Tony Meehan - Biography

Biography

Tony Meehan was born to Irish parents at New End Hospital, New End, Hampstead, North London, England. He was 10 when he became interested in playing drums. By 13, he had his first job with a band playing in a dance hall at Willesden, London. He also played timpani with the London Youth Orchestra. When he was 15, Meehan was set on becoming a lawyer but he was offered a job at £25 per week in a touring show. He was given six months' holiday. The tour never materialised but he did not go back to school. Unlike other members of the Shadows he was never short of work, playing cabaret at Churchill's and the Stork Club. He also played with Jet Harris in The Vipers.

Meehan left the Shadows in October 1961 to work as an arranger/producer and session drummer for Joe Meek (John Leyton, Michael Cox: "Young Only Once", Andy Cavell) and from early 1962 at Decca Records. He teamed again with Harris (who had also left the Shadows and moved to Decca) and as a duo had success with "Diamonds" which also included Jimmy Page on acoustic rhythm guitar. "Diamonds" was a number one hit in the UK. Harris and Meehan had two further hit singles together - "Scarlett O'Hara" and "Applejack".

On 1 January 1962, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Pete Best were auditioned at Decca by Meehan, performing a selection of covers that The Beatles had performed in various clubs over the years, interspersed with three Lennon–McCartney originals. The Beatles later found out that their manager Brian Epstein had paid Meehan to produce the recordings made that day. Eventually, Decca rejected the Beatles and instead chose The Tremeloes, who had auditioned the same day as The Beatles.

Meehan briefly played with The Shadows some years later when Brian Bennett was in hospital. At one point, John Rostill was in hospital at the same time, and The Shadows were playing live with Brian Locking on bass and Meehan on drums.

Meehan quit the music industry in the 1990s for a major career change as a psychologist, as a result of a lifelong hobby/interest. He worked in London at a local college lecturing psychology until his death. He was a regular church goer at his local Roman Catholic church in Maida Vale.