History Music / BillHaleyAndHisComets

A pioneering American RockAndRoll band, led by Bill Haley (1925–1981), the Comets are credited with popularizing rock and roll to an international young white audience, thanks to their biggest hit and SignatureSong: "Rock Around the Clock". They had two other major hits with "See You Later Alligator" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll".

A pioneering American RockAndRoll band, led by Bill Haley (1925–1981), the Comets are credited with popularizing rock & roll to an international young white audience, thanks to their biggest hit and SignatureSong: "Rock Around the Clock". They had two other major hits with "See You Later Alligator" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll".

A pioneering American RockAndRoll band, led by Bill Haley (1925–1981), the Comets are credited with popularizing rock & roll to an international young white audience, thanks to their SignatureSong: "Rock Around the Clock." They had two other major hits with "See You Later Alligator" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll".

A pioneering American RockAndRoll band, led by Bill Haley (1925–1981). The group is credited with popularizing rock & roll to an international young white audience, thanks to their SignatureSong: "Rock Around the Clock." They had two other major hits with "See You Later Alligator" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll".

-->''On your mark! '''(On your mark!)''' Get set! '''(Get set!)''' Now ready! '''(Ready!) GO!!!'''''

A pioneering American RockAndRoll band, led by Bill Haley (1925–1981). The group is credited with popularizing the genre towards an international young white audience, thanks to their SignatureSong: "Rock Around the Clock." They had two other major hits with "See You Later Alligator" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll".

A pioneering American RockAndRoll band, led by Bill Haley (1925–1981). The group is credited for popularizing the genre towards an international young white audience, thanks to their SignatureSong: "Rock Around the Clock." They had two other major hits with "See You Later Alligator" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll".

A pioneering American RockAndRoll band, lead by Bill Haley (1925-1981). The group is credited for popularizing the genre towards an international young white audience, thanks to their SignatureSong: "Rock Around the Clock." They had two other major hits with "See You Later Alligator" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll".

Music/BillHaleyAndHisComets was an American rock 'n' roll band, lead by Bill Haley (1925-1981). The group is credited for popularizing RockAndRoll towards an international young white audience, thanks to their SignatureSong: "Rock Around The Clock." They had two other major hits with "See You Later Alligator" and "Shake, Rattle & Roll."

** "Rock Around The Clock" has become somewhat of a cliché idea of TheFifties. Expect every film or TV series that takes place in this decade to have a scene where teenagers drive by while this song plays on their car radio, for instance in ''Film/{{Superman}}'' (1978). ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'' and the first two seasons of ''Series/HappyDays'' both used it as their theme song.

** Surprisingly, Haley recorded virtually no songs about being drunk (unlike many of his contemporaries who sang about their real-life problems). One rare exception: the 1970 recording "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World."

* TheBusCameBack: Several times. Haley and the Comets enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the UK in 1968, in the US in 1969 (where they received an 8 1/2 minute standing ovation after a concert at Madison Square Garden), and in 1974 "Rock Around the Clock," thanks to being used in ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'' and ''Series/HappyDays'', returned to the US and UK Top 40, 20 years after it was recorded.
* CoolOldGuy: Bill Haley was seen as this in the 1950s from those who thought 28-29 was old, and remained so when he actually did get old. The surviving members of the 1950s Comets were treated as this when they reunited in the 1990s.
* CoverVersion: As was the case with most performers of the era (including Elvis), the group's repertoire included many cover versions, however they also recorded a huge amount of original material, with many original songs becoming chart hits. Originals like "Crazy Man Crazy" and "Skinny Minnie" would go on to be covered by many other groups as well.

* CulturalRebel: In retrospect, Bill Haley must be one of the most unlikely rock 'n' roll stars ever. He was already near 30, balding, and had children when "Rock Around The Clock" broke through (of course, then again, Music/BuddyHolly didn't fit the mold either, and Music/ChuckBerry was older than Haley). Today, of course, 30 is considered young, even for a pop singer.

* HeavyMeta: "R-O-C-K" refers directly to Haley and his previous hit, "Crazy Man Crazy".

* MusicOfNote: This cannot be overstated. Since rock and roll was ultimately an evolutionary process that emerged - for the most part - out of blues, it's really debatable as to when rock & roll officially began as a genre. Some say it began with Bill and his band, some say it began with Music/ChuckBerry, or some say even earlier with Music/FatsDomino, or some one-offs by other artists. All that said, Bill Haley & His Comets were the band that first brought it to the top of the charts, and to mainstream (white) audiences. And the rest is history.

