Makins and Woodman who had just been elbowed from the band after having missed some rehearsals.

Joe Moretti recalls about that time
“I went back to the 2 I's a couple of times… and on the last occasion the manager of the I's asked if I would form a band. He said he could get me plenty of gigs and the money was good. He was also booking Vince's band at the time. So, I ask him what kind of money are we talking and he pulls out this big book of accounts. Fifty, sixty, eighty pounds a night. So, straight away I went to Vince and asked what the guy was paying Him." Thirty pounds a night " He said. I told him the story and that was END of story for me & the 2 I's.”


Then Vince Taylor went out on a package tour, the “Big Beat Dance Of '59”, from August 21st to September 26th 1959, with Chas McDevitt & Shirley Douglas, both acts backed by Leroy Powell & the Beatniks featuring future Gladiators Tommy Brown on drums. They were augmented by Ed Warburton on trombone and Syd Archer on sax to accompany Taylor, who eventually would record a song composed by Chas McDevitt 'Move Over Tiger', for Palette Records, the following year. After that, Vince did a deal with Tom Littlewood, who put him out again on the road this once with Keith Kelly and all-purpose backing band held together by Bobby Woodman, whom he had met at The Pad Club, Berwick Street, Soho, while drumming with the Elisabethan Jazz Band, in early 1959.

Late September 1959, Woodman teamed up again with Makins and a Lancastrian guitarist called Kenny Fillingham to become the core of a trio backing Vince Taylor for a 3-week tour of Wales and Brighton. They met Fillingham during their brief stint with Rory Blackwell & the Blackjacks at the Strava Ballroom in Islington, London. The other Blackjack, recently recruited, was his mate Clive Powell, formerly with the Dominoes from Wigan. Makins and Woodman persuaded the other pair to let them bleach their hair. Although while Fillingham went back to the fold, Powell stayed in London where he eventually would be spotted by Lionel Bart and then Larry Parnes, the pop svengali, who’d renamed him Georgie Fame.

Vince Working For Reg Calvert


Just before this last tour, Vince Taylor had travelled to Southampton and contacted local promoter Reg Calvert who’d booked for the next season. Calvert went to Portsmouth and checked out a local outfit called the Strollers.
He then recruited a new set of Playboys: guitarist Brian Marshall and bass player John Cobb aka “Johnny Vance” who teamed up with lead guitarist Geoffrey Gloverwright aka “Buddy Britten” and drummer Johnny Watson, freshly returned from a Summer season at Butlin’s holiday camp in Filey, with Clay Nicholls & The Blue Flames alongside Tony Harvey. The quartet backed Vince Taylor but also Buddy Britten, Britain’s answer to Buddy Holly, for about 5 months. They were The New Playboys as well as The first incarnation of The Buddy Britton Trio.

Brian Marshall
“About mid 1959, I was singing and playing with THE STROLLERS in Portsmouth,
and we were contacted by Reg Calvert and asked if we would like to back Vince as his band had just split.
Myself and Dave Cobb (Johnny Vance) agreed so we moved to Southampton and met with Johnny Watson ,
Buddy Britton and Vince and that was the new PLAYBOYS line up.”

Reg Calvert put them out on the road as a package show (e.g.Cheltenham Town Hall, on 7/01/1960): they opened the show with Buddy Britten singing lead as The Buddy Britton Trio, Brian Marshall came on as “Tony Trent”, and then Vince Taylor would close the show with them, Buddy playing lead.

Brian Marshall
“We played mostly one nighters around England as a TEENAGE PACKAGE SHOW.Vince sung mostly Elvis at that time plus his own numbers, “Cadillac”. “Pledging My Love”. “Right Behind You Baby” ,which always went down well.”

Back to The 2i's


In January 1960, Brian Marshall, Johnny Vance and Johnny Watson moved to London with Vince Taylor, leaving Buddy Britten to carry on working for Reg Calvert with a new backing band, The Regents.
They took a residency at The 2i’s Coffee Bar for 3 months until mid March 1960, backing Vince but also Tony Sheridan, Keith Kelly, Lance Fortune among others. Rick Hardy aka “Rick Richards” had immortalized some of their appearances there: on a very small stage as Brian recalls – with “JUST ABOUT ROOM FOR 4 OF US.”
Weekends, they played other venues: mostly Rock’n’Roll Jamboree Dances organised by Rory “Shakes” Blackwell, who had disbanded his Blackjacks after their unsuccesful residency at Islington Strava Ballroom in late ‘59.

Brian Marshall
“After 5 months Vince wanted to move back to London so we went with him leaving Buddy to carry on working for Reg.
We were resident backing band at the 2is for about 3 months with TONY SHERIDAN, KIETH KELLY , LANCE FORTUNE...
“AND WE GOT PAID £1 POUND PER NIGHT, NOT ALOT FOR 4 HOURS WORK!!”
Vince performed most nights as well. Weekends we played other venues but we did a few organised by Rory.Shakes. Blackwell.”
While Vince Taylor wore Black Leather like Gene Vincent during his first tour of Europe, the Band had Red Coats, Black Trousers, Black Shirts and Red Ties.
One of the last gigs with Vince Taylor was a package show at Stevenage Town Hall on Saturday 19th March 1960: Johnny Watson performed as “Little Jony” and Brian Marshall as “Eddie Sex” – and as he says “FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY (NEVER LIVED IT DOWN)!!”
As the poster of the show suggest it, both Watson and Marshall started to record some demo’s on their own at that time.

Brian Marshall
“The Demo's we made on our own were done at Pepy's Studio in Berwick Street. The songs we did were DREAM LOVER, YOUR RIGHT I'M LEFT SHE'S GONE ,POOR LITTLE FOOL, and a song that Tony Sheridan wrote which I wrote another verse called I
KNOW BABY.”

