FURYS TORNADOS - THEIR BILLY FURY STORY

The first contact with Billy was in 1970 when he was auditioning for a new backing band. John Miles had been with him up to that point, but with Billy’s blessing had gone on to have his own hits (“Music”, ”Highfly” etc.).So it was that the newly formed Nottingham band “Milky Way”, walked into The Pied Bull in Islington.

The musician on the Hammond organ, Stuart “Charlie” Elston, the bands leader, caught Billy and his manager Hal Carter’s attention immediately. Although only 19 years of age he had already served his dues playing the American bases in Germany and Spain, a long tour in Morocco and a residency at the famous “Star Club” in Hamburg. The band were hired.

On the 5th.August 1972, Billy played the London Rock & Roll show at the Wembley Stadium, along with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Bill Haley & the Comets. This was the last gig with the old line up. Drummer John “Rags” Raynor joins.(“I missed Wembley by one week !”) very quickly followed by guitarist Chris Raynor. This line up remained untitled until they released the Billy Fury/Hal Carter produced single “Telstar ‘74” to coincide with the Derek Block national theatre tour of “The 1974 Rock and Roll Show” starring Billy, along with Marty Wilde, Heinz, Tommy Bruce and others. During this period they were augmented by bass guitarist/vocalist Bobby Caple from Derby. (Prior to this Charlie had been playing Billy’s very complicated bass lines on his Hammond foot pedals).

At the beginning of 1975 Furys Tornados went in different directions and Billy briefly took on a band from Leeds. Charlie went into very diverse musical directions (he played for 60’s group the Casuals(“Jesamine”), American vocal group The Tymes (“Ms. Grace”, ”So much in love”, ”You little trustmaker”),and the cult progressive/classical outfit The Enid. Chris and John went on joined by bassist John Chambers to play for Marty Wilde but by July of 1975 they were back playing for Billy. Charlie would come back for the odd television and radio appearance. So it stayed until 1977 when Billy was forced to retire through ill health.

They were asked to re- form for Billy’s 1982 comeback, but reluctantly declined on being informed by Billy’s long term partner Lisa that he wasn’t well enough. Her concerns proved justified. Billy died of a heart attack at their London home on 28th. January 1983.

His funeral was at 1pm at the Saint John’s Wood church NW8 on Friday 4th. February 1983.Charlie,Chris and Bobby attended.

Furys Tornados remain Billys longest serving band.

In the summer of 1996 Chris & John spotted Londoner Colin Gould on Granada Televisions “Stars In Their Eyes” as Billy. Rehearsals soon began in Nottingham for a new show about Billy Fury’s life & music, and on the 14th. February 1997 “The Billy Fury Experience” played its first show at the Beck Theatre in Hayes, Middlesex to a capacity crowd. By 1999 the show had changed beyond all recognition and had morphed into “Halfway To Paradise - The Billy Fury Story”. Charlie Elston re-joined the line up in late 2000.The show continues to perform with -

• Charlie Elston - Grand piano/keyboards/vocals - Born 2/7/51 Nottingham
• John Raynor - Drums/percussion/vocals - Born 29/1/51 Nottingham
• Chris Raynor - Lead guitar/vocals - Born 19/7/48 Nottingham
• Graham Wyvill - Bass guitar/double bass/vocals - Born 26/4/50 Cleethorpes, Lincs.
• Colin Gold - Vocals - Born 17/5/62 Ashford, Middlesex