My favourite photo

The former Hollies frontman, 77, recalls being fired – and rehired – from the band after revealing plans to marry his sweetheart Jeni

Ex-hollies frontman Allan Clarke shares secrets of his rock’n’roll lifestyle and enduring 55-year marriage to Jeni

“THIS photo of me and my wife Jeni was taken by our daughter on our 55th wedding anniversary this year. We met during a Hollies tour in 1963, the year of our first hit records. A friend said, ‘Do you fancy having a blind date with a girl I know in Leamington Spa? She’s got a mate.’

Jeni came in her own car and when I also saw how she was dressed, I thought, ‘She’s in a different class.’ She lived in a semi-detached house and I was from a three-up, three-down with 10 people using the one outside toilet. She didn’t have a clue who The Hollies were.

We were supposed to keep our relationship secret, like John Lennon and Cynthia. When I said I was getting married I was fired from The Hollies. But as I was the lead singer, two days later I was back in. The wedding took place in Coventry on March 24, 1964, and the rest of the band – Graham Nash, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, and Eric Haydock – attended.

Writing The Hollies’ 1968 single Jennifer Eccles, Graham and I had input from our wives, and the title comprises the first name of my wife, Jennifer Bowstead, and the maiden name of Graham’s first wife, Rose Eccles. It’s not one of our favourites but lots of people like it. Once, in South Africa, somebody walked up to me, turned to my wife and said, ‘You must be Jennifer Eccles.’

Of all The Hollies’ fans, Jeni was most frightened of the Liverpool girls. It shouldn’t have been difficult for me to ignore the approaches of female fans, but there were times when I couldn’t. I wasn’t the most straightforward guy in those years. There were times when I was very selfish. There may have been a few shouting matches over it but my wife is very forgiving. Our relationship was never threatened.

Over-excess for a long time very much took its toll. Just drink, not drugs. You get to a point where you’re drinking and drinking and wake up the next morning not knowing how much you’ve had.

If I didn’t stop drinking, I’d have lost everything – I’d die – and I didn’t want that. So in 1979 I stopped drinking and we moved out of London [to Buckinghamshire], which made a difference. I became a changed man.

I had 15 “rock’n’roll” years

– and it took all that to get it out of my system. Since then, for 40 years, it’s been straight as a die.

Jeni saved me several times. And when she battled cancer in 1983 and 1999 I had to be the strong guy. That’s what you do.

You don’t walk away.

Second time around we really didn’t know what was going to happen. At that time I had problems with my vocal cords, which meant I could no longer hit the high notes on The Hollies’ songs. So I retired and that enabled me to spend more time with Jeni.

What’s the secret of our long and happy marriage? Love and compromise. We bicker, but it’s never that important. Life is good. We go for brisk walks every day and eat healthily. Jeni enjoys being a sculptress (jeniclarkesculptor.co.uk), and our three children and four grandchildren are doing well.

In 2017 I wrote a poem, put some music to it and sang it. It came naturally to me singing lower because that was the only way I could sing. I wrote and sang more songs four notes lower but still sounding like me.

With the help of the online audio workstation Garageband and the producer/arranger Francis Haines I created my ninth and best solo album, Resurgence.

This was not what I expected 20 years after retiring, but it’s great, especially considering I’m 77.

There’s no such thing as back for good. I’ve always taken my life one day at a time. The kind of life music has given me is brilliant. Sometimes I pinch myself... but then Jeni brings me right back.”

Allan’s new solo album, Resurgence is out now through BMG on CD, LP and digital formats.