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It Ain't Heavy, It's My Story: The Autobiography of Bobby Elliott Hardcover – 2 April 2020

by Bobby Elliott (Author)
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As the influential drummer from iconic rock 'n' roll band The Hollies, Bobby Elliott has six decades worth of musical anecdotes. Continually touring since 1963, his adventures have seen him beating Keith Moon in a drumming audition for Shane Fenton and the Fentones, being serenaded by Joni Mitchell while she was in bed with Graham Nash and being offered a job by Paul McCartney to work with Wings. Covering all such stories as well as exploring Bobby s personal highs and lows, It Ain't Heavy, It's My Story is a funny, honest and enlightening account of sixty years on the frontline of rock 'n' roll.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Omnibus Press
  4. Publication date
    2 April 2020
  5. Dimensions
    15.88 x 3.56 x 23.5 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1913172201
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1913172206
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

'Bobby Elliot refreshingly retains the wide-eyed wonder he felt in rising from Lancashire coal pit drudgery to drumming in one of the most successful bands to emerge from the 60s beat boom' --Classic Rock

About the Author

Robert Hartley Elliott (born 8 December 1941) is an English rock drummer, best known for playing with The Hollies. He has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Omnibus Press (2 April 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1913172201
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913172206
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 3.56 x 23.5 cm
  • Customer reviews:

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Bobby Elliott

Bobby Elliott

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
245 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Angela Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 February 2024
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A brilliant insight to the Hollies great reading
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Cameron Burns
5.0 out of 5 stars What A Life He's Led...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 April 2020
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Bobby Elliott is probably the best man in the World to write about the Hollies. Not only does he have all the details at his fingertips thanks to his meticulously kept diaries, he's got such a fantastic way with words. He is very good at setting the scene with his writing. He's perhaps at his creative writing peak with the opening two chapters of the book; describing the War-hit England around the time of his birth and the fairly grim reality of life in the North during his early childhood. The book is refreshingly written, with the odd excerpt from his diary or song lyric thrown in here and there to help add colour to the story. Sometimes his brief diary entries say all that you need to know, and other times he elaborates on them. Either way, it's an interesting and different way of writing an autobiography, which for me really broke up the monotony of reading someone's life story, which can often devolve into "and then I did this... and then I did that...", Bobby steers well clear of that with his book and it flows so easily.

It's fascinating to hear about his development as a drummer, and the musicians among us will be happy to know that Bobby spares no details of his equipment, the Hollies' guitars and their stage gear throughout the book. He talks of his early makeshift drum kit from old tins and how it morphed into his first proper set. He's also quite critical of some of the kits he's had over the years, which may come as a surprise to some.

Detail is something that comes across meticulously throughout the book. At times, his tale turns into something of a review column of the various Holiday Inns they stayed in over the years and the flights and train journeys they undertook - complete with the names of said modes of transport! During the portion of the book covering the 1970s, I felt like this became a little bit hard going at points. But around the mid-1970s, Bobby begins to insert his opinions of the Hollies' output and general direction during that tumultuous era, which all of you will find interesting for sure.

There's the usual Hollies tale that all keen fans will know with a few interesting, and at some points quite shocking, anecdotes. There's the first full official explanation we've ever had of both manager Robin Britten's exit from the group, followed quickly by Graham Nash's replacement Terry Sylvester and bassist Bernie Calvert. Allan's erratic behaviour towards the end of the 1970s is also explained, and it's perhaps not quite what you think.

The only couple of issues that I had with the book were that pretty much all of 1967 was glossed over after his appendicitis incident, and if I'm being honest, it ends rather abruptly, with 40 years glossed over on three pages.

