 |
|
|
|
 |
Hollies related news
3.6.11 Everything on track for the upcoming Hollies tour of Scandinavia. Photo on the right shows Stockholm Concert Hall that I just inspected. This is where the Hollies played successfully in 1966 - Reach out I'll be there was recorded for radio and released on the 2003 Box set (but not on the new 6-CD-box).
27.5.10 Sorry for having neglected this page for a while, but preparations for the two magnificent Hollies shows in Oslo are responsible. But it was worth it! See photo to the right of pleased fans from all over the world. A big welcome back to the Hollies to Norway (and Sweden?) in 2011!
7.5.10 Big 2-page feature in Aftenposten, Norway's largest newspaper. See shortened internet version here:
http://www.aftenposten.no/kul_und/musikk/article3640568.ece
28.11.09 Hollies to Norway 2010 mentioned on Norwegian national radio, during the popular programme Popquiz, and Carrie Anne was played as one question. It was answered by both contestants after 2.4 seconds!
16.11.09 Tickets sales for the Oslo show are very good. The show is expected to be sold out early next year.
23.10.09 New Hollies greatest compilation, probably a 2-CD, is coming soon, according to Record Collector. The release would be perfect to coincide with a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction!
12.9.09 John Sebastian played Oslo. I spoke to several nice Norwegian Hollies fans I did not know before. This made me very optimistic about the success of the Hollies show in Oslo next year. It also gave me a good idea to promote the Hollies show outside the sold out (6000) Cliff & Shadows in Oslo Spectrum in November.
4.9.09 Two Hollies clips on the 6-part series on Norwegian national TV: "Pop revy fra 60-tallet." Just one look and Sorry Suzanne.
1.9.09 I talked to Chip Taylor when he played Oslo, he said he was very fond of the Hollies. he is the writer of I can't let go, The baby and Son of a rotten gambler. See a clip here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKHP3J0G7F8
26.6.09 The Hollies played live with soprano Susanne Bernard and Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra led by Georg Fritzsch.
Here is Jennifer Eccles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJOck68OBjo
For both Blowing in the wind and He ain't heavy Pete was joined by Susanne. The orchestra played along to all songs. The town hall plaza was packed with thousands of happy people. This was a unique night!
6.5.09 Mikael Rickfors has a new album out, Away again, hereby highly recommended. See Mikael Rickfors page for details to follow soon. He also sings on 3 tracks on Paul Jones' (ex-Manfred Mann) new album Starting all over again.
1.5.09 The Hollies, Pete Howarth, Ian Parker and Mikael Rickfors are all on MySpace - see my friends list:
30.03.09 Hollies play open air concert with Kiel Philharmonic orchestra (see front page).
20.03.09 Mikael Rickfors announces several live dates in Sweden on his webpage.
12.03.09 I bought the new Hollies CD, Then, now, always at the show in King's Lynn (see 2 new pics to the right). The 2nd song, "If you see her" was written by Mark Read (ex-A1, that included Norwegian Christian Ingebrigtsen) and Norwegian Hanne Sørvåg. Her MySpace site is recommended: http://www.myspace.com/hannesorvaag
15.11.08 Reviews of the Oldie nacht mega-concert in Hamburg available:
http://www.hollies.co.uk/review/reviewindex.php?menu=2008&st=1
8.11.08 New Magic (France) release: Les Hollies featuring Graham Nash. Includes 2 previously "unreleased" tracks. Both taken from TV appearances, Just one look (NME pollwinners 1964) and On a carousel (Beat Beat Beat). Buy yourself a Hollies DVD instead. Recommended: Dutch collection.
6.10.08 The Hollies' tour of March/April 2009 is currently selling. See official site.
5.8.08 Peter Berry & Shake Set played a brilliant version of Hollies' self-penned song (Nash-Clarke, 1964) Little lover. See YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRbn6mKp1EM
11.7.08 New Hollies DVD out: Beat beat beat - the German program from the 60's - 4 tracks.
19.3.08 Two more EMI reissues out in April. Hollies (1974) includes previously unreleased bonus track "Burn fire burn" written by Bobby Elliott.2008 will be spent recording the new album.
18.01.08 Norwegian rock magazine NORWAYROCK no 1/2008 features 2-page story and interview with Bobby Elliott, plus Preston concert and DVD review
20.12.07 Previously unreleased Hollies recording available on new Hollies CD.
French Magic has recently reissued the US version of the Hollies sing Hollies album, called He ain't heavy he's my brother, with 11 bonus tracks. This includes a live on TV recording of the folk song "May I'll settle down," previously available only on bootlegs. Poor sound quality, for manic collectors only.
