Daniel Joseph Anthony Meehan (2 March 1943 – 28 November 2005), professionally known as Tony Meehan, was a founder member of the British group

the Drifters The Drifters are several American doo-wop and R&B/ soul vocal groups. They were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953. The second group of Drifters, formed i ...

, with

Jet Harris Jet, Jets, or The Jet(s) may refer to: Aerospace * Jet aircraft, an aircraft propelled by jet engines ** Jet airliner ** Jet engine ** Jet fuel * Jet Airways, an Indian airline * Wind Jet (ICAO: JET), an Italian airline * Journey to Enceladus ...

Hank Marvin Hank Brian Marvin (born Brian Robson Rankin, 28 October 1941) is an English multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter. He is widely known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows, a group which primarily performed instrumentals and was the ba ...

and

Bruce Welch Bruce Welch (born 2 November 1941 as Bruce Cripps) is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer, singer and businessman best known as a founding member of the Shadows. Biography Welch's parents (Stan Cripps and Grace Welch) moved him to 15 B ...

, which would evolve into

the Shadows The Shadows (originally known as the Drifters) were an English instrumental rock group, who dominated the British popular music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in the pre- Beatles era. They served as the backing band for Cliff Richard ...

. He played drums on early

Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is an Indian-born British musican, singer, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who holds both British and Barbadian citizenship. He has total sales of over 21.5 million ...

and the Shadows

hits Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * '' H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block * ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998 * ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014 - a British compilation album s ...

and on early Shadows

instrumental An instrumental is a recording normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to inst ...

s. Meehan was professionally nicknamed "The Baron" by his many admirers and friends within the British pop-rock music industry. He is reckoned to have influenced many thousands of teenage boys and adolescents to take up music as a career, including

Mick Fleetwood Michael John Kells Fleetwood (born 24 June 1947) is a British musician, songwriter and occasional actor. He is best known as the drummer, co-founder, and leader of the rock band Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood, whose surname was merged with that of t ...

Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band, formed in London in 1967. Fleetwood Mac were founded by guitarist Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Jeremy Spencer, before bassist John McVie joined the line-up for their epo ...

, as a result of his iconic film performance in Cliff Richard's film ''The Young Ones''. His drumming style (cf. "Bongo Blues", "

Apache The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño a ...

") is noticeably different from that of other drummers that the Shadows employed during 1958–2010 such as

Brian Bennett Brian Laurence Bennett, (born 9 February 1940) is an English drummer, pianist, composer and producer of popular music. He is best known as the drummer of the UK rock and roll group the Shadows. He is the father of musician and Shadows band me ...

Clem Cattini Clemente Anselmo Agustino Cattini (born 20 August 1937) is an English rock and roll drummer of the late 1950s and 60s, who was a member of The Tornados before becoming well known for his work as a session musician. He is one of the most prolifi ...

and

Trevor Spencer Trevor Spencer (born 1947 in Adelaide, Australia) is an Australian songwriter, record producer and drummer. He studied drums and percussion from the age of 10. By the age of 14, he was playing professionally in bands in Adelaide and Melbourne, w ...

. In his contribution to the 1961 book ''The Shadows by Themselves'', Meehan gives advice to all would-be drummers on drum-kit care and maintenance.

Biography

Tony Meehan was born to Irish parents at

New End Hospital New End Hospital was a hospital in Hampstead, north London. It was founded in 1869 as the infirmary for the Hampstead Union workhouse, and operated until 1986. The buildings have now been redeveloped as housing. History New End Hospital was foun ...

, New End,

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, and extends from the A5 road (Roman Watling Street) to Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland. The area forms the northwest part of the London Borough o ...

, North West London, England. He was 10 when he became interested in playing drums. By 13, he had his first job with a band playing in a dance hall at

Willesden Willesden () is an area of northwest London, situated 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Charing Cross. It is historically a parish in the county of Middlesex that was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Willesden in 1933, and has forme ...

