Name Vic Steele Occupation(s) Musician Role Guitarist | Instruments Guitar Years active 1961–1963 Genres Rock music, Pop music | |
Associated acts The Hollies
The Emperors of Rhythm Similar People Eric Haydock, Bernie Calvert, Bobby Elliott, Tony Hicks, Allan Clarke | ||
Birth name Victor Winston Farrell Music group The Hollies (1962 – 1963) | ||
Victor Winston Farrell (born 8 May 1945, Manchester, England) best known as Vic Steele, is a former British guitarist. He was the original lead guitarist of The Hollies.
Musician
Farrell played the guitar since his adolescent years and was inspired by American rock and roll. In 1961 he became the solo guitarist of the Manchester-based group The Emperors of Rhythm in which Eric Stewart, later known from The Mindbenders then 10CC also played. Farrell was also a close friend of Wayne Fontana – who became the godfather of Farrell's second child.
Singer Allan Clarke and singer/guitarist Graham Nash also joined the band. In the autumn of 1962 Clarke, Nash and Farrell decided to team up with bassist Eric Haydock and drummer Don Rathbone. The band became known as The Hollies in December 1962.
Farrell left the band in May 1963, shortly after his eighteenth birthday, when The Hollies became professional. He did not want to take the risk of an uncertain existence as an artist and wanted to finish his education. Tony Hicks replaced him.