Wee Willie Harris
Wee Willie Harris was the bridge between music hall and rock ‘n’ roll. When he burst out of the 2Is coffee bar, journalists couldn’t wait to write about his ‘sputnik red’ hair and his bizarre stage act. Said one: “He gyrates like an exploding Catherine wheel, emitting growls, squeals and what sounds like severe hiccupping”. But he could dress and behave impeccably, as this photograph, taken at Decca Studios with engineer Mike Smith (later famous for recording the Beatles’ demos) confirms.
Read all about him in ‘The Restless Generation’ by Pete Frame.
(Photograph taken by and copyright Rick Hardy; used here with his express permission)
