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JET HARRIS’S TENURE IN THE SHADOWS BEGAN A CAREER THAT WAS BOTH TRAGIC AND TRIUMPHANT. IN 2009, ALAN CLAYSON MET THE BELOVED BRITISH MUSICAL INSTITUTION
Jet Harris, who died in March 2011, satisfied most requirements of a doomed rock hero. The dazzling but dangerous smile that slew his female fans; self-destruction aggravated by liquor; the ‘bad attitude’ that was to become a template for the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, Babyshambles, you name ’em. During his 1960s prime Jet played bass with the Shadows, became a solo Top 20 contender in his own right and had great success in a duo with drummer Tony Meehan. To certain devotees, it was Jet’s misfortune not to round things off with an early rock’n’roll demise. Instead, he crossed a desert of alcoholism, divorce and depression, and materialised in places and situations where you might least expect to find him.