Tony Meehan

Tony Meehan was one of the founder members of the British group the Shadows along with Jet Harris, Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch. Tony played drums on all the early Cliff Richard and the Shadows hits and also played on the early hits the Shadows had as an instrumental group.

Related Topics:
Jet Harris - Hank Marvin - Bruce Welch - Cliff Richard - The Shadows

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Tony Meehan was born in Hampstead on 2 March 1943. He was only ten years old when he became interested in playing the drums. By the time he was 13, Tony had his first job with a band playing in a dance hall at Willesden, London. He also played tympanis with the London Youth Orchestra. When he was 15, Tony was set on becoming a lawyer and did not want to leave school for another three years but he was offered a job at £25 per week in a touring show. He asked for and was given six months holiday. The tour never materialised but Tony did not go back to school. Unlike the other members of the Shadows he was never short of work, playing cabaret at places like Churchill's and the Stork Club. He also played with Jet Harris in The Vipers.

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Tony left the Shadows in 1961 and went to work at Decca Records. He subsequently teamed up again with Jet Harris and as a duo had great success with Jet playing guitar and Tony on drums, notably on the track, Diamonds which also included Jimmy Page on guitar. Diamonds was a number one hit in the UK.

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