While Gene Vincent opened a new tour on April 30, 1960 at Hanley Gaumont, Vince Taylor & his band appeared on ABC TV's "Wham!" along with Wee Willie Harris and Johnny Kidd & the Pirates featuring former Playboys Joe Moretti, Brian Gregg and Clem Cattini who played together on the future British number one hit single “Shakin' All Over” that had been composed in similat circumstances as “Brand New Cadillac”: on a piece of paper on a table in a Soho hang out - The Freight Train in Berwick Street, managed by Chas McDevitt.
In fact, Gregg and Cattini had been elbowed from the Larry Parnes’ Beat Boys as Makins and Woodman had been before them prior to becoming the core of the new Pirates.
However the Playboys rehearsed for the show, Lord Rockingham's XI backed most of the artists that appeared on it.

memories from Brian








After that, they parted company in early May 1960: Johnny Vance stayed with Vince Taylor, Brian Marshall returned to Portsmouth and formed the Nightriders, and Johnny Watson replaced Bert Croms as drummer of the Echoes backing American stars Conway Twitty and Johnny Preston then went to Italy with Wee Willy Harris.

Brian Marshall was brought in The Terry Dene’s Dene Aces as a last-minute replacement for Don Adams alongside Bobby Woodman who would eventually take over Johnny Watson as Playboys’ drummer. Woodman rolled his mates but also original Playboys’ bass player Tex Makins who was just returned from a Scotland Tour with Vince Eager & His Quiet Three and finally filled in Johnny Vance’s shoes for a short while prior to going on the road once again with Vince Eager.

Brian Marshall with Screaming Lord Sutch, 1961


Tex Makins and Bobby Woodman teamed up with another original Playboy,Tony Sheridan,who had supported, with his Trio, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran during their tour of Britain from January to April 1960.

In Mid May 1960, Sheridan, Makins and Woodman were joined by another original Marty Wilde’s Wildcat and Billy Fury’s Beat Boy, pianist Alan LeClaire who had begun a vain quest for solo recognition during the last part of 59.

Alan LeClaire
“My first gig with Taylor had Tex, Bobby and Tony Sheridan in the band… 1960… I had worked with Tex and Bobby before but it was the first time with Sheridan. Shortly after that he went to live in Germany..”.

Then Tony Sheridan was hired by keyboardist Iain Hines and went to Hamburg with the Jets, alongside Rick Hardy, in late May and played the Kaiserkeller Club from June 5th to September 1960, settling in Germany for a 3-year stay… And another original came back to the fold: Tony Harvey, this once playing on lead, as he did with Clay Nicholls & The Blue Flames, the previous summer, brought in by Hardy as a replacement for Joe Brown.

Alan LeClaire
“After he [Tony Sheridan] went to Germany, Tony Harvey and sometimes Bob Steele played with Vince… Johnny arrived in London from Portsmouth. He had been working for a promoter called Reg Calvert. He was probably "gigging". Many of us were the same. Gigging means playing for whoever phoned up and often meant working for four or five different bands in the same week…”



The Classic Line-up 1960-1962



In early June 1960, Vince Taylor & his New Playboys took part of a benefit for the family of the late Eddie Cochran, who had died in a car crash on April 17. They then took up a residency at Blackpool Palace during the summer prior to recording 2 new numbers, “I'll be your Hero” and “Jet bLack Machine”, for Belgian label Palette Records.
While the Shadows topped the British charts with “Apache”, “I'll be your Hero”/“Jet bLack Machine” reached number 15, becoming probably Vince’s biggest sale at home.
Still managed by Tom Littlewood, Vince Taylor went out on “2i's package show” with Keith Kelly, Lance Fortune and Screaming Lord Sutch in Autumn of 1960. The Playboys backed all the artists of the show. The first tour they did all together was of Devon and Cornwall (see posters), during which their pianist Alan LeClaire used to drive the van of the band.

Alan LeClaire
“While we were with Taylor, we were introduced to Sutch. He didn't have a band at that time, so he toured with us for a few months before getting his own group together… The first tour we did was of Devon and Cornwall. he had an old van, but no driving licence. I drove it and it kept on breaking down… Sutch slept in the back of the van to save on expences… He act was general lunacy and quite funny. He couldn't sing, but just shouted while we played…
His stage show was really a visual performance of organised insanity. A real good laugh, but not much musical value…”

On September 28th 1960, The Sunday Pictorial ran a photograph of Screaming Lord Sutch – arms outstreched, eyes shut, mouth wide open, hair hanging around his face – with the head line “he’s the daftest yet”.
The 19 year old screamer was plain Dave Sutch from South Harrow, Middlesex, when he asked Rock star Vince Taylor for work with his group. Vince heard Dave scream and recommended him to his own backer, Tom Littlehood, who runs the 2I’s… Tom advised the newcomer: “Get a gimmick, and you’re in”.
So, plain Dave Sutch went away and bought a pair of buffalo horns in a Second Hand Shop for 15 shillings. He fixed them in a hat, and returned to Two I's as Screaming Lord Sutch, the 18-inch hair just grew, along with the gimmick, and now he is touring with Vince’s group. Says Vince: “When the screamer starts work, the fans don’t know wether to laugh, jive or run away”. Sutch described the group’ style at that time as “Rock’n’Roll, Wild and Frantic”.

Vic Clark, Savages Lead Guitarist in 1960
“We played the 2I's very frequently. Vince Taylor and the Playboys was the main act at that time…
When we played the 2I's Tony Harvey and Bobby Woodman were in the Playboys. Bobby Woodman was an amazing rock drummer. He really worked his kick-drum, nearly everything was 8 beats to the bar. One night when we were watching, Sutch grabbed Carlo and said "Thats how I want you to play the drums". Bobby was Carlo's inspiration and Carlo responded well.”

