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Eric Haydock dead: The Hollies bassist dies aged 75

Eric Haydock has died at the age of 75.

The bassist for Manchester-based band The Hollies is being mourned by his bandmates, who confirmed his sad death in a touching Facebook post.

Eric died peacefully at home, they said. It's believed Eric had been ill for some time.

"In the early 1960's Eric was one of the finest bass players on the planet," wrote the band's drummer Bobby Elliott.

"Along with Tony, Eric and I were the rhythm section that created the springboard for Clarke Hicks and Nash to launch that famous three-way Hollies harmony.

"On the early package tours, Dave Clark, the Kinks and artists of the period would watch from the wings as we effortlessly rocked the screaming theatre audiences into a frenzy.

"Although Eric left the Hollies in 1966, I occasionally listen enthralled by our BBC and Abbey Road recording sessions and dear Eric masterfully playing his six string bass.

"Happy days."

Haydock, from Stockport, was one of the founder members of the band and played on all their early 60s recordings - including I'm Alive, Just One Look and Look Through Any Window, our sister paper the Manchester Evening News reports.

He left the group in 1966 in a dispute over management fees but was fondly remembered by the band as a 'great guy'.

Haydock is survived by all four of the other members of the original line-up - Graham Nash, Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliot.

The Hollies were one of the biggest rock n' roll bands of the era, playing at the famous Cavern club in Liverpool in the early 60s.

Eric Haydock's original band The Deltas included Eric Stewart - who left to join The Mindbenders, with Wayne Fontana, and then founded 10cc, set up Strawberry Studios in Stockport and worked closely with Paul McCartney during the 1980s.

Fellow 10cc member Graham Gouldman wrote Look Through Any Window, which was a breakthrough hit for The Hollies in both the UK and the US, and Bus Stop, which became a hit as Haydock left the band.

The Hollies went on to global success with hits including The Air That I Breathe and He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.

Nash left the group in 1968 to form Crosby, Stills and Nash, with David Crosby and Stephen Stills, and later working with Neil Young.

Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott continue to tour and record as The Hollies after a legal dispute over the use of the name, with former Mud bassist Ray Stiles among the current line-up.

Source: www.msn.com
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