What happened to Eddie Cochran?

Rock and roll icon Eddie Cochran's short musical career left its imprint on generations of rock stars. Hear the story about the man who inspired the Beatles and the punk rock movement.

[@angiedawnmoody3519]

A wonderful singer that brought a new guitar style to the UK. He left us to soon,you will never be forgotten Eddie

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Jimmy Page was a big fan, yes.

[@thebeatlesandqueen8817]

@@lyndoncmp5751 so was Paul McCartney

[@bodhi9464]

I had no idea he was so young when he passed - such a big influence on so many of us including the fab 4 Beatles 🇬🇧 🎵

[@marymarkley2401]

You are still alive!@ !!! I remember so well your music of the 50s. A senior citizen who is about life and music!! 80 yrs and LIFETIME IS THE ONLY WAY SURVIVE!! BONNIE LAWSON MARKLEY ERIE PA SVHS1958

[@hugebartlett1884]

So good to see Eddie being remembered after all these years. I enjoyed his music and loved his style. He made his mark in the world,he was special. Rest in Peace,Eddie,you did your bit,and the world will never forget you.

[@alexhamilton9758]

In "Summertime Blues", Cochran INVENTED the guitar riff concept that later dominated rock and roll in the "60s and '70s.

[@kathleenagustafsonso88]

The who live at Leeds version is a great tribute and rendition

[@argisellek9249]

Alex Hamilton ikr!

[@steveoconnor7069]

Go to the Delta to find that riff. Most of the good riffs were "borrowed" and refined from the blues. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Eddie and rockabilly just saying.

[@John-ob7dh]

@@steveoconnor7069 yes i used to just do E A and B7.But then discovered the opening riff. Plus he chuck berry type 12 bar 2 finger added chord riff. Great song.Great guitar on that Guild.

[@mrhoneybadger5539]

Yes, there is no cure for that. Sry to tell you.

[@freefallin6871]

Mum used to say he was the James Dean of music. Never understood as a lad, but got it years on. The "what ifs" are always the hardest to reconcile.

[@maddyg3208]

The deaths of the four legends explains why rock music quality levels took a nosedive in the early 60s.

[@aisforapple2494]

That and "payola". 🙄

[@RFED2O]

Definitely 💯

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Well they were gone. Elvis was drafted.

[@Jazzdrummerperson]

A real legend. This man was rockabilly personified. Along with that, he's best Gretsch salesman ever. Thank you, Eddie Cochran!

[@doctorrocker5170]

What a sad, tragic story of a bright young star gone long before his time. RIP, Eddie.

[@P_SoapbarDogear_P]

21 years old...insane. May the gods bless you my British blood brothers and sisters. That plaque and use of the American flag at the ceremony for Eddie was just brilliant...the British have always had style and grace. (And - they even took the care to get Eddie's guitar right. The dog-eared P90...) Had Brian Setzer been born a year later, I'd say he was Eddie reincarnated. (Born almost exactly 1 year before Eddie's death).

[@Elvis-guy1973]

I don't like Brian Setzer one bit , I heard him say he was a better guitar player than Eddie Cochran.

[@eg4449]

@@Elvis-guy1973 Brian is a monster guitar player, and he had more time to practice. Had Eddie lived longer, he may have gone to new heights.

[@Elvis-guy1973]

@@eg4449 He would have!

[@waynej2608]

I forgot how young he was. Damn, 21?! He didn't even outlive James Dean. Eddie was definitely not too tired to rock'. A major influence of early rock n roll.

[@timerider1971]

Eddie's tunes "Something Else" & C'mon Everybody" sums up the excitement of the 50's like no others. Wild and gritty !!!

[@almonkobain6881]

Sid vicious covered those songs In the late 70s

[@monicaonofre4934]

Eddie Cochran will always be my idol ❤️🙏🏻 Love his music 📻🎙 so sad he died so young😔

[@Ralphecy]

The early ROCK Rebel he was the best . 57 yrs later we still love your music Dude R.I.P. Eddie

[@buddyh17]

rip eddie... i admire your love for buddy, richie and the big bopper.....that whole era will never be matched

[@edsonibarra1695]

3 stars always makes me cry

[@GuitarGuy5000000000]

It's great to see people still talking about Eddie all these years later. Thanks for making this video. Such a tragedy he died so young. When I think that my grandfather is alive and well and was born eight years before Eddie, and I'm roughly the same age Eddie was when he died, it really puts the tragedy into perspective.