Rick Brown, Savages Bassist in 1960-64
“In 1960/1, all the musicians who went to the I's (Savages included) were strongly influenced by the sound of the Playboys, which really came from Bobby Woodman. It was a hard, punchy, aggressive style which has made any other British rock or pop music sound weak and flimsy by comparison. And Woodman had his hair bleached for visual impact.”

Vince Taylor's unstable caracter caused several arguments with the band, approuved by ruptures shortly followed by reconciliations. Prior to a 2 weet tour starting in Guilford, Vince came up while the band was rehearsing and asked them if they were O.K. to back him though Tom Littlewood still hadn’t paid them. But they refused to back him until they weren’t paid. After that Vince drove to the airport and took the first plane to Los Angeles. He stayed there for about 4 months. Obviously, as Bobby Woodman noticed, he had enough money to buy a ticket to ride! So The Playboys started looking for other people to play with such as Terry Dene or Duffy Power. They took part of Gene Vincent’s tour of Great Britain in early 1961 backing Dene and Screaming Lord Sutch. In spring of ‘61,The Playboys, lead by Bobbie Woodman, changed their name to 'The Bobbie Woodman Noise'.

In April 1961, lead guitarist Tony Harvey left the Playboys to join Nero & The Gladiators run by the pianist Mike O'Neill formerly with Tommy Steele's brother Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys alongside Laurie Jay on drums and Boot Slade on bass. The Playboys replaced Harvey with Bob Steel.

Part III. An American in Paris: 1961 – 1965

The Bobbie Woodman Noise were contacted to play the British rock and roll festival headlining Wee Willie Harris, at Paris Olympia, France, on July 7th and 8th 1961. The other artists were Dave Sampson, Duffy Power, Vince Eager and Nero & The Gladiators with Tony on lead. Vince Taylor went back to England about that time and replaced Duffy Power who turn up late during a gig in Guilford. He then asked, considering that he had never been to France, if he could come to Paris too and if necessary he would sing for free. It was whilst registering Vince's passport for France that Woodman found that Taylor was not actually american as he pretended to be but english, like the rest of the band.
During the sound check, at The Olympia, Vince Taylor dressed up for the occasion in his black leather gear and added a chain around his neck with a Joan of Arc medallion which he had bought on arrival in Calais, France. As a result, the organisers, who were so impressed, decided to put him up as top of the bill for both shows.
During his performance at those two shows, he was spotted by Bruno Coquatrix, manager of the Olympia, who contacted French A&R, Eddie Barclay.

Barclay signed Vince and his band to a six-year record deal on his label that issued 5 EP's and one LP from September 1961 to January 1962. He suggested Bobbie Woodman to change his name, and this latter renamed himself “Bobbie Clarke”.In the interval, Tony Harvey was finally convinced by Vince and Bobbie to start up the group again, knowing how to keep the same style. The two guitarists alternated their duties: Bob Steele went on to rythm guitar whilst Tony took solo.
Barclay imposed Vince Taylor & the Playboys in one of the first International rock and roll festivals on August 15th 1961 at 'Le Vieux Colombier' in Juan les Pins, a tiny club where the upper crust got in. Vince and his lads then went to all the top parties in Paris. They toured The French Riviera, Belgium, Spain, and The Netherlands. They released their debut album 'Le Rock c'est ça' in late 1961 in which they covered ten Rock’n’Roll classics such as Eddie Cochran’s “20 Flight Rock” and “C'mon Everybody” or Johnny Kidd’s “Shaking All Over”.

Although Vince Taylor's concerts start to take a bad turn. On November 18th, riots of kids wearing black leather jackets broke out during a rock and roll festival at the Palais des Sports, in Paris. Hooligans in the audience started breaking chairs before Vince and his band even got on stage. As a result, the promoters got worried and Vince soon became banned in certain French towns.

In spite of this Vince Taylor & the Playboys were the top of the bill at the Olympia, Paris, for the end of the year between December 27th 1961 and January 15th 1962.
From April the 24th to May 26th 1962, they played in a posh club in Pigalle 'Les Folies Pigalle', where an opening for a revue 'Twist Appeal' or 'Eroticism of the 20th Century' was to make a resounding success. A 2 hour show in which Vince sang surrounded by gorgeous girls. Vince Taylor & the Playboys then went on a summer tour but Vince left for La Côte d'Azur with his new love, top model Helene April.
A few weeks later, Vince left once more during a gig at the Star Club, in Hambourg, and took the first plane to Paris in order to be near Helene April.

By the end of 1962, the Playboys had fallen out with Vince Taylor who played engagements backed by the English band "The Dragons" (wherever he played, Vince still presented them as the Playboys).
By October 1962, Bobbie Woodman became the drummer for Johnny Hallyday & the Golden Stars. Bob Steel joined Jacky Lynton.
Meanwhile Tony Harvey and Johnny Vance decided to follow the career of The Playboys with other musicans: pianist Joe Fegan and drummers Ed Sparrow then Don Hawkins.
About that time, Vince started to play dressed from head to toe in leather, but white.