Overall, the book was an entertaining read and even laugh-out-loud funny at times. Bobby has a superb writing style that is a joy to read, and you can tell that this book is all him. It reads extremely well, and comes off very conversational with odd asides and humour added in spades. He remains honest throughout the book and says it like it is. He treads the line of this world-famous rock star in one of Britain's best-groups but also the real Robert Elliott who lived with his parents until his mid-30s and eventually married his childhood sweetheart and they lived happily ever after in a restored farmhouse near the town where they grew up. His story is humbling and honest - what a life he's led!
21 people found this helpful
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M J RICHARDSON
4.0 out of 5 stars Remembering Bobby Elliot
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 September 2023
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Bought this book because we are fans of. The Hollies and my wife was in the same year at Nelson Grammar school as Bobby and Bob Palmer who is also mentioned. Thoroughly enjoyed his reminisces of his time with the group and his early days at the Grammar school
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 January 2024
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Good book to read and full of interesting facts
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Cjhiggins
5.0 out of 5 stars It ain't heavy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 December 2023
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Really good and interesting
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david m
5.0 out of 5 stars It's his story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 April 2020
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This is the long awaited inside story of the Hollies from their drummer. His early years of growing up in '50's Britain, leaving school to become an apprentice in a coal mine, whilst playing drums in his spare time are for me the most moving and interesting part of the book. The life of a '60's band on the road is well re-counted and clearly taken from his diaries of the time. Their visits to the USA are another highlight, and an extract of this is in this month's Shindig magazine. We also learn of his take on the various personnel and management changes. I would have liked to have read a bit more about the recording of the singles and albums, and a bit less about their '70's tours. This is Bobby's story and he has chosen to end it in 1981, leaving out the details of the final departure of Allan Clarke and the other band changes since then. There is scope for a sequel, but maybe not much demand for one. Overall this is a good read for fans of '60's music, and an essential read for Hollies fans.
3 people found this helpful
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Tim Crowther
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 February 2024
Really captivating story by a very underrated drummer.
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Musopedia
4.0 out of 5 stars A Proper Autobiography
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 May 2020
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A proper book on the Hollies was long overdue. The best person to do it is their historian, archivist and drummer. Elliott has documented his life through the Hollies and his meticulous diaries. Of all the drummers during the ‘beat era’ Elliott was the best, along with Charlie Watts. Both came from jazz backgrounds and both were head and shoulders above everybody else. Listen to the first two Hollies albums and hear Elliott’s outstanding trills and fills. Graham Nash, over the years has often been patronizing and dismissive of the Hollies work so it is about time their side was fairly documented. The book is a warm and accurate story showing Elliott’s passion for the drum kit and deep affection for his long career. There is no bad-mouthing or nasty stuff it is simply a very good read – honest and fascinating. Only one serious error – ‘Shakin’ All Over’ was not number one for 19 weeks! – just the one. Other than that it is an excellent autobiography from the longstanding member of one of the UK’s finest ever bands.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

John Thomas Ciappetta
5.0 out of 5 stars It Ain't Heavy!
Reviewed in the United States on 14 December 2021
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I thoroughly enjoyed the book! It was a breeze to read! Bobby is one of the top five British Invasion drummers (in my non-musical opinion). I place him in the same lofty group with Graeme Edge (of The Moody Blues), Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, and Mick Avory (of The Kinks). Besides, he reminds me of my ex-Marine son-in-law, Levi (same good looks, and lack of hair; lol). Bobby shares a lot of good fun experiences as well as some of the hassles of living on the road and having to deal with all sorts of bureaucratic people and BS along the way! Like Graham Nash from his biography, "Wild Tales", Bobby could not resist poking a little fun at the nose Tony Hicks was born with, which in both instances had no need in their books. Speaking of Tony; without him where would The Hollies be? I'm convinced we would have 'never' heard of CS&N had it not been for the brilliant guitar work of Tony Hicks (Why is he not listed among the great guitarists, but Nash is?)! As much as I enjoyed the book which took less than two days to read, I was hoping for a tidbit of a story regarding the wigs he wore, and whose suggestion it was to have him adorn them. The hats he wore were all fantastic!
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars Does not deliver.
Reviewed in Sweden on 28 November 2022
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Not a very interesting book, Elliott is far more gifted as a drummer than as a storyteller. Some nice pictures though.
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Brent
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read on a great band
Reviewed in the United States on 27 November 2021
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This was an excellent book. I had seen some critical reviews - and in my view they were undeserved. This book told as much of a six decade journey as you could hope to in a single volume!!! Great job Bobby Elliott and The Hollies
One person found this helpful
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Christopher L. Dolmetsch
4.0 out of 5 stars A very clear and expansive autobiography by the long-standing drummer of the Hollies
Reviewed in the United States on 10 November 2020
Verified Purchase
Not many books about the Hollies have been published to date and certainly most have lacked some of the insights and anecdotes of the actual band members. Here Bobby Elliot, the drummer who replaced a short-term Don Rathbone, tells of his more than six decades in the group. The book is well written and revealing, especially in the matter of changing personnel (e.g., Graham Nash with Terry Sylvester, Allan Clarke with Mikael Rickfors and then back to Clarke) and the issues of musical style and recordings. Not only fans of the Hollies but those with an interest in the history of popular music in the period should find this book interesting and enlightening.
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Christopher L. Dolmetsch
4.0 out of 5 stars A very clear and expansive autobiography by the long-standing drummer of the Hollies
Reviewed in the United States on 10 November 2020
Not many books about the Hollies have been published to date and certainly most have lacked some of the insights and anecdotes of the actual band members. Here Bobby Elliot, the drummer who replaced a short-term Don Rathbone, tells of his more than six decades in the group. The book is well written and revealing, especially in the matter of changing personnel (e.g., Graham Nash with Terry Sylvester, Allan Clarke with Mikael Rickfors and then back to Clarke) and the issues of musical style and recordings. Not only fans of the Hollies but those with an interest in the history of popular music in the period should find this book interesting and enlightening.
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4 people found this helpful
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BettyAnn
5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST read for any fan!
Reviewed in the United States on 19 April 2021
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I love The Hollies! Bobby Elliott, the drummer, was the only one from the band to keep a diary! After 50 years of still performing, he wrote his story of being in the band. Absolutely a wonderful book. It will take you into their good times, hard times, sad times, and fun times!
One person found this helpful
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