[@Alpha11]

Thank you for watching; I"m glad you enjoyed it!

[@steveoutdoorsuk3602]

Eddie inspired so many rock stars including my old boss Marc Bolan. Thank you Eddie. R.I.P.

[@TheNathanX100]

Marc Bolan was your boss?

[@mikethecabbie8476]

And Marc ALSO perished in a car crash...

[@donbishop1634]

Thank you for helping keep the memories of these artists of the past alive and introducing them to new generations!

[@HarryWebb46]

What an incredible young man he was!

[@vmat1000]

Thank you for this posting. We had the green Liberty single of "Summertime Blues" . I was born in '57 and loved this. Bought Blue Cheer's single as a pre teen. C'mon Everybody led to a love of Humble Pie through their cover on Smokin'. I put Montrose cover of 20 Flight Rock on a demo tape that helped get me in a band. Now, its Easter Sunday. RIP, Eddie Cochran.

[@skatelucas2305]

Three stars was recorded in multiple takes because he kept breaking down, when I listen to the song, I always get tears in my eyes

[@HarryWebb46]

That boy was an exeptional young man!

[@geraldobrien7323]

Wow, only 21 years old. That was the average age of every member of the Beatles when they became huge. One can only imagine the amount of great music he would have produced had he lived.

[@Alpha11]

It's mind-boggling how young he was.

[@markg6860]

Just like Buddy Holly, at age 22.

[@pjh6930]

To add more perspective, John Lennon was only 2 years younger than Cochran!

[@david-ky7rt]

Eddie was in a different league to the Beatles

[@barbaraaqua2161]

I agree.

[@hellbent6344]

Gone but not forgotten I listen to him everyday of my life .

[@olivermellors8401]

He used to sign his autograph "Don't forget me" and we won't!

[@Alpha11]

Never!!

[@qepdestehombre]

And ever. A hug to all rocknroll fans ... from Chile.

[@mlb5525]

My EC playlist: Summertime Blues, C’mon Everybody, Teenager Heaven, Somethin’ Else, My Way, Cut Across Shorty and Twenty Flight Rock. This young man was not only a fantastic singer but also a great musician, songwriter and innovator. It is amazing the lasting impact he has had on rock & roll in his brief time on earth.

[@OriginalGrasshopper]

One of the greats. “Nervous Breakdown” is probably my favorite song of his.

[@TheReubenKincaid]

I've seen a lot of Brian Setzer interviews and he said that the cover of an EC album, with the greased hair, a baggy suit, and a Gretsch is what he wanted to be, then he heard the record....Brian had some balls walking around late 1970's Long Island in that get up.....

[@rjm22nd]

Between Feb 1959 and Apr 1960 we lost FOUR young & amazing musicians: Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Eddie Cochran. Anyone else passed on tragically in that timeframe? .

[@coachmann100]

Eddie, Billy Fury and Jene Vincent starred at the Hill Stores in Oldham just a few weeks before his demise. I had the good luck to chat with Eddie and Billy. R I P

[@edwinfox1475]

Oldham in Greater Manchester?

[@coachmann100]

@@edwinfox1475 Yes.

[@mick62mick]

Another musical genius gone far too soon. God bless you, Eddie! R.I.P.

[@victormorgado5318]

I didn't hear about him until I moved to France in 1984, where he was as famous as any ROck star of those days..I was surprised I ahd never heard of him in the States

[@mikethecabbie8476]

Apparently, he was more famous in UK, than in US. Odd, really...

[@XKeejaXD]

Eddie is one of the best musician who has ever existed.

[@Alpha11]

Very true. Thank you for watching!

[@superduper3728]

Eddie could draw circles around many rock & roll guitarists of that era.

[@ricks960]

XKeejaXD Did you notice his resemblance to Elvis?

[@moravianmargrave6509]

Rick S If you sre takking sbout hair and clothes - then it was a fashion. If you are talking about his face - then no, I haven’t noticed it.