In early 1964, the new set of Playboys featured Bobbie Woodman on drums, Joey Greco and Claude Djaoui on guitars, and Ralph Di Pietro on bass who were actually the members of the Johnny Hallyday orchestra, Joey & the Showmen. They recorded secretly with Vince his versions of Arthur Alexander's “shot of Rythm & Blues” and of Chuck Berry’s “Memphis Tenessee” that appeared on the single (Barclay #60446) released in february 1964.
Shortly thereafter, Johnny Hallyday was called up and the Showmen had split up. Joey Greco went back to America. Bobbie Woodman started up his own band again The Bobbie Clarke Noise with percussionist Stash Klossowski, painter Balthus’s son, Johnny Taylor on rythm guitar, Ralph Danks on lead guitar and Alain Bugby on bass both from the final line-up of Nero & The Gladiators and formerly with the Strangers alongside Taylor.
In May 1964, The Bobbie Clarke Noise teamed up again with Vince Taylor as his backing group. Managed by Jean Claude Camus, they were upgraded with two French musicians, Ivan Jullien (trumpet) and Bob Garcia (saxophone) and toured in province then supported The Rolling Stones at the Paris Olympia in early 1965.

After he had met folk singers Bob Dylan and Nico in London, Vince started taking drugs such as acid that he used to mix with alcohol…

On May 23th 1965, at 'La Locomotive' Club, Paris, Vince Taylor had a break down - coming on stage and trying to evangelize the audience, he claimed to be the prophet Matthew. But the audience thought that it was part of the shows as the band covered everything he was saying.

Soon after, Barclay published the LP “VINCE…!” that included instrumental number “Clank” and 8 other covered versions of American tunes. Vince Taylor’s last single released in the 60’s, “My Babe” c/w “Trouble” was an excerpt from this LP.
In mid 1965, Barclay stopped financing Vince Taylor who finally joined a religious movement and the band disbanded.


The Bobbie Clarke Noise







After The Playboys

In November 1966, Vince Taylor toured across France backed by French outfit Les Rockers with Bobbie Woodman on drums.
The Bobbie Clarke Noise kept backing Vince Taylor until the rest of the decade with various line-ups.
One of them featured liverpuldian guitarist Brian Griffiths, formerly with The Big Three, and bass player Dave Curtiss, from the Tremors, an English band that was currently resident in France. They took part of the first edition of a tour across France called "L'épopée du rock" during 1967. Curtiss and Woodman were both hired in a band called Roundabout that evolved into Deep Purple in early 1968, before forming a Prog Rock group, Bodast, with Steve Howe.


For the second edition "L'épopée du rock" in 1972, Vince Taylor was backed by The Bobbie Clarke Connection gathering Bobbie Woodman, Stash Klossowski and Tony Harvey. In 1974, Bobbie Woodman and Vince Taylor finally parted company. Bobbie went back to England meanwhile Vince toured with The Larry Martin Factory.
The following years, Vince worked mostly with French musicians from the Big Beat Records Label. However the English rock revival band Matchbox backed him at the Palace, Paris, in 1979.


Whatever became of the Playboys?

Vince Taylor moved to Switzerland in 1983, in an attempt to break with his past. He married that same year in Epalinges, near Lausanne, later moving to Lutry on the shores of Lake Geneva. He tried many come back appearances but with no success. He died in Lutry in August 1991.

Tony Sheridan went to Hamburg with a make-shift group from Soho named The Jets in June 1960, where he met a group called The Beatles who backed him on stage and on some titles for Polydor records. After playing in Germany for 7 years, and touring Switzerland, Austria, France, United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Ireland & Norway, he accepted an offer to play for the U.S. troops in Vietnam for two years at the end of the decade.
In the 70s, Sheridan appeared mainly in Germany and the U.K., playing folk & blues. In 1978, he recorded with Elvis Presley’s TCB Band in Los Angeles. In 1986, he recorded an L.P. of his own material with guitarist Albert Lee, in Milan. By July 2002, he released his last LP entitled "VAGABOND"comprising of rock, R’n’B, country, ballads and critical songs.

After the demise of The Playboys, Tony Harvey joined a french outfit called Les Champions replacing Claude Ciari then he backed singer Joe Dassin, son of movie producer Jule Dassin, until 1976. During the 80s, he worked in aesthetic business. He then retired from the music scene and passed away in February 1993.
Joe Moretti became a very prolific sessionman recording with Johnny Kidd (“Shakin’ All Over”), Tony Meehan & Jet Harris (playing lead on most of their tunes after Jet had a car accident), french rocker Johnny Halliday, Georgie Fame, among others.

Guitarist Kenny Fillingham, who had been in a lancastrian outfit called The Dominoes alongwith Georgie Fame, returned to his old band now called The Beat Boys, recording with Joe Meek then Screaming Jay Hawkins in the mid 60s. He played guitar with various bands e.g. New City Showband, The Midnight Sect, Great Expectation, recently Rave On. He passed away in 2007.
Guitarist Geoffrey Gloverwright reinvented himself as “Buddy Britten”, fronting various bands (see http://www.forgottenbands.blogspot.com/)

Guitarist Brian Marshall returned to Portsmouth and went back to his old trade as a Carpenter, still playing with a local group The Nightriders until 1962.
He got married in 1963 and did'nt play again until 1990 when he went out on his own with backing Tapes for 2 years. He played a few gigs
with a 2 local Bands for the last time in 2006.

Guitarist Bob Steel went on to work with Jackie Lynton in 1963

Original bass player Tex Makins worked with Marty Wilde, Billy Fury, Johnny Halliday, Georgie Fame, Freddie Mack among others.

Bass player Brian Locking aka “Licorice” joined The Shadows in 1962 as replacement for Jet Harris, reuniting with Brian Bennett. The Shadows were the most succesful British band before The Beatles. He finally left them in 1963 and retired in religion. He later recorded with Donovan.

Bass player Johnny Vance worked with french rocker Eddy Mitchell then went back to England, recording with American producer Shel Talmy. After a career in the musical edition and then in the casino management, he retired in the early nineties and is now leaving in London.

