In Memoriam: Eric Haydock

Eric Haydock, who helped found the seminal rock band The Hollies, has passed away. He was 75 years old. A statement from Bobby Elliott on the band’s Facebook page helped to break the news.

“In the early 1960’s Eric was one of the finest bass players on the planet,” he wrote. “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.”

Haydock was born in 1943 in Stockport, Cheshire, U.K. He began his musical career as a member of the Deltas. After hearing Allan Clarke and Graham Nash, he invited them to join his band, which would morph into the Dominators of Rhythm and eventually The Hollies. Haydock, who was an early user of the Fender VI bass, played on all of the group’s early hits including “Just One Look,” “I’m Alive,” and “Look Through Any Window.”

Haydock split from The Hollies in 1966 after management disputes. He would form his own band, Haydock’s Rockhouse, and took part in a 1981 Hollies reunion. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the group in 2010.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Eric Haydock.