[@hugs_for_drugs6911]

Him,buddy holly and ritchie vallens are my favorite artists

[@joetiger6597]

In my oppinion Eddie Cochran was years ahed of his time !!!

[@ladylaois8184]

I agree unfortunately so

[@jeaniecollier546]

Sad Eddie was a good looking guy sad he died so young may he rest in peace

[@pissant5564]

greenmean1 George Clooney 👍

[@janedonovan942]

Music

[@buddyholly3527]

greenmean1 I think Ryan Gosslin looks like him

[@4Mr.Crowley2]

Definitely Ryan Gosling though I think Cochran was more handsome. He was extremely handsome for the stars of that time period.

[@odelchalifoux7190]

Jeanie Collier hello jeanid

[@NewBluesBros]

I still listen to his music.

[@caydencayuga7876]

The man that brought Lennon and McCartney together.

[@sandramcclure2598]

Is this the movie Eddie and the Cruisers was about?

[@edmondlau511]

Yep. Shame how many have seen to forgotten that. When Lennon first met McCartney, McCartney played Twenty Flight Rock for Lennon and it impressed the hell out of Lennon.

[@lindalindemann540]

Ziege Eule of î

[@Leen61]

@@sandramcclure2598 No

[@rongotzon9947]

I'm 70 . I love his music. The best of the best musician

[@psw4763]

A few years in that time where alot of wonderful artists died way before their time. Very sad indeed

[@henochparks]

What is not said in this video is that Eddie Cockran gave his life by throwing his body in front of his girl friend to save her life instead of bracing himself. He was a gentleman and a hero

[@Alpha11]

That is true. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@Alpha11]

It was in an interview with his girlfriend.

[@alexandra6535]

Slomofogo those details are in her book Summertime Blues by Sharon Sheeley

[@zebunker]

Most likely this is false and just marketing/ nice thing to say. Never saw crash coming

[@superfly19751]

Ze Bunker And you know how??

[@edwardhrabiadehaacken2858]

This history makes me cray tears drops from my eyes

[@newwavepop]

Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly were both so young, and SO talented. it breaks my heart at the amazing music they had yet to create. and "something else" is absolutely one of the greatest rock and roll song ever created.

[@tbyrandfan1]

HE WAS ONE GORGEOUS GUY.

[@briansmith6515]

59 years this month Eddie died....17th...bless him.

[@david-ky7rt]

Eddie Cochran was unique, unlike anything else, great guitarist, some of them guitar solo's, outstanding for that period of time, one track comes to mind, "Eddie's Blues", instrumental, again, unique for that time period, such a shame he died, if that accident wouldn't of happened, his guitar playing would of got even better as time went on, real shame to lose such talent.

[@donnieluc6643]

Someone in lala land make a movie 'bout eddie cochran. What a great music track and a great tribute to another talent taken from us at such a tender age. His songs are timeless and even elvis thought highly of him.

[@fernandomaron87]

Donnie Luc I wish somebody make a musical about his life, or a full length documentary would be fine too

[@LouisL1963]

I doubt a movie will ever be made.. Eddie was more popular in Europe than he was in the USA, so that being the case, Hollywood wouldn't see it as being a huge money spinner. There aren't any established actors who look like him, and Hollywood wouldn't take a chance on an unknown. Best we could ever hope for would be a documentary film similar to "The Wrecking Crew" where people who knew him were interviewed. Sadly, those people are also disappearing as time goes on...

[@fernandomaron87]

LouisL1963 Netflix should do it. Like you said already, people who knew him are dying, but there's still some of his friends like Duane Eddy and Guybo Smith his bass player, who are still alive and could give us great insight on the real Cochran

[@LouisL1963]

Fernando Maron Agreed - over here in the UK, they could interview Marty Wilde (who interviewed Eddie on the "Boy Meets Girls" tv show), Joe Brown, Brian "Licorice" Locking and Brian Bennett (who all played behind Eddie either on the tv show or as part of "The Wildcats"). Whatever happens, they (or someone) needs to do it soon.

