I don’t think anyone will disagree that pop music for the teenager actually sprang into life courtesy a middle-aged man with a strange “kiss” curl and his band of merry men including a stand-up bass player and a saxophonist. Bill Haley and the Comets were the most unlikely introduction to the revelation that there was more for the war babies to listen to than dance bands and crooning singers.
Bill first came over on a ship in the late 50’s and thence by train to Waterloo Station. He started everything but his days were quickly numbered when we realised/discovered that the music he was platying was so much better sung by those folk to whom it meant something.
But fast forward 10 years and Bill was still coming to London, playing to audiences that wimps like me felt it best to avoid, but still managing to build up a fair old head of steam. This dates from May 11, 1968)
(Oh, and please don’t overlook the Episode advert, a slightly desperate reincarnation of Episode Six without their original enigmatic drummer)
vinylmemories 
Never understood the Bill Haley syndrome – thank goodness Buddy Holly and Duane Eddy turned up otherwise this Trad Jazz head would never have been turned on by R & R!
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I have a pal who’s three months older than me and his passion remains skiffle and jazz. Probably not really true, but that was the dividing line between Lonnie Donegan and Bill Haley. I was Bill (well, Elvis really) and he was Lonnie…..and still is!
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