I heard Dawn by Flintlock on the radio the other day. I don't have this on my ipod and of their oeuvre it's all I know.
If you crash landed in Britain sometime between 1975 and 1978 and took a look at music magazines or music TV, you'd think Flintlock were the biggest band in the world. They were on everything, from Look-in to Pauline's Quirkes, from the Tomorrow People to Here and Now, they were the very definition of ubiquitous.
So why didn't they have any hits? Dawn was a very minor Top 40 entry and though they released loads of singles, that was the only one to chart. Was it because they simply weren't very good? With exposure like that these days they'd be cluttering up the charts, but why not back then? They were reasonable looking chaps, singing voices not up to much, perhaps the poor man's Rollers, but even so, there were many bands like that who did achieve success.
I wonder why they broke up and when? Wikipiedia is of little help but does say there was a reunion concert in 2007, which I didn't hear about and, judging by the lack of fans they had in their heyday, neither did anyone else. They must have held it at Notting Hill Coronet and still had seats to spare.
What are the former band members doing now? Sadly Tomorrow People hunk Mike Holloway was the world's most wooden actor, so I imagine further roles were not forthcoming. Any Flintlock fans out there who can tell me more? Just curious.
14 comments:
They all lived near me back then, and it was thrilling to see them wandering along Ilford High Road or through Becontree. A couple of my friends used to go and pester Mike Holloway at his house in Green Lane, and apparently he was very nice and down-to-earth (which may have helped prepare him for the sudden evaporation of his career, post-1978.).
I only ever heard tell of Derek Pascoe, the singer, who was genuinely talented and apparently ended up lecturing in Music at an Australian university. He always looked like he'd be at home in Australia, as it happens.
Mike Holoway does touring musicals and also panto etc, but I don't know about the others.
Holoway (only one 'l') played a washed-up pop star *cough* in an episode of Minder, from memory. Also thought that Flintlock split up after seeing the Sex Pistols appearance on Bill Grundy! Whether they were motivated by envy or disdain remains lost in history.
I remember seeing Flintlock on TV a lot as a kid and wondering the same thing. I don’t ever recall hearing them on the radio, though. Maybe they did something to annoy the head of Radio 1, airplay on which was possibly a bigger factor in creating hits than TV exposure in those days.
Seeing as it was mainly ITV shows they were on perhaps that would explain it TT.
Who knew people would know so much about them? Love your first hand experience and knowing surnames ISBW.
I found this clip of them last year, (after hearing some local BBC banter about them) what a rocker - but I can't find the track name though..
You'll also find Mike Holloway appears in the clip were Paul Shane looks like a melted waxwork.
Bimey Mondo, that last one is SCARY.
I could sing you the theme tune from 'You Must Be Joking', F-C (sample lyric: "If you've been playing away on the piano all day and your fingers are tired and smoking, just pull up a chair and the show's on the air...YOU MUST BE JOKING".). Classic stuff I think you'll agree.
And I just looked at that clip. Mike has on leather trousers with his t-shirt tucked in, and is wearing Ray Reardon's hair. That's not really how I wanted to remember him, Mondo.
You have spelt mike's surname wrong he spells it with one L not two.mike is currently in Lincoln in panto its his last night today
Mike is a friend of mine and his acting is not wooden. He has played Joseph to critical acclaim.and appeared on several sound tracks of shows he has been in. Now if he was so 'wooden' he would not have lasted in show buisness this long.
Flintlock were fab and Mike is still working hard he is nothing like wooden he is a fab drummer, singer,actor and all round nice guy!!!!
Michael Holoway is an amazing happy go lucky talented handsome guy. He has done well for himself after leaving flintlock and tv, he now has his own radio show on 2nd city radio from Birmingham and has concerts in London in September Joseph and the warrior's which is 50 years on since he last performed that on stage. The tickets are selling great also Michael's produced some latest music tides of love and his latest is drummerman which is a super catchy disco feeling. Well done to him I'm very proud of his on going success from miss Hazel G.
What a spiteful write up, from obviously a talentless nobody!
Mike is also a friend of mine, who is a very capable actor, great drummer and singer with well over 50 years in the business.
He has a successful radio show and still has an army of loyal fans.
Flintlock may not have been number 1 in the charts, but they could all sing and were great musicians.
Mike does wear a wig or hairpiece though
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