Keyboardist Brian Pugh aka “Lou Bryan” joined The Echoes, later teamed up with vocalists John Carter and Ken Lewis, providing backing vocals (as “Perry Ford”) on various recording sessions (The Kinks, The Who, The Flowerpotmen…) then forming together The Ivy League in the mid 60s. He was also a succesful songwriter, penning for Adam Faith, The Bachelors ect. He passed away some years ago.

Keyboardist Mike O'Neill fronted and still front Nero & The Gladiators.
He played organ for The Kinks, The Ivy League, The Flowerpotmen and Heads, Hands & Feet (and Bellies?) among others. He had been an original member of The Jimi Hendrix Experience before it became a trio.

Keyboardist Miki Dallon became a producer (The Sorrows, Neil Christian) and A&R man for Strike records

Keyboardist Alan Leclaire, who left the Playboys in 1964, emigrated to Australia in 1973, he kept working musically full time in UK and part time in Australia until 2001 when he started managing a school for taxi driver and then became the Principal of Australian College of Vocational Studies, in Sydney (see http://www.taxicollege.com.au and http://www.acvs.com.au)

Drummers Tony Meehan and Brian Bennett joined Cliff Richard and his backing band, The Shadows, respectively in 1959 and 1961. Tony Meehan teamed up with Jet Harris, topping the British charts with “Diamonds” in early 1963, then became a producer (Ian Stewart & The Railroaders). He had been A&R man for Decca records (refusing to sign The Beatles) since 1961. He passed away in late 2005 at 62.

Drummer Clem Cattini and bass player Brian Gregg replaced Bobbie Woodman and Tex Makins in the Larry Parnes’ organization then backed Johnny Kidd as his new Pirates, recording his biggest hit “Shakin’ All Over.” They reunited in the Tornados, the first British pop band to top the American charts with “Telstar.” Cattini became a very prolific sessionman playing drums on more than 40 British number one hits (e.g.“You Really Got Me” by the Kinks, “Bye Bye Baby” by the Bay City Rollers) while Gregg returned to his old band Terry Dene & The Dene Aces.

Drummer Johnny Watson went to Hamburg in 1962 and joined Tony Sheridan’s Beat Brothers, recording for Polydor with them. He then moved to Perth, Australia in 1969 where he opened an Antique furniture shop plus selling second hand Cars, but has never stopped playing the Drums.
He has been playing for the last few years in a group called CROCODILE ROCK 50/60's music.

After the demise of The Bobbie Clarke Noise in 1965, Bobbie Woodman worked with Californian outfit Love, Roundabout before they became Deep Purple, Bodast, The Jeff Beck Group etc. Meanwhile he still fronted his own band The Bobbie Clarke Connection backing acts of his early days such as Johnny Halliday, Screaming Lord Sutch and Vince. He still plays the drums for many revival 50/60's acts: e.g. Nero & The Gladiators, Terry Dene & The Dene Aces and The Silver Stars



Acknoledgements
Recollections & Photos courtesy the late Rick Hardy, Ronnie Carr, Alan Leclaire, Brian Marshall, Mick Morris, Betty Osment, Dave St-John, Johnny Watson, Colin Wilsher. Thanks to all the others, sorry if we forget their names.
Researches by Alain, Denis, Michel, Patrick, Christine, Carole & Nicole

Vince Taylor & The Playboys Lineups

Vince Taylor & The Playboys #1 (August - September 1958)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Sheridan (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Harvey (Rhythm Guitar)
· Tex Makins (Double Bass)
· Tony Meehan (Drums)
Vince Taylor & The Playboys #2 (October 1958)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Bob Frieberg (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Sheridan (Rhythm Guitar)
· Brian Locking (Double Bass)
· Tony Meehan (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #3 (November 1958)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Sheridan (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Harvey (Rhythm Guitar)
· Brian Locking (Double Bass)
· Brian Bennett (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #4 (December 1958)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Sheridan (Lead Guitar)
· Lou Brian (Keyboards)
· Brian Locking (Double Bass)
· Brian Bennett (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #5 (Jan - May 1959)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Joe Moretti (Lead Guitar)
· Lou Brian (Keyboards)
· Brian Locking (Double Bass)
· Brian Bennett (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #6 (July 1959)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Ken Pavey (Lead Guitar)
· Mick Green (Lead Guitar)
· Mike O'Neill (Keyboards)
· Miki Dallon (Keyboards)
· Brian Gregg (Bass)
· Clem Cattini (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #7 (Sept - Oct 1959)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Kenny Fillingham (Lead Guitar)
· Tex Makins (Bass)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #8 (Oct - Dec 1959)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Buddy Britten (Lead Guitar)
· Brian Marshall (Rhythm Guitar)
· Johnny Vance (Bass)
· Johnny Watson (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #9 (January - April 1960)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Brian Marshall (Lead Guitar)
· Johnny Vance (Bass)
· Johnny Watson (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #10 (May 1960)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Sheridan (Lead Guitar)
· Alan LeClaire (Keyboards)
· Tex Makins (Bass)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #11 (June 1960 - May 1961)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Harvey (Lead Guitar)
· Alan LeClaire (Keyboards)
· Johnny Vance (Bass)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #12 (May - Aug 1961)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Bob Steel (Lead Guitar)
· Alan LeClaire (Keyboards)
· Johnny Vance (Bass)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #13 (Aug 1961 - Early 1962)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Harvey (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Steel (Lead Guitar)
· Alan LeClaire (Keyboards)
· Johnny Vance (Bass)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Playboys #14 (Oct 1962 - Summer 1963)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Harvey (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Steel (Lead Guitar)
· Joe Fegan (Keyboards)
· Johnny Vance (Bass)
· Eddy Sparrow (Drums)



Vince Taylor & The Playboys #15 (Summer 1963)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Harvey (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Steel (Lead Guitar)
· Joe Fegan (Keyboards)
· Johnny Vance (Bass)
· Don Hawkins (Drums)



