A Tribute To Tony Hicks

Why would Tony Hicks, the lead guitar player for the English rock band the Hollies, be the one and only person on my list of people I want to meet? Putting aside that he is still as handsome as he was when I first fell in love with his steel-blue eyes back in 1967, his signature guitar caresses from "The Air That I Breathe" (all I need is the air that I breathe and to love you) and banjo riffs from songs like "Stop, Stop, Stop" have stood the test of time. "He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother" seems to be the most recognized song from the band, but his music is a main staple even today.

What most people don’t know is that Tony is still going strong. Last year the Hollies produced their first new CD of all new music in twenty years titled "Staying Power," available through Amazon, which is absolutely awesome. See my reviews on Amazon UK and Amazon USA. It’s the best one they’ve ever produced and most the focused as a whole, entirely of love songs that have a way of weaving themselves together, flowing in and out of each other so that all of the songs thoroughly embed themselves in the back of your mind. Out of five stars I give it ten. Peter Howarth, their powerful new lead singer, is a natural fit, replacing Allan Clarke. Tony and Bobby Elliott, the original drummer, have a tight, top notch group to display their talents. Long Live The Hollies!

But still . . . why Tony Hicks? His music got my attention. His eyes got me hooked. When I was only thirteen his pictures on the vinyl LP "Dear Eloise/King Midas In Reverse" kicked my adolescent hormones into higher gear. I created a wonderful fantasy around him that lasted for two years. Even though I started dating then, his program became deeply ingrained my program and has continued to haunt me. Everywhere I go there are snippets of his songs, like a TV ad for Planter’s Peanuts ("Step Inside") or a Toyota commercial, ("The Air That I Breathe" badly sung by Steve Young) or elevator music or background music of the casinos. And the Holly bush with the red berries and pointed leaves are everywhere as motifs, not just at Christmas but all year long.

There is little information about Tony out there. He’s a very private person. After all of the psychic channeling sessions I had with Nancy Matz to connect with his spirit (why wait till the celebrity is dead to connect?) the information I got through her revealed that he’s a very nice person at heart, not one who would volunteer to be the front man for the group but will do so if that’s what’s required. He mostly prefers just to play his guitar. It is expected that someone in his position would have a huge ego, but his is more laid back. He knows he’s a master guitar player. He demonstrates, never dominates. He knows he doesn’t have to prove anything anymore, and yet few here in the states know he’s still around and producing the best music ever. Even with all of the changes the band has gone through, he stayed with the attitude that the changes would produce good results. It’s been a long, rough ride, but somehow he managed to run off at age seventeen to be a rock star, and with hard work, persistence, and not stepping on others he’s still going strong forty years later. His devotion to his craft is uncompromising and yet never overpowering. And he’s still a fox at his current age. It’s no wonder I like to think of my spirit guide as looking like him.

I think one of the key factors that I continue to have an interest in Tony is that when I focus on him, with help from my spirit guide, creative things come to me like the poems I wrote and sent to him, which are part of my book. I can’t explain it, but he has opened a creative door for me in many ways. Because of his gentle presence I discovered beautiful parts of my soul I had long forgotten. He truly is my muse, my inspiration.

Divine guidance can take a strange road. Because of my interest in Mr. Hicks, I found my wonderful English husband (I’m a sucker for the English accent) who is also a musician, but with a day job. I think I was forced to take all of the detours through hell and back so I would truly appreciate it when my time finally came, but I got what I wanted out of it — a bonafide sweetheart of a playmate who’s boyish personality so closely matches my spirit guide that I’m astonished by it all. It shows me how tight the interconnectedness of the universe is in my own relationships. How else could an Englishman travel 6,000 miles and find his way into the arms of a total stranger who could truly love him? For this I will forever be thankful.

My one regret is that I’ve never seen the Hollies live in concert, something I long to do before they retire, which I suspect is solely up to Tony Hicks. My one wish is to meet and interview Mr. Hicks because it would be fun, entertaining, and possibly reveal more secrets about the interconnectedness of our universe. In any case . . .

Excellent Job, Tony! Carry On!

 

For more information on the Hollies visit  www.hollies.co.uk

Check out Tony's latest CD on Amazon.com!

The following is my own review of his latest CD, "Staying Power" as seen on Amazon USA...

Staying Power, May 15, 2006
I have been a long-time Hollies fan and have found them to consistently produce quality music. Yes, it's taken a bit to get used to the continuing changes the group goes through, but Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott, the two remaining original members, have done an excellent job recruiting talented musicians and continuing to produce catchy tunes rich with their wonderful melodies and harmonies. Peter Howarth is great as the new lead singer. Staying Power has the energy of their earlier years beautifully combined with the todays audio technological advances. I am so impressed with the entire CD that it is hard to pick a favorite. This is a wonderful treat! I highly recommend it!

 

The following is my review from Amazon UK

Staying Stuck In My Head, That's For Sure, 2 Jun 2006
I'm a long-time Hollies fan and have marveled at how they have consistently produced such a high quality of music. Staying Power has the feel of their earlier years perfectly fused with their die-hard experience and will soon reign supreme in their repertoire. This is the most focused production they have ever done, and Peter Howarth is excellent as their commanding new lead singer. They truly stand at the junction of ageless desire and timeless creation.
This entire CD is Rock-and-Roll love songs. "Hope" really did give it to me. "So Damn Beautiful" resonates with longing via their haunting signature harmonies. Between Peter's roller-coaster scales and Tony's cross-dimensional sitar "Prove Me Wrong" covertly implants itself in the back of your mind waiting to surface at an idle moment. "Break Me" is a slow-motion explosion of passion! "Shine On Me" is special to me because it reminds me of someone special who really helped me through a difficult time. "Suspended Animation" is endearingly quirky in the special effects of this light-hearted lament of going insane wanting someone out of your league. I think most of us have been there. "Touch Me" definitely did! (_Fill-in-the-blank_) can control my hands any day. "Emotions" embeds itself with its soft flowing caresses, especially by Tony's solo. "Weakness" is tasty in the midnight chords of desperation. "Live It Up" is catchy in its melody. "Yesterday's Gone" is a kick in the right direction with an almost country flavor. On the way to the core of your soul "Let Love Pass" will stop you in your tracks.
I love the entire CD. After few listens I found the tunes flowing back and forth into and around each other. It gets infectious pretty quick. Great Job, Guys! It's a wonderful treat. I highly recommend it.

 

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