, London. He also played

timpani Timpani (; ) or kettledrums (also informally called timps) are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a membrane called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionall ...

with the London Youth Orchestra. When he was 15, Meehan was set on becoming a lawyer but he was offered a job at £25 per week in a touring show. He was given six months' holiday. The tour never materialised but he did not go back to school. Unlike other members of the Shadows he was never short of work, playing

cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dinin ...

at Churchill's and the

Stork Club Stork Club was a nightclub in Manhattan, New York City. During its existence from 1929 to 1965, it was one of the most prestigious clubs in the world. A symbol of café society, the wealthy elite, including movie stars, celebrities, showgirls, ...

. He also played with

in "The Vipers". Meehan left the Shadows in October 1961 to work as an

arranger In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchest ...

/producer and session drummer for

Joe Meek Robert George "Joe" Meek (5 April 1929 – 3 February 1967) was an English record producer, sound engineer and songwriter who pioneered space age and experimental pop music. He also assisted in the development of recording practices like over ...

(

John Leyton John Dudley Leyton (born 17 February 1936) is an English actor and singer. As a singer he is best known for his hit song " Johnny Remember Me" (written by Geoff Goddard and produced by Joe Meek), which reached number one in the UK Singles Cha ...

, Michael Cox: "Young Only Once", Andy Cavell) and from early 1962 at

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American Decca's president. ...

. He teamed again with Harris (who had also left the Shadows and moved to Decca) and as a duo had success with the instrumental "

Diamonds Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the chemically stable form of carbon at room temperature and pressure, ...

" which also included

Jimmy Page James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...

on acoustic rhythm guitar. "Diamonds" was a

number one Number One most commonly refers to: * 1 (number) Number One, No. 1, or #1 may also refer to: Music Albums * ''Number 1'' (Big Bang album), and the title song * ''No. 1'' (BoA album), and the title song * ''No.1'' (EP), by CLC * ''n.1 ...

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

in the UK. Harris and Meehan had two further hit singles together – "

Scarlett O'Hara Katie Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler is a fictional character and the protagonist in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel ''Gone with the Wind'' and in the 1939 film of the same name, where she is portrayed by Vivien Leigh. She also is the ...

" and " Applejack". On 1 January 1962, the Beatles were auditioned at Decca by Meehan, performing a selection of covers they had performed in various clubs over the years, interspersed with three

Lennon–McCartney Lennon–McCartney was the songwriting partnership between English musicians John Lennon (1940–1980) and Paul McCartney (born 1942) of the Beatles. It is the best-known and most successful musical collaboration ever by records sold, with the ...

originals.

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

later found out that their manager

Brian Epstein Brian Samuel Epstein (; 19 September 1934 – 27 August 1967) was a British music entrepreneur who managed the Beatles from 1962 until his death in 1967. Epstein was born into a family of successful retailers in Liverpool, who put him i ...

had paid Meehan to produce the recordings made that day in order for the Beatles to retain ownership of the tapes. Decca rejected the Beatles choosing

the Tremeloes The Tremeloes are an English beat group founded in 1958 in Dagenham, England. They initially found success in the British Invasion era with lead singer Brian Poole, scoring a UK chart-topper in 1963 with "Do You Love Me". After Poole's departure ...

, who auditioned the same day as the Beatles. After talks with Epstein, Decca did arrange for Meehan to produce the Beatles at Decca if the Beatles manager agreed to cover the expenses of about £100. On 7 February 1962, Epstein met Meehan, who made condescending comments about the Beatles’ audition. With the meeting not going well and Epstein not impressed with Meehan, Epstein rejected the Decca offer. Meehan briefly played with the Shadows some years later when Brian Bennett was in hospital. At one point, John Rostill was in hospital at the same time, and the Shadows were playing live with

Brian Locking Brian Locking (22 December 1938 – 8 October 2020) was an English musician and songwriter known for his brief tenure as bassist with '' The Wildcats'' in 1956 and The Shadows, between 1962 and 1963. During his time with the Shadows he appeare ...

on bass and Meehan on drums. Meehan quit the music industry in the 1990s for a major career change as a psychologist, as a result of a lifelong hobby/interest. He worked in London at a local college lecturing in psychology until his death. He was a regular churchgoer at his local Roman Catholic church in

Maida Vale Maida Vale ( ) is an affluent residential district consisting of the northern part of Paddington in West London, west of St John's Wood and south of Kilburn. It is also the name of its main road, on the continuous Edgware Road. Maida Vale ...

