NEWS 27/07/2007 ! Brand exciting news ! I just got word that a movie inspired and based on my career is in development, with a screenplay currently being written by a french screenwriter with 200% rock'n'roll credibility... More info coming soon !
Hi ! I'm Vince Taylor. I was actually born Brian Maurice Holden on July 14th 1939 in London. In 1946 I immigrated to the US. I set up home in New Jersey where my dad started work in a coal mine. Around 1955, his sister married Joe Barbera, who became one of the greatest in the cartoon industry. Joe went into partenership with Bill Hanna and founded Hanna/Barbera. It was then decided that the whole family would move to California. I went to Hollywood High and studied radio and weather reports. I also took flying lessons and got a pilot license. Aged 18, much impressed by the music of Bill Haley and Elvis Presley, I began to sing wherever I could, at parties, school proms and amateur gigs. Backed by a local band, I started playing for the benefit of the American Legion as well as a few nightclubs along Zummah Beach.
Joe Barbera, my brother-in-law, became, in a way, my manager. Joe went to London for business reasons and asked me to join him and check out the London music scene. I met a lad called Paul Taylor who gave me an address of a coffee-bar in Old Campton Street where Tommy Steele was playing. I began to meet with several rock amateurs who were always in this bar called "The Coffee 2 I's". I had to show what I was worth, so I started up my own band. In doing this I met drummer Tony Meehan (future Shadows) and bass player Tex Makins and named the band The Play-Boys. 'Brian Holden' was not a very good stage name and whilst looking at a packet of Pall Mall cigarettes, upon which is written 'In hoc Vinces' Joe and I decided the new stage name would be 'Vince Taylor' (I very much liked the actor Robert Taylor). Vince Taylor and the Play-Boys were born. After some changes, the final line-up of The Play-Boys was: Bobbie Clarke (drums), John Vance (bass), Alain Le Claire (piano) and Tony Harvey (guitar), who changed on an off with Bob Steel.
My first recording session was for Parlophone-Odeon, where I recorded, 'I Like Love' and 'Right Behind You Baby'. This record was released in 1958, the name The Play-Boys was not mentioned, followed several months after by a second 45 with 'Pledgin My Love' b/w 'Brand New Cadillac'. Parlophone weren't very happy with the results of the records and decided to break the contract. I then moved to Palette Records and recorded 'I'll Be Your Hero' b/w 'Jet Black Machine', released on August 19th 1960.
My unstable caracter caused several arguments with the band and they started looking for other people to play with. The Play-Boys, lead by Bobbie Woodman, changed their name to 'Bobbie Woodman Noise'. They were contacted to play at the prestigious Olympia in Paris in July, 1961. At the top of the bill was Wee Willie Harris. Despite of what had happened, I was still friends with the band and he asked if I could come to Paris too.
During a sound check I dressed up in black leather gear and put a chain around my neck with a Joan of Arc medallion, which I had bought at Calais on our arrival in France. The sound check and the effect that I had given impressed the organisers and they decided to put me up as top of the bill for both shows. From then on things went quickly for me. Eddie Barclay had been contacted by Bruno Coquatrix about my performance (and my band who became once again the Play-Boys) and he signed me to a 6 years contract. Between September 61 and January 62, Barclay issued 5 EP's and one LP.
After that, things went crazy. I attempted many comebacks over the years. If you wanna know the complete ups and downs of my career, please visit Jacques Mercier's fantastic website titled "Vince Taylor 1939-1991", which is available in French and English, containing a complete biography, discography and many rare pictures...
Here's above me performing "Brand New Cadillac" at the Bataclan in 1979, 20 years on. The tape runs slow, but you catch the drift !
Oh, by the way, some people, including on the above site, says I died on august 27, 1991. That is obviously untrue. Vince Taylor will never die. I am still alive and well in Paris, and I live, here forever, in Cyberspace.
I would like to thank Captain Mercier for his help