Heinz (singer)
Encyclopedia
Heinz was a bassist
and singer.
, Hampshire, England, where a road (Heinz Burt Close) is named after him. His biggest solo hit
was "Just Like Eddie
", a tribute to Eddie Cochran
. Before he went solo in early 1963, he was a member of The Tornados
. All his 1960s recordings were produced by Joe Meek
. He owned the shotgun with which Meek killed his landlady and then himself in 1967, and was questioned by police before they concluded he had nothing to do with their deaths.
Meek's death ended Heinz's recording career as a solo artist although he was in at least two re-formations of the Tornados.
Although often dismissed as a mediocre talent pushed into the spotlight by Meek, he was an enthusiastic performer and worked in pantomime
and theatre in the 1970s. In later years he appeared in 1960s revival shows and continued performing until the end; his last set was from a wheelchair at a social club two weeks before his death.
He was portrayed by JJ Feild
in Telstar
, a film
about the life of Joe Meek, which was released in 2009.
. His later backing group (The Wild Ones or The Wild Boys) featured Ritchie Blackmore
and Mick Underwood
amongst others. Blackmore performed on "Just Like Eddie
".
Heinz performed at The London Rock and Roll Show
in 1972, with John B Sparkes and Wilko Johnson
of Dr Feelgood in his backing band.
, Heinz died in 2000, at the age of 57. Friends in Eastleigh hold an annual tribute night to raise funds for a motor neurone charity.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and singer.
Life
Heinz was born in Detmold, but from the age of seven was brought up in EastleighEastleigh
Eastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, and the main town in the Eastleigh borough which is part of Southampton Urban Area. The town lies between Southampton and Winchester, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation...
, Hampshire, England, where a road (Heinz Burt Close) is named after him. His biggest solo hit
Hit parade
A hit parade is a ranked list of the most popular recordings at a given point in time, usually determined by sales and/or airplay. The term originated in the 1930s; Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade on January 4, 1936...
was "Just Like Eddie
Just Like Eddie
"Just Like Eddie" was a hit single in the UK in 1963. It was sung by Heinz - his first release after leaving The Tornados to launch his solo career. The record was produced by Joe Meek mentor to both Heinz and the Tornados...
", a tribute to Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran , was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the...
. Before he went solo in early 1963, he was a member of The Tornados
The Tornados
The Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
. All his 1960s recordings were produced by Joe Meek
Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter....
. He owned the shotgun with which Meek killed his landlady and then himself in 1967, and was questioned by police before they concluded he had nothing to do with their deaths.
Meek's death ended Heinz's recording career as a solo artist although he was in at least two re-formations of the Tornados.
Although often dismissed as a mediocre talent pushed into the spotlight by Meek, he was an enthusiastic performer and worked in pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
and theatre in the 1970s. In later years he appeared in 1960s revival shows and continued performing until the end; his last set was from a wheelchair at a social club two weeks before his death.
He was portrayed by JJ Feild
JJ Feild
John Joseph Feild , known professionally as J. J. Feild, is an Anglo-American actor.-Early and personal life:John Joseph Feild was born in Boulder, Colorado, to British academic Reshad Feild and his American wife. Through his father, he is a relative of British astronomer John Feild...
in Telstar
Telstar (film)
Telstar is a film adaptation of James Hicks' play of the same name. It stars Con O'Neill as Joe Meek and Kevin Spacey as Meek's business advisor, Major Banks...
, a film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
about the life of Joe Meek, which was released in 2009.
Backing groups
He was initially backed by The SaintsThe Saints (1960s band)
The Saints were an instrumental band that worked for record producer Joe Meek.-Career:The band were made up of Tab Martin , Roy Phillips , and drummer Ricky Winter...
. His later backing group (The Wild Ones or The Wild Boys) featured Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
and Mick Underwood
Mick Underwood
Mick Underwood is a British drummer best known for his work with Episode Six, Quatermass and Gillan. First playing drums at the age of 14, he was a professional musician by the time he left school...
amongst others. Blackmore performed on "Just Like Eddie
Just Like Eddie
"Just Like Eddie" was a hit single in the UK in 1963. It was sung by Heinz - his first release after leaving The Tornados to launch his solo career. The record was produced by Joe Meek mentor to both Heinz and the Tornados...
".
Heinz performed at The London Rock and Roll Show
The London Rock and Roll Show
The London Rock and Roll Show was a concert held at Wembley Stadium in London, England on August 5, 1972. It was the first ever concert held at the stadium....
in 1972, with John B Sparkes and Wilko Johnson
Wilko Johnson
Wilko Johnson is an English guitarist and songwriter, particularly associated with the UK rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in the 1970s.-Career:...
of Dr Feelgood in his backing band.
