Eric Haydock (born Eric John Haddock; 3 February 1943 – 5 January 2019)[1] was a British musician, best known as the original bass guitarist of the Hollies from December 1962 until July 1966.

Eric Haydock
Haydock in 2013
Haydock in 2013
Background information
Birth nameEric John Haddock
Born(1943-02-03)3 February 1943
Stockport, Cheshire, England
Died5 January 2019(2019-01-05) (aged 75)
England
GenresRock, pop
OccupationMusician
InstrumentBass guitar
Years active1962–2019

Career

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Haydock's first group, The Deltas, would become The Hollies in December 1962.[2]

A founding member of the Hollies, he was one of the first British musicians to play a Fender Bass VI, a six-string bass.[3] During his short tenure with the band, he recorded bass on their earliest hits, including Just One Look, Look Through Any Window, and I'm Alive among many others.

Although considered a great bass guitarist, he was replaced in 1966 by Bernie Calvert, after disputes related to the conduct of the band's managers.[4] He wanted to raise £2,000 for a house, but when he failed to raise the money, he told manager Michael Cohen that he would not return to the band until he had sorted out his finances.[5] A month later, he learned that he had been replaced.

Haydock's last album with the band was Bus Stop, which had been released after his departure, but included recordings in which he contributed to, although it was Calvert who played bass on the titular song that would later go on to become a hit; however, Haydock appeared with the group on Top of the Pops in June 1966, performing the song Bus Stop.

When Pete Quaife left The Kinks in early 1966, Haydock was offered to replace him, but turned it down as he was still in The Hollies.[5]

In 1997, Haydock was sued by the Hollies for promoting his new band as "Eric Haydock's Hollies". The lawsuit resulted in Haydock being banned from using the name.[6]

On 15 March 2010, Haydock along with Calvert and the other fellow Hollies members Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, and Terry Sylvester were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[7]

 
Haydock (2nd from left) guest performs at a Swinging Blue Jeans conert, Parikkala, Finland, 2013

Haydock guest appeared at a Swinging Blue Jeans concert in Parikkala, Finland on 13 July 2013.

Personal life and death

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Haydock was married to Pamela Dore in 1965, but their marriage ended in divorce. They had three children.[6] He died at his home on 5 January 2019, at the age of 75.[1][8][9] He had been ill for some time.[8]

Discography

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Eric Haydock, Original Hollies Bassist, Dies". Bestclassicbands.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  2. ^ "The Genius of The Hollies | As Told By Abbey Road's Cameron Colbeck". Abbey Road. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  3. ^ Interview with Eric Haydock from Look Through Any Window DVD, 2011.
  4. ^ "Eric Haydock - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b Obituaries, Telegraph (10 January 2019). "Eric Haydock, original Hollies bassist who helped to lay down their tight rock sound but was sacked by the band – obituary". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Eric Haydock, original Hollies bassist who helped to lay down their tight rock sound but was sacked by the band – obituary". The Telegraph. 10 January 2019. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  7. ^ "The Hollies". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  8. ^ a b Saunders, Emmeline; Smith, Simon (7 January 2019). "The Hollies bassist Eric Haydock dies aged 75". The Mirror. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  9. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (7 January 2019). "Eric Haydock death: The Hollies bassist and founder member dies aged 75". The Independent. Retrieved 29 September 2024.