Bobby Elliot

Robert Hartley Elliott (born 8 December 1941) is an English rock drummer, best known for playing with the Hollies. He has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".

Elliott discovered jazz music when he was around 10 or 11 and wanted to become a drummer. He attended Nelson Grammar School. Elliott taught himself how to play the drums, by using home-made brushes and sticks, on tins and other household items, and copying the playing of Chico Hamilton of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet and Gene Krupa of the Benny Goodman Orchestra. At first, he was a jazz drummer, but changed to rock and roll.

Elliott was an original member of Johnny Theakston and the Tremeloes, who formed in 1959, and were fronted by the vocalist Johnny Theakston. In late 1960 they sent a demo tape to BBC Radio's Saturday Club, calling themselves Shane Fenton and the Fentones, but Theakston 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 Theakston's mother's request. In 1961, Tommy Sanderson became their manager, and negotiated a record deal with EMI who released "I'm a Moody Guy", which reached 22 on the UK singles chart. The next three singles failed to chart, and the band broke up in April 1963.

Elliott played in Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins, a band led by guitarist Tony Hicks who left to join the Hollies. Shortly after, Don Rathbone left the Hollies and Elliott replaced him.

The Hollies would quickly garner a cult following after their songs Here I Go Again, Look Through Any Window, and Just One Look charted in the British charts. Future hits would include: "Bus Stop", "On a Carousel", "Carrie Anne", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and "The Air That I Breathe", among others. The Hollies announced their retirement from touring in 2026.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.