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It Ain't Heavy, It's My Story
In the early 1960s word was out that Shane Fenton & the Fentones were auditioning for a new drummer. Standing in an orderly queue of hopefuls just off London's Tottenham Court Road, Mick Fleetwood and Keith Moon were waiting their turn, along with Bobby Elliott, a 21-year-old National Coal Board apprentice from Burnley. Mick and Keith didn't get the gig. They were told that 'the guy from up North' was Shane Fenton's new drummer.
Shane eventually changed his name to Alvin Stardust. Bobby Elliott, meanwhile, went on to make music history with The Hollies. He's been cited as a major influence by Phil Collins, Cozy Powell, John Bonham, Ian Paice and other drummers everywhere. Continually touring since 1963, Bobby has at last found time to put all those memories – good times and bad – in a book.
It Ain't Heavy, It's My Story is a funny, honest and touching account of sixty years on the front line of rock 'n' roll.
Published by Omnibus Press
I became a big fan of Bobby’s and absorbed a huge amount from him. He perfected a fabulous drumming technique that I’d never seen before. Brilliant!
– Kenney Jones, Small Faces, The Faces and The Who
Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson had his eyes glued on Bobby. He turned to me with a look of fear and said, “Are all the drummers in England this good?!”
– Peter Asher, musician (Peter & Gordon), producer and manager
Very few drummers of Bobby's initial era could match his inventiveness, crispness and showmanship. He was a big influence – I lifted as many of his licks as I could! Bobby continues to be one of the greats – what a history.
– Max Weinberg, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Bobby Elliott refreshingly retains the wide-eyed wonder he felt in rising from Lancashire coal pit drudgery to drumming in one of the most successful bands to emerge from the 60s beat boom... [his] staunch devotion, including turning down Macca’s invitation to join Wings, provides the backbone to an ultimately cockles-warming memoir.
– Kris Needs, Classic Rock magazine
PUBLISHED 2 APRIL 2020