Vince Taylor & The Playboys #16 (Late 1963 - Jan 1964)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Joey Greco (Lead Guitar)
· Claude Djaoui (Rhythm Guitar)
· Ralph Di Pietro (Bass)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)



Other Vince Taylor’s Backing Bands

Vince Taylor With Leroy Powell & The Beatniks (Aug - Sept 1959)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Leroy Powell (Piano)
· Syd Archer (Tenor Sax)
· Eddie Wardburton (Trombone)
· Shirley Douglas (Bass)
· Tommy Brown (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Bobbie Clarke Noise #2 (May 1964 - Early 1965)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Ralph Danks (Lead Guitar)
· Johnny Taylor (Rhythm Guitar)
· Alan Bugby (Bass)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)
· Stash Klossowski (Percussions)


Vince Taylor & The Bobbie Clarke Noise #3 (Early - mid 1965)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Ralph Danks (Lead Guitar)
· Johnny Taylor (Rhythm Guitar)
· Alan Bugby (Bass)
· Robert Garcia (Tenor Sax)
· Ivan Jullien (Trumpet)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)
· Stash Klossowski (Percussions)


Vince Taylor & Les Rockers With Bobbie Clarke (November 1966)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Jacques Mercier (Lead Guitar)
· Roger Abriol (Rhythm Guitar)
· Didier Alexandre (Bass)
· Claude Rosevegue (Keyboards)
· Geza Fenzl (Drums)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Bobbie Clarke Noise #4 ("L'épopée du rock", 1967)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Dave Curtis (Bass)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Bobbie Clarke Connection ("L'épopée du rock", 1972)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Eddie Ayers (Vocals)
· Jack Moriarty (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Harvey (Rhythm Guitar)
· James Byrne (Bass)
· Bobby Woodman (Drums)
· Stash Klossowski (Percussions)


Vince Taylor & The Larry Martin Factory (May 1974)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Jacques Brely (Harmonica)
· Larry Martin (Lead Guitar)
· Laurent Duval (Rhythm Guitar)
· James Byrne (Rhythm Guitar)
· Michel Carras (Keyboards)
· Micky Ménecier (Bass)
· Joel Dumoutier (Drums)
· J-François Boucher d'Angely (Drums)
· Mark Robson (Backing Vocals)
· Gérard Entremont (Backing Vocals)



Vince Taylor & The Big Beat Records Band #1 (1977)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Jacky Chabre (Lead Guitar)
· Robert Fourier (Rhythm Guitar)
· Jacky Hosta (Bass)
· Bernard Malatier (Drums)


Vince Taylor & The Big Beat Records Band #2 (1981 - 1983)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Patrick Verbecke (Lead Guitar)
· Marc Bozonet (Rhythm Guitar)
· Jacky Chalard (Bass)
· Christophe Deschamps (Drums)
· Jacky Guérard (Percussions)

Discography


UK Singles
· Right behind you baby / I Iike love
Parlophone R4505
Nov. 1958
The Playboys #3
· Pledgin' my love / Brand new Cadillac
Parlophone R4505
April 1959
The Playboys #4
· I'll be your Hero / Jet bLack Machine
Palette PG.9001
August 1960
The Playboys #12
· What'cha Gonna Do / Move Over, Tiger
Palette PG.9020
July 1961
Session Band
· Brand New Cadillac / Pledging My Love
CHISWICK S 2
1976
The Playboys


Singles – USA/France/Belgium/Germany …

· What'cha Gonna Do / Move Over, Tiger
Palette PZ-5084
July 1961
USA

· Sweet Little Sixteen / Love Me
Barclay 60283
Sept. 1961
France

· C'mon Everybody / 20 Flight Rock
Barclay 60284
1961
France

· So Glad You're Mine / Baby Let's Play House
Barclay 60285
1961
France

· Long Tall Sally / Lovin' Up A Storm
Barclay 60286
1961
France

· Shakin' All Over / There's A Lot Of Twistin' Going On
Barclay 60955
1961
France

· Don't Leave Me Now / Endless Sleep
Barclay 60956
1961
France

· Peppermint Twist Pt.1 / Peppermint Twist Pt.2
Barclay 60304
1962
France

· My Baby / Baby Let's Play House
Barclay 60714
1962
Belgium

· Big Blond Baby / Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Barclay 60971
1962
Belgium

