{"id":2105800,"date":"2026-08-21T19:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T16:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2105800"},"modified":"2026-08-21T19:28:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T16:28:11","slug":"the-hollies-officially-call-it-quits-after-63-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2105800","title":{"rendered":"The Hollies officially call it quits after 63 years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/the_hollies_1966.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">The Hollies officially call it quits after 63 years<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees formed in Manchester in 1962 and became one of the defining British Invasion groups<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Max Pilley<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-21T20:28:11+01:00\">21st August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/the_hollies_1966-696x442.jpg\" alt title=\"The Hollies On Ready Steady Go!\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">The Hollies outside Wembley Television Studios on 8th July 1966. Bobby Elliott, Eric Haydock, Allan Clarke, Graham Nash and Tony Hicks. (Photo by Ivan Keeman\/Redferns)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The Hollies have announced the end of their touring career after 63 years, bringing one of British pop\u2019s longest-running bands to a close.<\/p>\n<p>The news was confirmed in a statement yesterday (August 20), which explained that guitarist Tony Hicks\u00a0was stepping away from touring for health reasons. Drummer Bobby Elliott, the other\u00a0long-running\u00a0member\u00a0still with the group,\u00a0added that he was also retiring in solidarity with his\u00a0bandmate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cAfter more than six decades, The Hollies\u2019 touring career will come to a close with immense gratitude to the fans who have supported them around the world,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n<p>The Hollies were formed in Manchester in 1962 by childhood friends Allan Clarke and Graham Nash. Hicks joined in February 1963 ahead of the band\u2019s successful audition for Parlophone at Abbey Road, while Hicks\u2019 former bandmate in The Dolphins, Elliott, followed that August, with bassist Eric Haydock completing the classic line-up.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bus Stop (Remastered)\" width=\"696\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/040XXYx6_5E?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>They became known for their distinctive three-part harmonies and became one of the defining bands of the British Invasion, with hits including \u2018I\u2019m Alive\u2019, \u2018Bus Stop\u2019, \u2018He\u00a0Ain\u2019t\u00a0Heavy, He\u2019s My Brother\u2019, \u2018Stop\u00a0Stop\u00a0Stop\u2019 and \u2018The Air That I Breathe\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Nash left the group in December 1968 and went on to form\u00a0Crosby, Stills, Nash &amp; Young, with Terry Sylvester replacing him in The Hollies the following year. Clarke retired from the performing with the band in 2000.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hicks and Elliott remained in the band throughout, being joined in the last two decades by singer Peter Howarth, guitarist Steve Lauri, bassist Ray\u00a0Stiles\u00a0and keyboardist Ian Parker. Their most recent album was \u2018Then, Now,\u00a0Always\u2019 in 2009.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Hollies: He Ain\u2019t Heavy, He\u2019s My Brother (2019 Remaster Video)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eUWZqbumaZo?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>They were inducted into the Rock\u00a0And\u00a0Roll Hall\u00a0Of\u00a0Fame in 2010, although Hicks and Elliott did not attend the ceremony as The Hollies had a previously booked concert that night.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017,\u00a0the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins named \u2018The Air That I Breathe\u2019 as one of the five songs he wished he had written, and\u00a0that song also famously influenced Radiohead\u2019s \u2018Creep\u2019, with songwriters Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood eventually receiving credits on the song.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u2018He\u2019s Not Heavy, He\u2019s My Brother\u2019 was a UK Number One single on re-release in 1988, and The Hollies sold over 60million records worldwide across their career.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Crosby Stills Nash &amp; Young<\/li>\n<li>Graham Nash<\/li>\n<li>Pop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Grimes\u2019 Hatsune Miku collaboration is filled with love: \u201cI feel really in awe of her, but also protective of her\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div 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class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The Hollies have announced the end of their touring career after 63 years, bringing one of British pop\u2019s longest-running bands to a close.<\/p>\n<p>The news was confirmed in a statement yesterday (August 20), which explained that guitarist Tony Hicks\u00a0was stepping away from touring for health reasons. Drummer Bobby Elliott, the other\u00a0long-running\u00a0member\u00a0still with the group,\u00a0added that he was also retiring in solidarity with his\u00a0bandmate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cAfter more than six decades, The Hollies\u2019 touring career will come to a close with immense gratitude to the fans who have supported them around the world,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n<p>The Hollies were formed in Manchester in 1962 by childhood friends Allan Clarke and Graham Nash. Hicks joined in February 1963 ahead of the band\u2019s successful audition for Parlophone at Abbey Road, while Hicks\u2019 former bandmate in The Dolphins, Elliott, followed that August, with bassist Eric Haydock completing the classic line-up.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bus Stop (Remastered)\" width=\"696\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/040XXYx6_5E?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>They became known for their distinctive three-part harmonies and became one of the defining bands of the British Invasion, with hits including \u2018I\u2019m Alive\u2019, \u2018Bus Stop\u2019, \u2018He\u00a0Ain\u2019t\u00a0Heavy, He\u2019s My Brother\u2019, \u2018Stop\u00a0Stop\u00a0Stop\u2019 and \u2018The Air That I Breathe\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Nash left the group in December 1968 and went on to form\u00a0Crosby, Stills, Nash &amp; Young, with Terry Sylvester replacing him in The Hollies the following year. Clarke retired from the performing with the band in 2000.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hicks and Elliott remained in the band throughout, being joined in the last two decades by singer Peter Howarth, guitarist Steve Lauri, bassist Ray\u00a0Stiles\u00a0and keyboardist Ian Parker. Their most recent album was \u2018Then, Now,\u00a0Always\u2019 in 2009.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Hollies: He Ain\u2019t Heavy, He\u2019s My Brother (2019 Remaster Video)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eUWZqbumaZo?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>They were inducted into the Rock\u00a0And\u00a0Roll Hall\u00a0Of\u00a0Fame in 2010, although Hicks and Elliott did not attend the ceremony as The Hollies had a previously booked concert that night.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017,\u00a0the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins named \u2018The Air That I Breathe\u2019 as one of the five songs he wished he had written, and\u00a0that song also famously influenced Radiohead\u2019s \u2018Creep\u2019, with songwriters Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood eventually receiving credits on the song.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u2018He\u2019s Not Heavy, He\u2019s My Brother\u2019 was a UK Number One single on re-release in 1988, and The Hollies sold over 60million records worldwide across their career.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/the-hollies-officially-call-it-quits-after-63-years-3964034&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/the_hollies_1966.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News The Hollies officially call it quits after 63 years The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees formed in Manchester in 1962 and became one of the defining British Invasion groups By Max Pilley 21st August 2026 The Hollies outside Wembley Television Studios on 8th July 1966. Bobby Elliott, Eric [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2105800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2105800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2105800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2105800\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2105800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2105800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2105800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}