Early career groups (pre-Shadows/Drifters)

;1956 – (Skiffle Trio): *John Kessler (g/v), Tony Kessler (guitar) and Tony Meehan (drums) ;1956–57 – (Trad-Irish-band): *Billy Flynn (g/v), Raymond Cleary (g), David Rees (b) and Tony Meehan (wb) ;1958 – The Vipers: *

Wally Whyton Wallace Victor "Wally" Whyton (23 September 1929 – 22 January 1997) was a British musician, songwriter and radio and TV personality. Biography Born in London, England, Whyton grew up listening to jazz, blues and folk music, and learned to pla ...

(vocals/guitar), Johnny Booker (vocals/guitar), Freddy Lloyd (vocals/guitar) Jet Harris (b) and Tony Meehan (drums)

Drums career usage

*1954–1958: Ajax *1959–1961: Gretsch (The Drifters); (The Shadows) *196?–196?: Trixon (The Shadows) *196?–196?: Ludwig (The Shadows) *1962–1963: Gretsch (Jet Harris and Tony Meehan) *1963–1964: Gretsch (Tony Meehan) *1964–1970: Gretsch (Tony Meehan) *1970-1975 Premier endorsement

Death

On 29 November 2005,

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broadc ...

quoted Bruce Welch as saying that Meehan had died the previous day, as a result of head injuries, following a fall down the main staircase at his London flat in Maida Vale. Meehan died at St Mary's Hospital,

Paddington Paddington is an area within the City of Westminster, in Central London. First a medieval parish then a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Three important landmarks of the district are Padd ...

, London. At his death, Meehan had been twice married and had seven children.

Groupography

*The Vipers Skiffle Group *The Drifters *Cliff Richard and the Drifters *The Shadows *Cliff Richard and the Shadows *Jet Harris & Tony Meehan *The Tony Meehan Combo

Discography

Performance credits

*Cliff Richard And The Shadows – "

Cliff Sings Cliff Sings is the second album by British Cliff Richard and his first studio album. It was released in November 1959 through EMI Columbia Records and recorded at Abbey Road Studios. It reached No. 2 in the UK album chart. No singles were rel ...

" – 1959 /1960 (Columbia/ABC Paramount) *Cliff Richard And The Shadows – " Me And My Shadows" – 1960 (Columbia) *Cliff Richard And The Shadows – " The Young Ones" – 1961 (Columbia) *Cliff Richard And The Shadows – "

Move It "Move It" is a song written by Ian Samwell and recorded by Cliff Richard and the Drifters (the English band that would later become "The Shadows"). Originally intended as the B-side to "Schoolboy Crush", it was released as Richard's debut sing ...

" – 1958 (Columbia) *Cliff Richard And The Shadows – " Living Doll" – 1959 (Columbia) *

The Shadows The Shadows (originally known as the Drifters) were an English instrumental rock group, who dominated the British popular music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in the pre- Beatles era. They served as the backing band for Cliff Richard ...

– "

" – 1960 (Columbia) *

– "Wonderful Land" – 1960 (Columbia) *

– "

Man of Mystery "Man of Mystery" is a song by the Shadows, released as a single in November 1960. It peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. Background and release "Man of Mystery" was written by Michael Carr for the theme tune for the film series '' Eg ...

" – 1960 (Columbia) *

– "The Shadows" – 1961 (Columbia) *

– "

Kon-Tiki The ''Kon-Tiki'' expedition was a 1947 journey by raft across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands, led by Norwegian explorer and writer Thor Heyerdahl. The raft was named ''Kon-Tiki'' after the Inca god Viracocha, fo ...

" – 1961 (Columbia) *

– " F.B.I." – 1961 (Columbia) *

– "See You In My Drums" – 1961 (Columbia) *

– "Meeting with the Shadows" – 1962 (Columbia – 33QPX 8027) *

Roger Daltrey Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the rock band The Who. Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include " My Generation", " Pinball Wizard", " Won't Get Fooled ...