· My Baby / Blue Jean Bop
Barclay 10252
1962
Germany

· A Shot Of R&B / Memphis Tennessee
Barclay 60446
1964
Holland

· My Babe / Trouble
Barclay 60565
1966
France

· Ready Teddy / C'mon Everybody
Barclay 62.044
1974
France

· Memphis Tennessee / Blue Jean Bop
Barclay 62.045
1974
France

· Sweet Lil' Sixteen / Shakin' All Over
Barclay 62.046
1974
France

· L'Homme à La Moto / Dancin' In A Midnight Sun
LABRADOR LA 4052
May 1974
France

· Do You Wanna Rock'n'Roll / Superstar
ROCKHOUSE 7503
1975
Holland

· Brand New Cadillac / Blueberry Hill
SURPRISE JTU 801
1977
Belgium

· That's Allright / You'll Never Walk Alone
BIG BEAT BBR 618
1980
France

· Space Invaders / Until The Very End
BIG BEAT BBR 1716
Jan 1982
France

· Fever (1966 live) / interview (1961)
DR. KOLLEKTOR VT 01
1985
France


ALBUMS

France
LE ROCK C'EST CA! (10" LP)20 Flight Rock/Sweet Little Sixteen/Don't Leave Me Now/C'mon Everybody/Shaking All Over/Long Tall Sally/Love Me/Lovin' Up A Storm/So Glad You're Mine/Baby Let's Play House - recorded with The Playboys #13
BARCLAY 80159
12/1961
VINCE…! (LP)My Babe/Long Tall Sally/Summertime/Jezebel/The Man From El Paso/Trouble/High Heel Sneakers/Clank/My Baby Left Me - recorded with The Bobbie Clarke Noise #3
BARCLAY 80282
1965
VINCE TAYLOR - L' ÉPOPÉE DU ROCK (LP)20 Flight Rock/Sweet Little Sixteen/Don't Leave Me Now/C'mon Everybody/Shaking All Over/Long Tall Sally/Love Me/Lovin' Up A Storm/So Glad You're Mine/Baby Let's Play House/ Memphis Tennessee/ Hello Mary Lou
BARCLAY 820149
10/1969
VINCE IS ALIVE AND WELL AND ROCKING IN PARIS (LP)(Spanish edition: Barclay S-21.520, 1972)
BARCLAY 920393
6/1972
SUPER ROCK (LP)Sweet Little Sixteen/20 Flight Rock/Shaking All Over/Blue Jean Bop/Mean Woman Blues/C'mon Everybody/Ready Teddy/Long Tall Sally/Lovin' Up A Storm/So Glad You're Mine/Hello Maire Lou/Memphis Tennessee
BARCLAY 950.024
1974
CADILLAC (LP)Guess Guess/Good Golly Miss Molly/L'Homme A La Moto/It's Been A Lonely Night/Do You Want Rock And Roll/Mean Woman Blues/Cadillac/Dancin' In A Midnight Sun/Move It/Superstar - recorded with The Larry Martin Factory
MOTORS MT 44.041
4/1975
VINCE TAYLOR (LP)Brand New Cadillac/Pledging My Love/I Like Love/Right Behind You Baby/Move Over Tiger/I'll Be Your Hero/Peggy Sue/Baby Blue/Rock Island Line/That's When My Heartaches Begin/Tutti Frutti/Brand New Cadillac '73 - recorded with The Larry Martin Factory
M.F.P. 046-96.857
9/1975
LIVE 1977 (LP)Blue Suede Shoes/20 Flight Rock/Blue Jean Bop/Brand New Cadillac/Shaking All Over/Long Tall Sally/Be Bop A Lula/Blueberry Hill/Lotta Lovin/Meanstreak/Tutti Frutti/Jailhouse Rock/Memphis Tennessee/Roll Over Beethoven - recorded with the Vince Taylor Band #1
JACQUES PIERRET LP R'N'R 001
8/1977
100% ROCK (2-LP)Sweet Little Sixteen/Twenty Flight Rock/Shaking All Over/Blue Jean Bop/Mean Woman Blues/C'mon Everybody/Ready Teddy/Long Tall Sally/Lovin' Up A Storm/So Glad You're Mine/Hello Mary Lou/Memphis Tennessee/My Babe/Jezebel/Summertime/The Men From El Paso/Long Tall Sally/Trouble/Clank/High Heel Sneakers/My Baby Left Me (reissue: "Vince Taylor", Barclay 96041/42, 1981 FRA)
BARCLAY 80984/5/BARCLAY 81.088/89
1977
LUV (10" LP)Money, Honey/That's All Right, Mama!/You'll Never Walk Alone/Fever/Danny/I'm Movin' On/Crawfish/Milk Cow Blues (recorded at Davout Studios, Paris, January 1980) - recorded with the Vince Taylor Band #2
BIG BEAT BB 804
5/1980
THE GOLDEN BEST OF VINCE TAYLOR (LP)
BEST SELLERS 23593
198?
LE DISQUE (LP)Memphis Tennessee/High Heel Sneakers/Jezebel/Twenty Flight Rock/Long Tall Sally/C'mon Everybody/Summertime/My Baby Left Me/The Men From El Paso/Trouble/Don't Leave Me Now/Sweet Little Sixteen
BARCLAY BA 215
198?
LIVE IN 1977 (LP)Memphis Tennessee/Maybelline/Blue Suede Shoes/Twenty Flight Rock/Bluejean Bop/Brand New Cadillac/Shakin' All Over/Long Tall Sally/Be-Bop-A-Lula/Blueberry Hill/Lotta Lovin'/Mean Streak/Tutti Frutti/Jailhouse Rock/Memphis Tennessee/Roll Over Beethoven - recorded with the Vince Taylor Band #1
VALOTTE LP 0007
198?
BIEN COMPRIS (2-LP)Money Honey/That's Alright Mama/You'll Never Walk Alone/Fever/Danny/I'm Movin' On/Crawfish/Milk Cow Blues/Boppin' Charly/Maybelene/Sittin' Here/Blues On My Mind/Hard Headed Woman/Money Honey/Tryin' To Get To You/Dixieland Rock/Lonely Blue Boy/Never Been So Blue/Space Invaders/Didn't Mean No Harm/Still On The Run/Rockabilly Kid/Between You And Me/Until The Very End - recorded with the Vince Taylor Band #2
BIG BEAT LP 1735241/51
11/1987
