The hits kept coming through the 1960s, some of them written by fellow Mancunian Graham Gouldman, others by Allan and Graham with lead guitarist Tony Hicks.

Graham Nash left the Hollies in 1968, but they continued to flourish. Allan also left the band in 1971 to make his first two solo albums, but rejoined in 1973 and thereafter managed to continue his solo work while remaining a member of the band.

In 1980, the Hollies released a whole album of their takes on Buddy Holly songs, simply called Buddy Holly. In 1996, the Hollies and Graham Nash collaborated on a new version of ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’, dubbing harmony vocals and instrumental backing over Buddy’s lead vocals. The resulting recording, credited to ‘Buddy Holly and the Hollies’ was the opening track on that year’s Not Fade Away tribute album.

Allan retired from music in 1999 due to problems with his vocal cords. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of the Hollies. In 2019, he picked up his solo career again with a new album called Resurgence and released a follow-up in 2023. 

Mike Read