– "Ride A Rock Horse" – 1975 (Track / MCA)

As Jet Harris and Tony Meehan

Albums

*''Remembering'' – LP – Decca *''Best of'' – CD *''Diamonds and Gems'' – CD

Singles

" / "Footstomp" – 7" – Decca, #1 on British charts *"

" / "Hully Gully" – 7" – Decca #2 on British charts *" Applejack" / "Tall Texan" – 7" – Decca, #4 on British charts

EPs

*''Jet and Tony'' – EP – Decca 33 on British EP charts

As solo artist

*"Song of Mexico" / "Kings Go Fifth" – 7" – Decca – 1964 *"Zola / Reaching Out For Gold" - 1984 (Magus)

Production credits

Albums

Donal Donnelly Donal Donnelly (6 July 1931 – 4 January 2010) was an Irish theatre and film actor. Perhaps best known for his work in the plays of Brian Friel, he had a long and varied career in film, on television and in the theatre. He lived in Ireland, th ...

– ''Take the Name of Donnelly'' – 1968 (Decca) *

Tim Hardin James Timothy Hardin (December 23, 1941 – December 29, 1980) was an American folk music, folk and blues music, blues musician and composer. As well as releasing his own material, several of his songs, including "If I Were a Carpenter (song), ...

– '' Painted Head'' – 1973 (CBS) *Danny Mcbride – "Morningside" – 1973 (CBS) *

John Howard John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the ...

– ''Kid in a Big World'' – 1975 (CBS 80473) *Kevin Westlake – ''Stars Fade (In Hotel Rooms)'' – 1976 (UTOPIA 1–1388) *

– ''

One of the Boys ''One of the Boys'' is the second studio album by American singer Katy Perry. It was released on June 17, 2008, by Capitol Records. She collaborated with producers Greg Wells, Dr. Luke, Dave Stewart, Max Martin, and Ted Bruner among others, on ...

'' – 1977 (MCA) *

Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer. He was previously the lead vocalist of R&B and rock band the Animals and funk band War. He is regarded as one of the British Invasion's most distinctive singers with his deep, pow ...

– ''

Darkness Darkness ''Darkness Darkness'' is an album by the former vocalist from The Animals, Eric Burdon. It was recorded in May 1978 at Roundwood House, County Laois in Ireland, using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio. The album was released by Polydor in 1980. The ...

'' – 1980 (Polydor) *

Kim & The Cadillacs Kim & The Cadillacs (also spelled "Kim and The Cadillacs") was a Milan-based English rock band, active from the late seventies until the late eighties. For the majority of their career they recorded with Alfredo Rossi's label Ariston Records. ...

– Rock Bottom – 1980 (Ariston Music AR/LP/12379) (Italian release)

Singles

* Louise Cordet – "I'm Just a Baby" / "In a Matter of Moments" – 1962 (Decca) *Jay and Tommy Scott – "Angela" / "Did You" – 1962 (Decca) *

& Tony Meehan – Diamonds" / "Footstomp" 1963 – (Decca) *Jet Harris & Tony Meehan – "Scarlett O'Hara" / "Hully Gully" 1963 – (Decca) *Jet Harris & Tony Meehan – "Applejack" / "Tall Texan" – 1963 – (Decca) *Tony Meehan – "Song of Mexico" / "Kings Go Fifth" – 7" – Decca – 1964 *Louise Cordet – " Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" / "Loving Baby" – 1964 (Decca) *

Glyn Johns Glyn Thomas Johns (born 15 February 1942) is an English musician, recording engineer and record producer. Biography Early history Johns was born in Epsom, Surrey, England. He had three siblings, two older sisters and a younger brother, Andy ...

– "Old Deceiver Time" b/w "Dancing With You" 1963 (Decca F11753) *Jet Harris – "My Lady" / "You Don't Live Twice" – 1964 (Decca) *

– "Today You're Gone" b/w "Such Stuff Of Dreams" 1965 (Lyntone LYN 827) *

– "I'll Follow The Sun" b/w "I'll Take You Dancing" 1965 (Pye 7N 15818) *

– "Mary Anne" b/w "Like Grains Of Yellow Sand" 1965 (Immediate IM 013) *

– "Lady Jane" feat.