Haley was born in Highland Park, Michigan and worked in radio, primarily in the Philadelphia region, while trying to launch his musical career. Initially a member of the western swing group The Down Homers, he formed his first country music group, the Four Aces of Western Swing, circa 1946. In 1949-1950 this group evolved into the Saddlemen. Their CoverSong "Rocket 88" (1951) fused African-American R&B with country swing and is seen as the very ''first'' rock 'n' roll and {{Rockabilly}} recording, though it didn't make much impact. In 1952 the Saddlemen changed their name into ''Bill Haley and His Comets'' and in 1953 scored their first national chart hit with an original song titled "Crazy Man, Crazy". In 1954 they recorded two of the first international rock and roll hits: "Rock Around the Clock" (technically a cover song, but only virtue of the fact the owner of Haley's previous record label wouldn't let him record it first), which was the first Rock and Roll song to hit No. 1 on the charts when it was reissued in 1955, and "Shake Rattle and Roll," another CoverSong which was the group's first million seller. A third million-seller, "See You Later Alligator," was recorded in late 1955.

* HeavyMeta: The band acknowledges they are a band in the songs "Shake Rattle & Roll" and "Rock Around The Clock." "R-O-C-K" refers directly to Haley and his previous hit, "Crazy Man Crazy".

Haley was born in Highland Park, Michigan and worked in radio, primarily in the Philadelphia region, while trying to launch his musical career. Initially a member of the western swing group The Down Homers, he formed his first country music group, the Four Aces of Western Swing, circa 1946. In 1949-1950 this group evolved into the Saddlemen. Their CoverSong "Rocket 88" (1951) fused African-American R&B with country swing and is seen as the very ''first'' rock 'n' roll and {{Rockabilly}} recording, though it didn't make much impact. In 1952 the Saddlemen changed their name into ''Bill Haley and His Comets'' and in 1953 scored their first national chart hit with an original recording titled "Crazy Man, Crazy". In 1954 they recorded two of the first international rock and roll hits: "Rock Around the Clock", which was the first Rock and Roll song to hit No. 1 on the charts when it was reissued in 1955, and "Shake Rattle and Roll," another CoverSong which was the group's first million seller. A third million-seller, "See You Later Alligator," was recorded in late 1955.

Haley and the Comets are credited with introducing rock and roll to the mainstream (read: white) audiences, forming a buffer between the big band era familiar to most, and the wilder forms of rock and roll developed by artists such as Music/ElvisPresley (who recorded "That's All Right Mama" months after Haley recorded "Rock Around the Clock". Much of Haley's popularity was caused by the use of "Rock Around The Clock" in films such as ''Film/BlackboardJungle'' (1955) and ''Film/RockAroundTheClock'' (1956), in which the band appeared. (They also appeared in the sequel, ''Film/DontKnockTheRock'' (1956).) Such films also helped make the genre more popular in the rest of the world. The band toured in Europe, Australia and South America with equal success during the late 1950s, with Haley's arrival at Waterloo Station in London in the spring of 1957 sparking a riot.

As the "father of rock 'n' roll" Haley's music was praised by teenagers, but the elder generation was genuinely outraged and scared by this wild music that inspired teenage rebellion and disobedience of authority. In the wake of theirs, and Music/ChuckBerry's, success, countless other rock & roll performers, most notably such as Music/ElvisPresley, Music/LittleRichard, and Music/JerryLeeLewis became superstars, eclipsing Haley's own stardom in the end, because they looked far younger, sexier and energetic compared to Haley himself. For the Comets, chart hits in the US ended in 1960, however the group continued to major success in Latin America where they recorded "Florida Twist" in 1961, which for a time was Mexico's biggest-seller ever and today is considered a standard. They also returned to the charts in the UK several times with "Rock Around the Clock" during the 1960s and early 1970s, with a 1974 reissue of the song, tying in with its dual use in ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'' and ''Series/HappyDays'' leading to it returning to the Billboard Top 40. In the late 1960s and 1970s, Haley and the Comets continued to be popular on the oldies revival circuit.

Haley and his crew continued performing right through the 1970s, even getting to perform for Queen Elizabeth II in November 1979. His final performances were in May 1980 in South Africa. Later in life he battled with alcohol and died of a brain tumor in 1981.

Since his death, numerous versions of The Comets have continued to perform, and there are at least four different Comets groups (three in the US, one in Germany) performing as of 2014.