[@MrPhilfridge]

@@fernandomaron87 There have been a couple of documentaries on British Television, noteably the Arena one from 1982. Interviews with Joe Brown etc They always seem to focus on the teddy boy adulation though, which miss the whole point of his enduring legend , he was a great musician not a passing fashion. He deserves a really in depth documentary. a movie would inevitably distort the real story ......the Buddy Holly film portrayed the original Crickets as alcoholics, thats the sort of crap Hollywood comes out with.

[@raffaojeda]

Such a great rock star! I love his music.

[@markramlucken8502]

Eddie Cochran a great musican n a great song writer I love his music summer time blues n come on every body Mark Durban S, A .

[@wayneconn1079]

62 years today Ed was taken . I met the nurse who looked after Ed when we were playing in bristol with my old band . I just finished played Summertime Blues and she tapped me on the shoulder and said that took me back . Then she explained who she was . She was so lovely and i will never forget that day . Ed is the man always will be

[@FATBAZ01]

I walk by his memorial plaque often. It has been modernised and given a place within a much larger monument. It consists of 3 steps, each containing lyrics from the song "3 steps to heaven". It is well cared for, loved and an honour to Eddie. It's a pleasure to see such a loving memorial....

[@SurahOnline]

He was only 21 !!!! 😳😮😮😮 omg that's so sad!

[@theblakex]

Even crazier that Ritchie Valens was only 17

[@joecintas451]

Not nearly as sad as the fact he didn’t finish high school. That’s the really sad part.

[@joecintas451]

Blake X - yup, and like Cochran, Valens didn’t complete high school either. So sad that these rock icons were only half-educated.

[@jas20per]

Dave Dee of Dozy Beaky Micky & Titch, was a Police cadet in Wiltshire at the time of the crash, and was one of the first persons on the scene of Eddies fatal accident.

[@1949rangerrick]

Eddie is buried about 50 feet from my parents in Forest Lawn, Cypress, California. Just a small grave marker for such a big talent. Karen Carpenter was buried nearby until Richard moved the whole family.

[@lindapriorirish8]

seriously good Looking. RIP, Eddie... in that Rock a billy Hall of Fame...

[@jeaniecollier546]

lindapriorirish8 your are right Eddie was a good looking guy sad he left us so young love his singing

[@tuxlin]

I love rock and roll, greetings since Mexico !

[@papaschultz3388]

A Gretch+Eddy=Rock'Roll.RIP Monsieur.Merci.👍👏🏊🏼‍♀️🎼🎤🎸😎🇫🇷

[@noelgribble1004]

Thanks very much for posting this . Appreciated.

[@jbmbryant]

Your videos are not only informative, but very well edited and narrated. Thank you for posting!

[@Alpha11]

Thanks, Fud! We really appreciate the nice comment!

[@lenormand4967]

Alpha 11 DIDN'T GENE LOSE HIS LEG DUE TO THE ACCIDENT? HE HAD ALWAYS LIMPED SINCE THE ACCIDENT IN THE NAVY. BUT AFTER THE SECOND ACCIDENT, IT WAS AMPUTATED. I AM UNCERTAIN AS TO THE DATE.

[@Alpha11]

He wore a metal brace after the navy. He walked out of the hospital after accident in England. You can find pictures of that. Though he did lose his leg some years later. Most likely due to his original injury. The accident didn't help. Thanks, Eirann!

[@beeleo]

Hey Eirann Lenormand... thanks for the "flash from the past..." I haven't seen anyone post in ALL CAPS for years. It's good to see that someone is keeping the tradition going... LOLOLOL

[@The170460]

a lot of mistakes and approximation on this bullshit video.

[@axelbodin3089]

R.I.P from heaven above Edward ´´Eddie´´.

[@DennisHodgson]

If I could listen to just eight pieces of music for the rest of my life, one of the eight would be "Summertime Blues".

[@carlthew1308]

EDDIE COCHRAN AND THE 3 STARS WILL BE MISSED BUT THERE SONGS LIVE ON

[@esterherschkovich6499]

Love to see these old videos songs and see how their lives panned out.Thank you for the videos.

[@luisgall2448]

The police officer that first arrived on the crash scene was David Harman. Better known as Dave Dee, the singer of British 60s pop/rock band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich

[@kellycollison3611]

He is one of those artists that you can't help but wonder what could have been. My favorite of his is "Nervous Breakdown".

