13 / 10 / 05 : Mail and Picture from Rick Hardy
Dear Jacques,
When Vince Taylor arrived in Britain (you would know the date) I was working as the resident singer at the 2.I's coffee bar, where Vince headed for. He had come over from the States with a guitarist and manager. The guitarist (can't remember his name) and the 'manager' soon disappeared as it became obvious that Vince was not going to obtain overnight success. What was obvious to me was that Vince had all the good looks and stage presence that anyone could want. In fact he was in my opinion (and others) the greatest mover ever in rock music. Unfortunately his voice fell short of the standards of his other attributes, but other rock singers (notably Fabian) became huge stars with inferior voices to Vince. If his voice had matched his looks and personality he would have, in my view, become one of the greatest rock stars of all. Maybe even rivalling Elvis.
I not only respected Vince, I liked him a lot. We didn't earn much at the 2.I's, but whenever Vince had made some reasonable money he liked to share it with his friends, of which I am proud to say I considered myself as one. He would gather a few of us together and treat us to a steak meal. These meals I remember would cost over two pounds (sterling) each, which was a huge amount of money to us in 1959. It represented more than I got for working TWO NIGHTS at the 2.I's.
The last time I saw Vince was in the 2.I's in the early or middle 1960's, when I was over for a visit from Hamburg where I was living then. He wasn't singing. He was upstairs looking a bit shabby and had a beard. He told me that he had finally realised the significance of his names - Michael Holden, Vince Taylor and Jesus Christ. He could see a connection. I'm afraid I couldn't. It was terribly sad.
Kind regards
© Copyright by Rick Hardy