* TheAlcoholic: Haley suffered from alcoholism later in life, and admitted to being an alcoholic in a 1974 interview for BBC Radio.
* BreakupSong: "See You Later Alligator", in which the protagonist laments over a former girlfriend who left him with the message: "See you later, alligator".

* CoverVersion: As was the case with most performers of the era (including Elvis), the groups repertoire included many cover versions, however they also recorded a huge amount of original material, with many original songs becoming chart hits.

* CulturalRebel: In retrospect, Bill Haley must be one of the most unlikely rock 'n' roll stars ever. He was already near 30, balding, and had children when "Rock Around The Clock" broke through (of course, then again, Music/BuddyHolly didn't fit the mold either, and Music/ChuckBerry was older than Haley).

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: "Shake, Rattle & Roll" has the line "I'm a one eyed cat, peekin' in a seafood store." This does '''not''' just refer to cats and fishmarkets.
* HeavyMeta: The band acknowledges they are a band in the songs "Shake Rattle & Roll" and "Rock Around The Clock."

* {{Rockabilly}}: "Rocket 88" is often seen as the first song in this genre.

** "Rock Around The Clock' has been covered many times. The most bizarre one must be a version by Creator/MaeWest and an ultra-slow adaptation sang (one should say ''spoken'') by the Belgian band Telex in 1979.

* TwelveBarBlues: Used in "Rock Around The Clock."

Haley was born in Highland Park, Michigan and worked in radio, primarily in the Philadelphia region, while trying to launch his musical career. Initially a member of the western swing group The Down Homers, he formed his first country music group, the Four Aces of Western Swing, circa 1946. In 1949-1950 this group evolved into the Saddlemen. Their CoverSong "Rocket 88" (1951) fused African-American R&B with country swing and is seen as the very ''first'' rock 'n' roll recording, though it didn't make much impact. In 1952 the Saddlemen changed their name into ''Bill Haley and His Comets'' and in 1953 scored their first national chart hit with an original recording titled "Crazy Man, Crazy". In 1954 they recorded two of the first international rock and roll hits: "Rock Around the Clock", which was the first Rock and Roll song to hit No. 1 on the charts when it was reissued in 1955, and "Shake Rattle and Roll," another CoverSong which was the group's first million seller. A third million-seller, "See You Later Alligator," was recorded in late 1955.

* BreakupSong: "See You Later Alligator".

* HeavyMeta: "Shake Rattle & Roll," "Rock Around The Clock."

* LazyBum: "Shake, Rattle & Roll."

* NeverSmileAtACrocodile: ''See you later, alligator. After a while, crocodile''.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: "Shake, Rattle & Roll."

* WhenTheClockStrikesTwelve:

Haley and the Comets are credited with introducing rock and roll to the mainstream (read: white) audiences, forming a buffer between the big band era familiar to most, and the wilder forms of rock and roll developed by artists such as Music/ElvisPresley (who recorded "That's All Right Mama" months after Haley recorded "Rock Around the Clock". Much of Haley's popularity was caused by the use of "Rock Around The Clock" in films such as ''Film/BlackboardJungle'' (1955) and 'Film/RockAroundTheClock'' (1956), in which the band appeared. (They also appeared in the sequel, ''Film/DontKnockTheRock'' (1956).) Such films also helped make the genre more popular in the rest of the world. The band toured in Europe, Australia and South America with equal success during the late 1950s, with Haley's arrival at Waterloo Station in London in the spring of 1957 sparking a riot.

Haley came from a poor Texan countryside background. In the 1940s he played in a country yodelling band, named the Saddlemen. Their CoverSong "Rocket 88" (1951) fused African-American R&B with country swing and is seen as the very ''first'' rock 'n' roll recording, though it didn't make much impact. In 1952 the Saddlemen changed their name into ''Bill Haley and His Comets''. In 1954 they recorded the three songs that would become international Nr. 1 million sellers and make them the first rock superstars: "Rock Around The Clock", the Big Joe Turner cover "Shake, Rattle And Roll" and "See You Later Alligator." They introduced rock and roll to the mainstream (read: white) audiences, forming a buffer between the big band era familiar to most, and the wilder forms of rock and roll developed by artists such as Music/ElvisPresley. Much of its popularity was caused by the use of "Rock Around The Clock" in films such as ''Film/BlackboardJungle'' (1955), 'Film/RockAroundTheClock'' (1956) and ''Film/DontKnockTheRock'' (1956) which also helped making the genre more popular in the rest of the world. The band even toured in Europe with equal success.