[@pompom7x728]

Summertime blues is the first song I have listened to the morning following the birthday of my 50 years 😊🌺🎸🎼🎂

[@Nekrist666]

One of the most important Rock pioneers, R.I.P.

[@robertoponce8077]

Only 21, wow😢 so charismatic guy!❤

[@klintkaos]

I was fortunate enough to buy his box set release in 1988 , i made taped copies of the albums to listen to so i could preserve the vinyl albums i still have today.

[@neilforbes416]

One of the London Police "Bobbies" attending the crash scene that day in 1960 was one David Dee, who, together with four friends who nicknamed themselves Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, went on to have a string of hits in their own right on the Phonogram-owned Fontana label(in Britain, on the Philips label elsewhere, at least until 1968) from 1965 to 1969.

[@marktaylor4674]

A sad loss. I nave been a big fan in the late 1970s when I first discovered his music in my late teens. R.I.P

[@TWayneD1020]

Another great talent !!! Anyone notice how things have gotten progressively worse since the 50's ???

[@cynthiaennis3107]

So young to do all he did! Amazing & sad. I remember his songs. Loved them...never knew he passed nor that I was born after he passed. Sad.

[@MasterGardener1003]

I just attended the Eddie Cochran Music Festival in Albert Lea Minnesota - his memory is still alive. Thank you to The White Sidewalls for their music from the golden years of Rock & Roll!

[@johns.6133]

Great video here. Thanks a bunch!

[@Alpha11]

Thank you, John!

[@dankmemes3700]

This really touches me because he's my great uncle and he died before I could ever see him

[@Alpha11]

Thank you for watching, Cody. It's tragic that he died so young.

[@karenstrycharz1499]

How blessed you were to have this amazingly talented man as your great uncle! Thanks for sharing your story ! May Eddie Rest In Peace! He is a legend that will live forever!😂

[@neilforbes416]

There was another Eddie Cochran/Jerry Capehart composition that got overlooked here, "Three Steps To Heaven", one of Eddie's first tracks to be recorded in stereo.

[@neilforbes416]

Okay, my mistake on the "Three Steps...." record.

[@dodgydavetime1943]

Rip Eddie rocking with the angels

[@jgood4085]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing, j

[@Alpha11]

Thanks for watching and for commenting!

[@crystalfreeman9295]

I loved Eddie Cochrane music he was amazing. So sad that he left us so young. But what happened to Tommy Sands Sing Boy Sing. He had a magnificent voice so sweet And boy was he handsome . He and Elvis one time had the same manager Tom Parker the cornel. Tommy Sands could really sing. Where is he now 🥺🥺?

[@jayneharmon550]

Thank you. This is a great video about someone I didn't really know about, but I recognized his music.

[@Alpha11]

Thanks for watching, Jayne!

[@claudegarcia312]

He would have been a very serious rival against elvis ! forever young it will remain (rip Eddy - rip Elvis the kings in paradise) They play music together... (TCB)

[@paulbroderick8438]

Agreed. EC was a talented musician whereas Elvis was NOT a musician at all.

[@jamesfitzgerald6636]

Claude Garcia ... of course Elvis was a musician Guitar & Piano and also produced all those great singles! Elvis 1968 comeback special for the guitar bit!

[@paulbrown1585]

He was a novice.He played only very basic chords, never well enough to be considered a true musician. I'm an Elvis fan, but facts are facts.

[@jamesbrennan3744]

Not true. Elvis was a good guitarist.

[@david-ky7rt]

Eddie, far better than Elvis

[@jerrybrownell3415]

Eddie recorded briefly with Hank Cochran ( no relation ) as The Cochran Brothers. Hank Cochran also had a brief singing career as a solo artist but is mostly known as a song writer. He wrote "She's Got You " and co-wrote "I Fall To Pieces" with Harlan Howard for Patsy Cline. Sharon Sheely later married Jimmy O'Neill who was the long time host of the American Rock Variety TV Show- Shindig. Eddie had barely skimmed the surface of his incredible talent but left behind a lengthy catalog of great music in his short career.

