Eric Haydock

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Eric Haydock (born 3 February 1942, in Burnley, Lancashire) was the original bass guitarist with The Hollies from 1963 until 1966.

Originally Haydock played bass guitar with The Dolphins, where he played alongside future Hollies guitarist Tony Hicks and drummer Bobby Elliott. He became a founder member of The Hollies.

Haydock became one of the most admired of the Merseybeat bassists, coupling the Merseybeat style of root note in fourths and fifths, as played by Paul McCartney with the hard-driving style of Jet Harris. It gave the early Hollies records a distinctive sound in the rhythm section.^{[citation needed]} He was one of several British bassists of the early 1960s to regularly use a Fender Bass VI.

By 1965, Haydock was having misgivings about the conduct of the Hollies management, and after several disputes with the rest of the band, he was fired in early 1966 and replaced by Bernie Calvert.

He formed a rhythm & blues outfit called Haydock's Rockhouse, but the band folded after two unsuccessful recordings, including a cover version of Sam Cooke's "Cupid."

In November 1997, Haydock, who was playing on the nostalgia circuit, was successfully sued by The Hollies for using the band's name in his publicity. He was allowed to call himself "ex Hollies bassist" but his band could not be called "Hollies".^{[citation needed]}

Haydock is still active in music.