As the "father of rock 'n' roll" Haley's music was praised by teenagers, but the elder generation was genuinely outraged and scared by this wild music that inspired teenage rebellion and disobedience of authority. In the wake of theirs, and Music/ChuckBerry's, success, countless other rock & roll performers, most notably such as Music/ElvisPresley, Music/LittleRichard, and Music/JerryLeeLewis became superstars, eclipsing Haley's own stardom in the end, because they looked far younger, sexier and energetic compared to Haley himself. Before TheFifties were over Haley was already touring in the oldies circuit for nostalgic fans.

Haley and his crew continued performing right through the 1970s, even getting to perform for Queen Elizabeth II. Later in life he battled with alcohol and died of a brain tumor in 1981.

* TheAlcoholic: Haley suffered from alcoholism later in life.
* BreakupSong: "See You Later Alligator", though only in the first part of the song.
* CoolOldGuy: Bill Haley.
* CoverVersion: Apart from "Rock Around The Clock" most of the band's material were covers.

* CulturalRebel: In retrospect, Bill Haley must be one of the most unlikely rock 'n' roll stars ever. He was already near 30, balding, obese and had children when "Rock Around The Clock" broke through (of course, then again, Music/BuddyHolly didn't fit the mold either).

* PopCulturalOsmosis: Most people know that "Rock Around The Clock" was the originator of rock 'n' roll, but the band themselves is far lesser known in pop culture. Yes, rock 'n' roll fans and music historians will know their name, but even they won't be able to tell much about the group. There isn't even one biographical film dedicated to him. In that respect other rock 'n' roll icons from TheFifties have lead far more interesting and legendary lives.
* PunBasedTitle: Bill Haley & His Comets refers to the Comet of Halley.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: Most people would estimate Haley's age in TheFifties about 40 or 50 years old, while in reality he was only around 30.

Music/BillHaleyAndHisComets was an American rock 'n' roll band, lead by Bill Haley (1925-1981). The group is credited for popularizing RockAndRoll towards an international young white audience, thanks to their SignatureSong: ''Rock Around The Clock''. They had two other major hits with ''See You Later Alligator'' and ''Shake, Rattle & Roll''.

Haley came from a poor Texan countryside background. In the 1940s he played in a country yodelling band, named the Saddlemen. Their CoverSong ''Rocket 88'' (1951) fused African-American R&B with country swing and is seen as the very ''first'' rock 'n' roll recording, though it didn't make much impact. In 1952 the Saddlemen changed their name into ''Bill Haley and His Comets''. In 1954 they recorded the three songs that would become international Nr. 1 million sellers and make them the first rock superstars: ''Rock Around The Clock'', the Big Joe Turner cover ''Shake, Rattle And Roll'' and ''See You Later Alligator''. They introduced rock and roll to the mainstream (read: white) audiences, forming a buffer between the big band era familiar to most, and the wilder forms of rock and roll developed by artists such as Music/ElvisPresley. Much of its popularity was caused by the use of ''Rock Around The Clock'' in films such as ''Film/BlackboardJungle'' (1955), 'Film/RockAroundTheClock'' (1956) and ''Film/DontKnockTheRock'' (1956) which also helped making the genre more popular in the rest of the world. The band even toured in Europe with equal success.

As the ''father of rock 'n' roll'' Haley's music was praised by teenagers, but the elder generation was genuinly outraged and scared by this wild music that inspired teenage rebellion and disobedience of authority. In the wake of his success countless other rock superstars such as Music/ElvisPresley, Music/LittleRichard, Music/ChuckBerry and Music/JerryLeeLewis became stars in their own right, eclipsing Haley's own stardom in the end, because they looked far younger, sexier and energetic compared to Haley himself. Before TheFifties were over Haley was already touring in the oldies circuit for nostalgic fans. Later in life he battled with alcohol and died of a brain tumor in 1981.

!! Tropes associated with the band:

* BreakupSong: ''See You Later Alligator'', though only in the first part of the song.

* CoverVersion: Apart from ''Rock Around The Clock'' most of the band's material were covers.

* CulturalRebel: Bill Haley must be one of the most unlikely rock 'n' roll stars ever. He was already near 30, bald, obese and had children when ''Rock Around The Clock'' broke through.