[@bruceg1845]

one of the early greats

[@monika123870]

Eddie chorcan love music style forever, the best genial Eddie chorcan", rock n roll.

[@yehmiyah]

he is one of my favorites :)

[@Alpha11]

Thank you for watching our video. We really appreciate it!

[@stupendous1068]

Happy 80th birthday Eddie Cochran!!!

[@tomski120]

true king of rock and roll

[@GlenCarne]

Great. Thanks for posting this.

[@Alpha11]

Thanks, Glen! We appreciate the nice comment!

[@LenHealsU]

I was told and read that Eddie Cochran was born and raised in Oklahoma. He even said it as such, himself, in an interview that I personally saw.

[@rarebreed9208]

Live Hard, Die Fast, and leave a good looking corpse. R.I.P. Eddie.....

[@midnightrider7648]

Very interesting video. I didn't know a lot of this information. He was a true rocker. I had heard of him referred to as a blonde haired elvis, but elvis didn't write his own songs, eddie did tho.

[@hectorkeezy1499]

So sad. Only 21 years old.

[@garymoore9458]

Eddie Cochran graduated from Whittier HS and was a classmate of a good friend. Eddie showed up at the Clock Drive-in in, Norwalk, Ca.in 1958 with my buddy in his 57 Chevy BelAir. Eddie was just one of the guys, he wrote about in his music. I sat in the back seat of his car and we talked about, what else, girls and music. He was always a legend in my mind, because he wrote music about me and all the guys that were like me, Just Americans growing up in the greatest era, in the greatest country.

[@AgroboysBGCK]

good songs lasts forever!!

[@Alpha11]

You bet! Thank you for watching our video. We really appreciate it!

[@alfching2499]

One Of The Greatest Losses in Rock Music ,he was so Progressive For his Time,He would have gone on to Produce Fabulous Stuff Esspecially around the Rnb Blues Boom.Just my Opinion

[@francispace7274]

I DID LIKE A LOT HIS VOICE , AND HIS MUSIC , HE WAS FANTASTIC , RIP EDDIE COCHRAN NEVER FOR GET YOU, YOU ALWAYS MADE ME HAPPY, GOD BLESS YOU.

[@mikethecabbie8476]

The fallout from the crash was a tightening of legislation regarding taxi drivers here (I believe the driver was even younger than Eddie himself), and a call to have the mandatory fitting of seatbelts in cars. It would still be another couple of decades before the WEARING of them became compulsory, though...

[@jamesburrows9145]

I met eddie and gene vincent when they came to england my brother hal carter burrows looked after them as a road manager and was going back to the us with eddie but he had to sort some thing out and was going to fly out to the states in a few days only for that he may have been in the car but I can say that eddie and gene were just great guys god bless them both.

[@Alpha11]

That's amazing! Thank you for sharing.

[@rebornlife5366]

I have loved Eddie from the early sixties and I believe he would have been a bigger star than Elvis.

[@John-ob7dh]

Did you know that Dave ( of Dave Dee dozy Mick and Tich) was a young policeman at the time and he was called out to the accident scene .He took Eddie's, Gretch back to the station for safe keeping for his family .He actually used to play the Gretch at the police station, till his parents came to collect it .

[@vintagebrew1057]

Hal comes across as a great guy and he clearly thought a lot of Eddie. As for Gene Vincent? He thought he had serious mental issues. Its also a shame because Eddie wanted Hal to go back to the States and become his manager and Hal was planning to do so and I think they would have worked well together. I wish Hal had written a biography about his own life, his stories about life on the road are interesting and truthful. The John Collis book about Eddie and Gene's tour in Britain has some enlightning comments from Hal. Well worth a read.

[@John-ob7dh]

@BestCanKeanRob2 i have a red music man silhouette.Made in San Bepisto cal.

[@vmat1000]

Holy Smokes!!! Just 21??? sadder than i knew. Had the green Liberty single of Summertime Blues when i was a tyke (i'm 60 now). Loved Blue Cheer's and The Who's covers melded by Rush. Also dug 20 Flight Rock by Montrose. Eddie will never die in the hearts of Rock And Roll fans.

[@Alpha11]

Thanks for watching, g mat!

[@romysan1]

just a natural ! great talent. RIP eddie.