BIEN COMPRIS (CD)Boppin' Charly/Maybelline/Sittin' Here/Blues On My Mind/Never Been So Blue/Hard Headed Woman/Dixieland Rock/Still On The Run/Rockabilly Kid/Between You And Me/Never Been So Blue/Tryin' To Get To You/Didn't Mean No Harm - recorded with the Vince Taylor Band #2
EMI PATHÉ MARCONI S.A. 1598892
1987
I'LL BE YOUR HERO (LP)I Like Love/Right Behind You Baby/Watcha Gonna Do/Jet Black Machine/I'll Be Your Hero/Move Over Tiger//Say Mama/Kansas City/Brand New Cadillac/Rock Island Line/Please Don't Leave/Good Golly Miss Molly
FUN! 001
3/1988
VINCE TAYLOR ET SES PLAY-BOYS - LE ROCK C'EST CA! (CD)Brand New Cadillac/Pledging My Love/I Like Love/Right Behind You Baby/Sweet Little Sixteen/Love Me/C'mon Everybody/Twenty Flight Rock/So Glad You're Mine/Baby Let's Play House/Long Tall Sally/Lovin' Up A Storm/Shaking All Over/Don't Every Let Me Go/Endless Sleep/Don't Leave Me Now/There's A Lot Of Twistin' Going On/Blue Jean Bop/Ready Teddy/Rocky Road Blues/Peppermint Twist 1-2/Rip It Up/Mean Woman Blues
POLYGRAM DISTRIBUTION 843 022-2
1990
VINCE TAYLOR ET SES PLAYS-BOYS - I'LL BE YOUR HERO (CD)I Like Love/Right Behind You Baby/Watch' Gonna Do/Jet Black Machine/I'll Be Your Hero/Move Over Tiger/Say Mama (-73)/Kansas City (-73)/Brand New Cadillac (-73)/Rock Island Line (-73)/Please Don't Leave-Good Golly Miss Molly (-73)
EVA B11
1991
THE BLACK LEATHER REBEL (LP/CD)I Like Love/Right Behind You Baby/Brand New Cadillac/Pledging My Love/Move Over Tiger/Watcha Gonna Do/I'll Be Your Hero/Jet Black Machine/20 Flight Rock/C'mon Everybody/Shakin' All Over/Shot Of Rhythm And Blues/Lovin' Up A Storm/Baby Let's Play House/Ready Teddy/Memphis Tennessee/interview - 20th March 1982: Vince Taylor interviewed by DJ 'Boppin' Frantz' on Radio Mistral
REBEL 1
1992
THE ORIGINAL 1973 LEGENDARY SESSIONS (CD)Mean Woman Blues/Do You Want To Rock'n'Roll/Superstar/Guess, Guess/Good Golly Miss Molly/It's Been A Long Night/Dancin' In A Midnight Sun/Goin' Back To My Louise/Move It/Brand New Cadillac/Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots (feat. Doc Jordan on piano)
EPM 982722
199?
LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA (10" LP)C'mon Everybody (Jan 23, 1961)/Memphis Tennessee (Apr 16, 1965)/My Baby Left Me (Apr 16, 1965)/My Babe (Apr 16, 1965)/Twenty Flight Rock (Apr 16, 1965)/Maybelline (Apr 24, 1965)/Fever (Nov 13, 1966)
BIG BEAT BBR 00031
1997
THE EARLY SIDES (10" LP)Brand New Cadillac/Pledging My Love/Right Behind You Baby/I Like Love/Move Over Tiger/Watcha Gonna Do/I'll Be Your Hero/Jet Black Machine/Cold White & Beautiful
BIG BEAT BBR 00032
1997
LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA (CD)C'mon Everybody (Jan 23, 1961)/Memphis Tennessee (Apr 16, 1965)/My Baby Left Me (Apr 16, 1965)/My Babe (Apr 16, 1965)/Twenty Flight Rock (Apr 16, 1965)/Maybelline (Apr 24, 1965)/Fever (Nov 13, 1966)/Brand New Cadillac/Pledging My Love/Right Behind You Baby/I Like Love/Move Over Tiger/Watcha Gonna Do/I'll Be Your Hero/Jet Black Machine/Cold White & Beautiful/The Moon Will Weep (instr.)/Cachino (by the Phantoms, nothing to do with Vince Taylor)/Phantom Guitar (by the Phantoms)
BIG BEAT BBRC 00049
1997
VINCE TAYLOR ET SES PLAY-BOYS - BARCLAY SESSIONS, PART ONE (CD)Sweet Little Sixteen/Don't Ever Let Me Go/Baby Let's Play House/Twenty Flight Rock/Three Steps To Heaven/Mean Woman Blues/Love Me/C'mon Everybody/So Glad You're Mine/Long Tall Sally/Lovin' Up A Storm/Rip It Up/There's A Lot Of Twistin' Going On/Shaking All Over/Don't Leave Me Now/Endless Sleep/Let's Twist Again/Hello Mary-Lou/Johnny, Remember Me/A Hundred Pounds Of Clay/Blue Jean Bop/Rocky Road Blues/Ready Teddy
BARCLAY/UNIVERSAL 543 031-2
2000
VINCE TAYLOR ET SES PLAY-BOYS - BARCLAY SESSIONS, PART TWO (CD)Peppermint Twist (part 1)/Peppermint Twist (part 2)/Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/My Babe/Jenny, Jenny, Jenny/Mimi/Unchained Melody/Big Blond Baby/Memphis Tennessee/A Shot Of Rhythm'n'Blues/Tu Changeras D'Avis/Jour Aprés Jour/My Baby Left Me/High Heel Sneakers/Please Tell Me When You Go/Jezebel/The Men From El Paso/Honey Don't/Long Tall Sally/Trouble/Maybellene/Clank/Summertime/My Babe
BARCLAY/UNIVERSAL 543 032-2
2000
THE REAL DEAL (LP + 45)What'cha Gonna Do/Long Tall Sally/Right Behind You Baby/A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues/Don't Leave Me Now/Memphis Tennessee/I Like Love/Twenty Flight Rock/Move Over Tiger/Endless Sleep/Brand New Cadillac/Love Me/Jet Black Machine/Peppermint Twist/Baby Let's Play House/C'mon Everybody/Rocky Road Blues/My Babe (incl. a bonus track "Unleashed": Brand New Cadillac / Be-Bop-A-Lula)
BLUE LIGHT RECORDS BL 002
2003