* HeavyMeta: ''Shake Rattle & Roll, Rock Around The Clock''.
* IAmTheBand: Bill Haley was the star of the band.
* LazyBum: ''Shake, Rattle & Roll''.

* PopCulturalOsmosis: Most people know that ''Rock Around The Clock'' was the originator of rock 'n' roll, but the band themselves is far lesser known in pop culture. Yes, rock 'n' roll fans and music historians will know their name, but even they won't be able to tell much about the group. There isn't even one biographical film dedicated to him. In that respect other rock 'n' roll icons from TheFifties have lead far more interesting and legendary lives.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: ''Shake, Rattle & Roll''.

* ShortLivedBigImpact: The band only had three major hits, of which ''Rock Around The Clock'' is the only one known to the general audience. These three singles were all in the charts between 1954 and 1956 and after that short period of time their popularity faded away again. Compared to many of their successors they never reached the same legendary status or huge fanbase. But, despite all that, they DID popularize rock 'n' roll worldwide and to a white audience and that pioneering role will always keep them in the music history books.

** ''Rock Around The Clock'' has become somewhat of a cliché idea of TheFifties. Expect every film or TV series that takes place in this decade to have a scene where teenagers drive by while this song plays on their car radio, for instance in ''Film/{{Superman}}'' (1978). ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'' and the first two seasons of ''Series/HappyDays'' both used it as their theme song.
** ''Rock Around The Clock'' has been covered many times. The most bizarre one must be a version by Creator/MaeWest and an ultra-slow adaptation sang (one should say ''spoken'') by the Belgian band Telex in 1979.
** Music/FrankZappa's song ''Father O' Blivion'' from ''Music/{{Apostrophe}}'' (1974) references ''Rock Around The Clock''.

* SpinningClockHands: Different hours are mentioned in ''Rock Around The Clock'', having everybody rock from 12 o' clock until 12 o' clock.
* TickTockTune: ''Rock Around The Clock''.
* TwelveBarBlues: Used in ''Rock Around The Clock''.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: Most people would estimate Haley's age in TheFifties about 40 or 50 years old, while in reality he was only around 30.

** Music/FrankZappa's song ''Father O' Blivion'' from ''Music/Apostrophe'' (1974) references ''Rock Around The Clock''.

* PopCulturalOsmosis: Most people know that ''Rock Around The Clock'' was the originator of rock 'n' roll, but the band themselves is far lesser known in pop culture. Yes, rock 'n' roll fans and music historians will know their name, but even they won't be able to tell much about the group. There isn't even one biographical film In that respect other rock 'n' roll icons from TheFifties have lead far more interesting and legendary lives.

** ''Rock Around The Clock'' has become somewhat of a cliché idea of TheFifties. Expect every film or TV series that takes place in this decade to have a scene where teenagers drive by while this song plays on their car radio, for instance in ''Film/Superman'' (1978). 'Film/AmericanGraffiti'' and the first two seasons of ''Series/HappyDays both'' used it as their theme song.

--> "When the clock strikes twelve, we'll cool off then/ Start rockin' 'round the clock again..."

* CountingToThree: ''1, 2, 3 o' clock: rock!''

* EgocentricThemeNaming: The band's name.

Haley came from a poor Texan countryside background. In the 1940s he played in a country yodelling band, named the Saddlemen. Their CoverSong ''Rocket 88'' (1951) fused African-American R&B with country swing and is seen as the very ''first'' rock 'n' roll recording, though it didn't make much impact. In 1952 the Saddlemen changed their name into ''Bill Haley and His Comets''. In 1954 they recorded the three songs that would become international Nr. 1 million sellers and make them the first rock superstars: ''Rock Around The Clock'', the Big Joe Turner cover ''Shake, Rattle And Roll' and ''See You Later Alligator''. They introduced rock and roll to the mainstream (read: white) audiences, forming a buffer between the big band era familiar to most, and the wilder forms of rock and roll developed by artists such as Music/ElvisPresley. Much of its popularity was caused by the use of ''Rock Around The Clock'' in films such as ''Film/BlackboardJungle'' (1955), 'Film/RockAroundTheClock'' (1956) and ''Film/DontKnockTheRock'' (1956) which also helped making the genre more popular in the rest of the world. The band even toured in Europe with equal success.

* CountingOff: 1, 2, 3 o' clock rock!

* EgoCentricThemeNaming: The band's name.

--> "When the clock strikes twelve, we'll cool off then/Start rockin' 'round the clock again..."

!!