Tony Meehan was born as Daniel Meehan in Hampstead on March 2, 1943. He was one of the founder members of the Shadows along with Jet Harris, Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch. Tony played drums on all the early Cliff Richard and the Shadows hits and also played on the early hits the Shadows had as an instrumental group.
Tony Meehan was only ten years old when he became interested in playing the drums. By the time he was 13, Tony had his first job with a band playing in a dance hall at Willesden, London. He also played tympanis with the London Youth Orchestra. When he was 15, Tony Meehan was set on becoming a lawyer and did not want to leave school for another three years but he was offered a job at £25 per week in a touring show. He asked for and was given six months holiday. The tour never materialised but Tony did not go back to school. Unlike the other members of the Shadows he was never short of work, playing cabaret at places like Churchill's and the Stork Club. He also played with Jet Harris in The Vipers. Tony is interested in arranging which he studies and besides drums also plays guitar and bass. His hobbies include psychology and psychiatry.
Tony Meehan left the Shadows in 1961 and went to work at Decca Records. He subsequently teamed up again with Jet Harris and as a duo had great success with Jet playing guitar and Tony on drums. Tony and Jet performed as part of the All Stars ’63 Tour which had two evening shows at the Winter Gardens, Bournemouth on Saturday 18 May 1963. Among his first records was the Louise Cordet hit "I’m Just a Baby". He worked hard behind the scenes and to the public seemed to have lost his incentive to go back on the stage. As a session man, Tony played on records by John Leyton, Frank Ifield and Billy Fury. Once away from The Shadows, Tony’s drum studies continued and his interest in composing developed.
Maybe this is how things would have remained but a call to Tony from Jet Harris who was in Scotland at the time changed all that. Jet had been thinking of recording with Tony and one day the urge to call him became too strong, he did just that and so the team was back in business.
First came a recording session for "Just for Fun" and then came "Diamonds". Tony produced that session as well as playing drums. He also wrote the B-side, "Foot Stomp" where he took it in turns with Jet to do vocal duets. "Diamonds" went to Number 1 in just three weeks. Jet and Tony then followed "Diamonds" with "Scarlet O’Hara" which was also a resounding hit’.
Tony spent the last few years pursuing his interest in psychology and psychoanalysis.
Tony Meehan died at St Mary’s hospital Paddington London hospital in the early hour of 28th November, 2005 after suffering an accident at home. Tony left behind his wife Sue, five sons and two daughters. Tony Meehan was 62 years old.
Jimmy Ford
