Brian 'Licorice' Locking RIP (1938 - 2020)

[fordcapri]

Just been confirmed from a member of Brian's family.

Brian was the bass player in The Shadows during their most successful period (1962-1963) in terms of record sales and Number 1 hit singles.  He played on at least four Number ones, as well as appearing in the film 'Summer Holiday'.  He was also a member of Marty Wilde's Wildcats and played bass on Donovan's first recording.  

His nickname, 'Licorice', came from the fact that he also played the clarinet - nicknamed the 'licorice stick'.  

[fordcapri]

A bit more info, via various Grantham newspapers...

www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/grantham-musician-brian-licorice-locking-who-found-fame-with-the-shadows-has-died-9125699/

"Grantham musician Brian Locking, who played bass guitar with The Shadows in the sixties, has died.

Brian, who was 82, died in north Wales this week, but had lived most of his life in Grantham, moving there as a small boy with his family. He was born in Bedworth.

Brian joined Vince Eager's The Vagabonds in Grantham in the late 1950s. They travelled to London in search of fame but it didn't last long and Vince went on to become famous in his own right. Brian also stayed and was offered a tour with Terry Dene which led to him joining Marty Wilde's Wildcats. Then he was offered the position in The Shadows and took the place of Jet Harris. he remained in The Shadows for 18 months and appeared in the film Summer Holiday with Cliff Richard.

Brian's sister Barbara Wilson, who lives in Leasingham, was 12 when Brian joined The Shadows. She told the Journal: "It was amazing. I was very popular everywhere I went! He kept his music up after The Shadows and he became a kind of ambassador for them in places like France and Germany. He went everywhere".

The article below is copy-protected, but there's stuff in there that I didn't know.  

www.granthammatters.co.uk/category/grantham-present/