As a founder member of the world's most successful instrumental group, the Shadows, and a chart-topper in his own right, bassist Jet Harris scaled the heights of superstardom in the 1960s. A helpless alcoholic for most of his adult life, he also sank to unimaginable depths of despair, leaving a string of broken hearts and shattered lives in his wake. In this unauthorised biography author Dave Nicolson examines his eventful life and career, and how he eventually overcame his addiction to the bottle and fought his way back to centre stage. In the second part of the book, a series of revealing interviews with those friends and artists who knew him best -- Cliff Richard, Bruce Welch, Tony Meehan, Brian 'Licorice' Locking, Billie Davis and others -- completes this unique and intimate portrait of a music legend.
Review :
Astounding.
Ben Marks, The Beat (June 2011)
Although classed as an unofficial biography, in total the book chronicles the life and career of one of the British icons of the musical world. It is a brilliant read.
euVue (August 2011)
This book is a tribute to the bass guitarist Jet Harris MBE who died of cancer in March this year. As a founder member of The Shadows and chart-topper, along with the late Tony Meehan, with 'Diamonds' in 1963, he experienced the dizzy heights. However, as a helpless alcoholic for most of his life he also sank to the bottom, leaving a string of broken hearts and shattered lives in his wake. The first part of the book examines in great detail his career and personal life, which took in four marriages, and how, at fifty-seven, he eventually overcame his devastating addiction. The latter section consists of previously unpublished interviews with friends and contemporary performers who knew him best.
Many of the photographs have never been published before. Appendices include a bibliography, UK discography (excluding Cliff Richard/Shadows, guest appearances, various artists compilations and most reissues). His chart successes are also listed.
Terence Harris was born in London in 1939. The name Jet sprang from his prowess at sprinting. Initially interested in jazz and the clarinet, he switched to double bass and worked behind the counter at the 2'i's coffee bar. He eventually became part of the classics Shadows line-up via Terry Dene's Dean Aces, Larry Page, Don Lang and Tony Crombie, where he was introduced to the relatively new four-string electric bass guitar. Jet was already drunk a lot of the time, but the turning point towards increasingly erratic behaviour seems to be Cliff Richard's affair with his first wife, Carol.
The exact reasons for his split with The Shadows in '62 may never be known. With The Jetblacks he toured with Little Richard and Sam Cooke but, as a frontman, stage fright, which had plagued him for years, became a major factor. Now drinking heavily, he found a kindred spirit in Gene Vincent, who made unscheduled appearances on the tour.
After the success of 'Diamonds' at the start of '63, most of the remainder of the 'warts and all' saga makes for grim reading and chronicles the decline into an ever more chaotic lifestyle. He took up with the young singer Billie Davis ('Tell Him') even though Patti Brook was his steady girlfriend, and he was still married to Carol. Jet and Billie sustained serious injuries in a car smash in September '63. According to Billie he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and "Jet Harris Quits Showbiz!" stories appeared in the press. Following the break-up with Billie, Jet went on to have two more failed marriages between 1966 and 1990. At the time of his death he was married to Janet (Fletcher).
The interviews were conducted prior to Jet's death but have not been altered in any way. Cliff Richard strenuously avoids the subject of Jet's first marriage. He describes Jet as the quiet one onstage but an impish kinda guy. In Cliff's view, Jet's greatest achievement was kicking the drink. Bruce Welch, who refers to Jet as "The Vitapointe Kid", is less reticent on the more sensitive issues, admits to nagging Jet about the booze, and insists it was himself and Hank Marvin who sacked him. 'Licorice' Locking, his replacement, admits he was a hard act to follow, and Tony Meehan simply describes him as the one in a million who blew it".
The interviews reveal many fascinating and often light‑hearted insights on the British late '50s/early '60s scene. To achieve his English peasant look, P.J. Proby claims he stole from Warner Brothers the shirt worn by Paul Newman in 'The Left Handed Gun'. Clem Cattini, who bought Jet his first amp, remembers him being aggresive when drunk, a fact underlined by his third wife's brutally frank contribution. John Leyton describes Jet as a loner, but someone who stood out in terms of charisma and reveals that Gene Vincent, who appears to have drawn a pistol more times than John Wesle Hardin, once pulled a gun on him. Frank Ifield recalls Jet's shyness and Mike Berry his honesty and dry humour. Wee Willie Harris confirms Jet's pre-show nerves whilst Tommy Bruce concentrates on his generosity and consideration.
Harry Dodds, Record Collector (August 2011)
