Vince Taylor

2.2.1. Early success and "Brand New Cadillac"

At the age of 18, deeply impressed by the music of rock and roll pioneers like Gene Vincent and Elvis Presley, Taylor began singing, initially performing at amateur gigs. While in London during the summer of 1958, he visited The 2i's Coffee Bar on Old Compton Street in Soho, a popular venue where Tommy Steele often performed. It was there that he met drummer Tony Meehan (who would later join the Shadows) and bass player Tex Makins (born Anthony Paul Makins on 3 July 1940, in Wembley, Middlesex). Together, they formed a band which they named The Playboys. Seeking a suitable stage name, Taylor observed the Latin phrase "In hoc signo vinces" on a packet of Pall Mall cigarettes, which inspired him to adopt the stage name Vince Taylor.

His initial singles, "I Like Love" and "Right Behind You Baby," were released by Parlophone in 1958. Several months later, Parlophone issued "Pledgin' My Love," with "Brand New Cadillac" featured on the B-side. The latter track notably included guitarist Joe Moretti, who would later contribute to "Shakin' All Over" by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates. Dissatisfied with the immediate commercial results, Parlophone terminated Taylor's recording contract. He then signed with Palette Records, releasing "I'll Be Your Hero" backed with "Jet Black Machine" on 19 August 1960. "Brand New Cadillac" has since gained recognition as a pivotal song in the evolution of British rock and roll. The song became a significant hit across continental Europe through chart-topping cover versions by bands such as the Renegades, Hep Stars, and the Shamrocks in Finland, Sweden, and France, respectively. On 23 April 1960, ABC Weekend TV launched its new weekly rock and roll television program, Wham!, featuring Taylor alongside other notable artists like Dickie Pride, Billy Fury, Joe Brown, Jess Conrad, Little Tony, and Johnny Kidd & the Pirates in its debut episode.

2.2.2. European tours and challenges

Despite his electrifying and dynamic presence on stage, Taylor's unpredictable personality frequently led to arguments within his band. In 1961, The Playboys decided to part ways with him, subsequently renaming themselves the Bobbie Clarke Noise. Under this new name, they secured a contract to perform at the prestigious Paris Olympia in July 1961, where Wee Willie Harris was the headline act. Taylor, who had maintained contact with the band, requested to rejoin them in Paris. For the sound check, he appeared in his signature black leather stage attire, adding a chain around his neck adorned with a Joan of Arc medallion he had acquired upon arriving in Calais. Accounts suggest that Taylor delivered such an extraordinary performance during the sound check that the organizers decided to promote him to the top of the bill for both shows. This standout performance resulted in Eddie Barclay signing Taylor to a six-year recording deal with his Barclay record label.

Throughout 1961 and 1962, Taylor extensively toured Europe with Clarke's band, which once again performed under the name Vince Taylor and His Playboys. Between concert dates, they recorded several EPs and a 20-song album at Barclay Studios in Paris. These recordings included numerous popular cover versions such as "Sweet Little Sixteen", "C'mon Everybody", "Twenty Flight Rock", "Love Me", "Long Tall Sally", "So Glad You're Mine", "Baby Let's Play House", and "Lovin' Up A Storm". By the end of 1962, Vince Taylor and the Playboys were headlining at the Olympia in Paris, with Sylvie Vartan serving as their opening act.

However, despite their strong on-stage chemistry, the off-stage relationship between Taylor and the Playboys continued to deteriorate, leading to another dissolution of the band. Taylor subsequently performed several engagements backed by the English band the Echoes, who also regularly supported Gene Vincent during his UK performances. Nonetheless, Taylor continued to present this backing band as The Playboys. In February 1964, a new single featuring "Memphis Tennessee" on the A-side and "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues" on the B-side was released on the Barclay label. The Playboys at this time consisted of Joey Greco and Claude Djaoui on guitars, Ralph Di Pietro on bass, and Bobbie Clarke on drums. This group was under contract to the Johnny Hallyday orchestra. During this period, Taylor also appeared in four Scopitones, which were early music video-like films, for his songs "Twenty Flight Rock," "Shakin' All Over," "Peppermint Twist," and "There's a Whole Lot of Twistin' Goin' On."

After Johnny Hallyday was required to complete national service in the French Army, Clarke once again collaborated with Taylor, forming a new iteration of the Bobbie Clarke Noise. This lineup included Ralph Danks on guitar, Alain Bugby of the Strangers on bass, Johnny Taylor (formerly the lead singer for the Strangers) on rhythm guitar, and "Stash de Rola" Prince Stanislas Klossowski de Rola on percussion. Managed by Jean Claude Camus, the band embarked on a successful tour of Spain. Following this, they co-headlined with the Rolling Stones during the Easter weekend of 1965 at the Olympia in Paris.

2.2.3. Decline and intermittent activities

Following the Paris Olympia performance, the band disbanded. Taylor began facing significant struggles with alcohol and other drugs, eventually joining a religious movement. Meanwhile, former band members moved on to other projects: Danks played guitar with Three Dog Night, and later with prominent artists such as Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, and Bob Dylan. Stash, a close friend of the Rolling Stones, went on to produce the Dirty Strangers album, which featured Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood. Clarke replaced drummer Don Conka for several studio sessions with the original lineup of the band Love. He also performed with Vince Flaherty and his band The Invincibles, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, and the initial incarnation of Deep Purple, before forming his own group, Bodast, with Steve Howe and Dave Curtis. In 1968, Bodast recorded an album for MGM Records, opened for the Who, and served as the backing band for Chuck Berry at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Despite Taylor's personal struggles, Bobbie Clarke remained committed to his friend's career and actively worked on a comeback. This effort culminated in a one-month tour across France, billed as 'Vince Taylor and Bobbie Clarke backed by Les Rockers'. Eddie Barclay, who had previously signed Taylor, offered him another opportunity to record. Taylor continued to record new material and performed intermittently throughout the 1970s and 1980s until his death.