Brian Jones Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969) was an English multi-instrumentalist and singer best known as the founder, rhythm/lead guitarist, and original leader of the Rolling Stones. Initially a guitarist, he went on to prov ...

on Sitar 1966 *Les Anges – "Une Fille, Mais Qu'Est-Ce Que C'Est" ‎(7", EP) – 1967 (Odeon/EMI MEO 141) (French release) *

Wishful Thinking Wishful thinking is the formation of beliefs based on what might be pleasing to imagine, rather than on evidence, rationality, or reality. It is a product of resolving conflicts between belief and desire. Methodologies to examine wishful thin ...

– "Peanuts / Cherry, Cherry" – 1967 (Decca/Southern Music F 12627) *

– "Meet The Sun / Easier Said Than Loving You" – 1967 (Decca F22673) *Wishful Thinking – "Count to Ten / Hang Around Girl" – 1967 (Decca F 12598) *The Dalys – "Sweet Maria / Leaving Time" – 1967 (Fontana TF 809) *The Dalys – "

A Fistful Of Dollars ''A Fistful of Dollars'' ( it, Per un pugno di dollari, lit=For a Fistful of Dollars titled on-screen as ''Fistful of Dollars'') is a 1964 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood in his first leading role, a ...

The Man With No Name The Man with No Name ( it, Uomo senza nome) is the antihero character portrayed by Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's "''Dollars Trilogy''" of Italian Spaghetti Western films: ''A Fistful of Dollars'' (1964), ''For a Few Dollars More'' (1965), ...

" – 1967 (Fontana TF 841) * Richard Anthony – "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" – 1967 (Columbia/Sparta Music DB 8143) *

White Trash White trash is a derogatory racial and class-related slur used in American English to refer to poor white people, especially in the rural southern United States. The label signifies a social class inside the white population and especially a ...

– "Road to Nowhere" / "Illusions" – 1969 (Apple) *

Trash Trash may refer to: Garbage * Garbage, unwanted or undesired waste material ** Litter, material discarded in inappropriate places ** Municipal solid waste, unwanted or undesired waste material generated in a municipal environment Arts, enter ...

– " Golden Slumbers/

Carry That Weight "Carry That Weight" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album ''Abbey Road''. Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it is the seventh and penultimate song in the album's climactic side-two med ...

" / "Trash Can" – 1969 (Apple) *Keith Meehan – "Darkness Of My Life / Hooker St." – 1969 (Marmalade) *Frabjoy And Runcible Spoon – "I'm Beside Myself / Animal Song" – 1969 (Marmalade 598019) *

– "Break Another Dawn / Morning Star" – 1970 (Columbia DB 8693) *

Cody Cody may refer to: People *Cody (given name) *Cody (surname) * Cody (wrestler), a ring name of Cody Runnels Places Canada *Cody, British Columbia United States * Cody, Florida * Cody (Duluth), Minnesota * Cody, Missouri * Cody, Nebraska *Cody, ...

– "I Belong with You" / "Wanna Make You Happy" – 1971 (Polydor/Atco) *

Colin Blunstone Colin Edward Michael Blunstone (born 24 June 1945) is an English singer, songwriter and musician. In a career spanning more than 60 years, Blunstone came to prominence in the mid-1960s as the lead singer of the English rock band the Zombies, wh ...

– "It's Magical / Summersong" – 1974 (Epic) *

Darryl Read Darryl Michael Roy Read (19 September 1951 – 23 June 2013) was a British singer, guitarist, drummer, actor, poet and writer. In the late 1960s, Read was a member of Crushed Butler, considered by some to be amongst the forerunners of proto pu ...

– "High Rise Angry Young Man" – 1981 (on "Collectomatic vol I" – LP—1997 (white label))

Biography

Early career groups (pre-Shadows/Drifters)

Drums career usage

Death

Groupography

Discography

Performance credits

As Jet Harris and Tony Meehan

Albums

Singles

EPs

As solo artist

Production credits

Albums

Singles

References

Further reading