1.12.07 The Posies played Café Mono, Oslo. I asked Jon Auer before the show to play King Midas, and they did as a 2nd encore. See YouTube for a clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYflsC2ENWQ
Anyone not familiar with the history on Posies and Hollies, should check out the album of good but sometimes strange Hollies covers, Hollies in reverse, on Eggbert. It opens with Posies brilliant version of King Midas, another highlight is the E (Eels) version of Jennifer Eccles. You won't believe your ears!
23.11.07 Preston, Guild Hall. Hollies played a good show, especially the 2nd half to an ensthusiastic audience. Highlights were the Staying power songs and the Hey Willy medley with Steve on main vocal.
Review here:
http://www.hollies.co.uk/review/reviews.php?id=1130&menu=2007&st=1&menu2=&menu3=
27.10.07 The Hollies playing Curly Billy and Sandy (solo acoustic version) live in Nottingham 2007 added to YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHn8x4OpD18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVMF2dgzFyk
12.9.07 The previously unreleased songs Papa rain and Witchy woman are both great! When you add Geoff Coles' informative track-by-track sleeve notes, both Romany and Buddy Holly recently rereleased by EMI are musts for Hollies collectors. The recent rerelease by French Magic of Live hits can most of you overlook, the versions "new" to audio record were both previously available on DVDs (Daddy don't mind & Heavy/Air "medley").
27.6.07 New cover of Hollies song discovered: Norwegian band Peter Berry & the Shake Set played a good version of the Clarke-Nash song Little lover. Available on CD "Wildberry Shake!", Teen Sound
http://www.shindig-magazine.com/reviews-aug2006-2.html
13.4.07 CD album "and still I fly" by Circle of 4 arrived. What a voice Peter has! Strong material, too. The band mostly consists of Peter Howarth(Hollies) and Rick Fenn (10CC). Rick plays with Graham Gouldman's version of 10CC, often called GG & Friends (as at Lillehammer classic rock festival May 2006). You can hear them with the Hollies this summer in Künzelsau Germany - on the 24. June.
Read a Rick Fenn interview here: http://www.the10ccfanclub.com/htm/framsne.htm
Choose 10CC Articles, then Post 10CC and scroll down to Interview with Rick Fenn November 2000
11.4.07 New Hollies DVD arrived! Available at shows and from the official website.
11.4.07 Jamie Moses (ex-reserve gitarist/vocalist for Hollies) plays next week in Tromsø with SAS Norwegian band at Rorbua pub. See their website http://www.rorbuapub.no/spike.htm
16.3.07 Peter Howarth sang duet on "Fields of gold" with Cliff in the Viking ship hall, Norway, last night. The song is penned by Barry Gibb. A video from this tour showing this duet at Wembley is available on the Cliff DVD "LIVE Here and now."
For original version, download free from http://www.brothersgibb.org/
Concert clip on TV: http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/indeks/90498
TV interview with Cliff: http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/indeks/90320
Radio interview: http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/klipp/237456
Peter also sang harmony vocals and played guitar. Ex-bass player for Hollies before Ray Stiles, Steve Stroud, was also in the band. A great show!
15.3.07 Three CDs by Peter Howarth available from his own website, a very good 2-CD from the Robin Hood musical, and also a recommendable CD from his group before joining the Hollies, Circle of 4.
See http://www.mhm-services.co.uk/ph-lev1.htm
19.2.07 Several Hollies fans praise the new DVD on Hollies' official Forum. More Hollies UK tour dates in the autumn are coming. Crosby-Nash US tour also cancelled due to Crosby's health.
6.2.07 Pete Howarth (vocalist with the Hollies) will appear in the Viking ship hall north of Oslo with Cliff Richard on 15. March. CSN tour of Australia/NZ postponed due to Crosby's health problems. First dates for autumn leg of Hollies' UK tour of 2007 announced.
1.2.07 EMI release first fully official DVD out in Holland 12.2. Named "The Dutch collection" it features a few songs out on DVD for the first time, like "Son of a rotten gambler," "Daddy don't mind", "Boulder to Birmingham", "Heartbeat" and "Star." Also Tony Hicks/Terry Sylvester and Graham Nash interviews.
1.1.07 Graham is currently working on his CD box set, after having completed David's. Do we get any new Hollies material here?
22.12.06 Latest issue of Norwegian record collecting magazine, Platesamleren, features all Scandinavian singles. Excellent work, Bjørn. See http://www.picturesleevegallery.com/
See first (I guess) stamps with Hollies on the right. They are official Norwegian stamps, worth NOK 6.50
08.12.06 Class of 64 played Västerås, Sweden, last Friday. The band includes Eric Haydock, who left the Hollies in the 60's, Chip Hawkes (ex-Tremeloes) and Mick Avory (ex-Kinks). Hollies songs played: Just one look, Long cool woman, Look through any window, Bus stop, I can't let go, The air that I breathe. It seems Chip is the most important part of the group. Judged from the stage banter, Eric plays the role of the "bad guy". Or is he really "bad"? Thanks to Agneta for the set list.