Death
Crippled by motor neurone diseaseMotor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
, Heinz died in 2000, at the age of 57. Friends in Eastleigh hold an annual tribute night to raise funds for a motor neurone charity.
UK singles
- "Dreams Do Come True" (Meek) / "Been Invited To A Party" (Meek, Burt) - 1963 - Decca F 11652
- "Just Like EddieJust Like Eddie"Just Like Eddie" was a hit single in the UK in 1963. It was sung by Heinz - his first release after leaving The Tornados to launch his solo career. The record was produced by Joe Meek mentor to both Heinz and the Tornados...
" (GoddardGeoff GoddardGeoff Goddard was an English songwriter. Working for Joe Meek in the early 1960s, he wrote songs for Heinz, Mike Berry, Gerry Temple, The Tornados, Kenny Hollywood, The Outlaws, Freddie Starr, Screaming Lord Sutch, Gunilla Thorne, The Ramblers, Carter-Lewis and the Southerners and John...
) / "Don't You Knock On My Door" - 1963 - Decca F11693 - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#5 - "I Get Up In The Morning" (Meek) / "Talk Like A Man" / "That Lucky Old Sun" / "Lonely River" (Meek) - 1963 - Decca DFE 8545
- "Live It Up" (Meek) / "Don't You Understand" (Meek) / "When Your Loving Goes Wrong" (Meek) - 1963 - Decca DFE 8559
- "Country Boy" (Goddard) / "Long Tall Jack" (Meek/Lawrence) - 1963 - Decca F11768 - UK #26
- "You Were There" (Goddard) / "No Matter What They Say" (Meek/Lawrence) - 1964 - Decca F 11831 - UK #26
- "Please Little Girl" / "For Loving Me This Way" (Meek) - 1964 - Decca F 11920
- "Questions I Can't Answer" / "Beating Of My Heart" (Meek) - 1964 - Columbia DB7374 - UK #39
- "Diggin' My Potatoes" (Trad, arr. Meek/Burt) / "She Ain't Coming Back" - 1965 - Columbia DB7482 - Heinz & Wild Boys - UK #49
- "End Of The World" / "You Make Me Feel So Good" (Meek) - 1965 - Columbia DB 7656
- "Heart Full Of Sorrow" / "Don't Worry Baby" (Meek /Stephen Reading) - 1965 - Columbia DB 7779
- "Don't Think Twice, It's All RightDon't Think Twice, It's All Right"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962, and released on the 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.-Context:...
" (DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
) / "Big Fat Spider" (Meek/Davis) - 1965 - Columbia DB7559 - Heinz & Wild Boys - "Movin' In" (AdamsDave AdamsDave Adams is a British singer, keyboard player and songwriter. He began working with Joe Meek in 1958, working with Meek until his death in 1967. In the early 1960s, he helped build up Meek's studio. He recorded singles with him under various pseudonyms and wrote songs for him...
) / "I'm Not A Bad Guy" - 1966 - Columbia DB 7942
US singles
- 1964: "Questions I Can't Answer" / "Beating Of My Heart" - Tower 110
- 1965: "Digging My Potatoes" / "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" - Tower 172
- 1965: "Don't Worry Baby" / "Heart Full Of Sorrow" - Tower 195
- 1966: "I'm Not A Bad Guy" / "Movin' In" - Tower 253
Albums
- Tribute to EddieTribute to EddieTribute to Eddie is the only album by singer Heinz. It is a tribute to Eddie Cochran.-Tracks:Side 1#"Come On and Dance"#"Cut Across Shorty" Tribute to Eddie is the only album by singer Heinz. It is a tribute to Eddie Cochran.-Tracks:Side 1#"Come On and Dance"#"Cut Across Shorty" Tribute to Eddie is...
(Decca LK 4599, 1964) - Live album - Various Artists; Live at The CavernThe Cavern ClubThe Cavern Club is a rock and roll club in Liverpool, England. Opened on Wednesday 16 January 1957, the club had their first performance by The Beatles on 9 February 1961, and where Brian Epstein first saw The Beatles performing on 9 November 1961....
:"I Got A Woman" (live) / "Somebody To Love" (live) (Decca SLK 16294, 1965)
External links
- www.billyfury.com - Heinz' Last Set / Links to Obituaries
- http://www.discogs.com/artist/Heinz discography