For more info see website: http://www.freewebs.com/theclassof64/index.htm
21.10.06 French label Magic release Russian roulette and 5317704 with bonus tracks. Draggin my heels US disco version on Rr.
06.11.06 Spring 2007 tour plans for England seem to be complete. See full list on the official Hollies site www.hollies.co.uk
25.10.06 Picadilly Line's album from 1967 re-released with bonus track, including the Graham Nash-penned single Yellow rainbow, in psychedelic style. See website and scoll down for info:http://www.lightning-tree.com/catalogue.html
1.9.06 New Mirage album featuring Clarke-Hicks-Nash song and Nash vocal out. See http://www.cherryred.co.uk/rpm/artists/mirage.htm
5.8.06 The Hollies played Dalhalla, Sweden. Yes, we got an acoustic version of the Swedish no.1 hit "Very last day" after 40 years. Some fans also shouted for "Stewball", another Swedish top 10 hit. See the page Hollies in Sweden for more info and photos.
30.7.06 Top of the pops aired for the last time. Norway's largest newspaper has a feature going back to the start, mentioning Hollies, Rolling Stones and Beatles in that order.
29.7.06 Norwegian magazine "Monster" for June/July 06 features a review of the Hollies' show at the Lowry, Manchester, in March this year. Per Rannug, who is the solo guitar player of Mojo Blues, gave the concert 4 out of 6, and concludes: " a professional and clever show performed by an old band who knows exactly what they should deliver to the audience from the scene."
04.07.06 New DVD arrived, first ever "official" full lenght DVD by the Hollies. It covers mostly songs previously available on DVD compilations. New to DVD is: Carrie Anne, Very last day, Yes I will, Stop stop stop, On a carousel, Bus stop.
31.05.06 Emmylou Harris played Oslo Spectrum with Mark Knopfler. She did a nice version of her self-penned song, "Boulder to Birmingham", that the Hollies recorded and released as a single A side in 1976 and was a top 10 hit in New Zealand.
26.05.06 Graham Gouldman with his 10CC played Lillehammer Classic rock festival. They did an acoustic set of songs he wrote in the 60's. Praising the Hollies, Graham and his band did Bus stop and Look through any window.
26.11.05 One of Norway's largest newspapers, Dagbladet, printed a full 2-page feature on the Hollies, written by one of our country's most famous novelists, Jan Kjærstad. He was originally asked to write about the brain, in Norwegian “hjerne,” but he chose to write about a topic he felt for, beginning with the same letter, H, instead. Below follows my translation into English of part of the paper, to be included in an upcoming encyclopedia. Jan Kjærstad has written 13 books. In 2001 The Discoverer won for Jan Kjærstad the Nordic Council's Prize for Literature. His books have been translated and published in 31 different countries.
Full Norwegian text here:
http://www.snl.no/The_Hollies_%E2%80%93_av_Jan_Kj%C3%A6rstad
.....I have probably never been as alive as in that year. The whole of 1965 was a ringing "I'm alive": Now I can breathe, I can see, I can touch, I can feel! Seen from such an angle any encyclopaedia comes short. An encyclopaedia cannot catch that feeling of happiness it was to hear these songs. There are moments in life when the handclapping and the lightness in a catchy song as "We're through" can be greater art than Beethoven's Fate Symphony. An encyclopaedia can never include what a blast "I can't let go" gave in the consciousness of a young listener in the middle of the 1960's, what a drive the backing had, especially Tony Hicks' guitar and first and foremost the tight three part harmony vocal was, thanks to Graham Nash's high voice - so effective that I forever since this, even as a 50-year old, fall instantly for new groups that base their sound on guitars and vocal harmonies....
A good pop song sounds simple, but it is as difficult to make as it is to shoot the bull's eye with a shotgun, and get all the hailstones within the inner ten. A melody, some chords, and lyrics that often come close to the embarrassing banal, in sum becomes ingeniously good, something that reaches the Mariane pit in you, reaches depths that nothing else made by man, including Leonardo da Vinci, has been capable of.......You are infected, you cannot get the refrain out of your head.....You stand with closed eyes and howl: "Now I can breathe, I can touch, I can feel, I can taste all the sugar sweetness in your kiss, you gave me all the things I've ever missed, I've never felt like this, I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive!" and you feel that you have found the holy grail.
