Brian I have heard you several times this year play absolutely exquisite harmonica at the various shadows functions around the UK I have attended, to hear this is so moving and you simply must and should record it for all your fans I wonder therefore if you plan to release some of this music?  

Yes I do have plans to release this in the very near future.

What sort of music inspires you today? 

Shadows music still inspires me today and always will but I find inspiring classical music themes sung by Andrea Botchelli and Sarah Brightman very inspiring and this type of music works very well 'Shadows-style' with guitar, strings and my harmonica playing.

Would you like to go out on tour again?  

Yes I would! but not a very long tour!

Listening to Warren Bennett and Dick Plants new album (which is great) it occurred to me they should have had some harmonica on there (perhaps for the next album???) .... now is the time   to suggest it don't you think and I know Warren reads this site - would you like to do it if they asked? 

I have given this a lot of thought and would love to do some inspiring harmonica work with Warren and Dick Plant - whether melody or just rockin' blues etc.. I would like to do it if they asked me!

How do you feel when people of my generation come up to you and tell you how the music you played on and are associated with has inspired them? 

I feel a very deep satisfaction, honoured if you like! knowing at the same time these expressions are all so 'genuine' and real. It makes you want to give more for the pleasure of others.

When you are not playing music, how do you spend your time, what other interests do you have?

I spend my time with my friends. I work with animals at the vets surgery, but most of all I enjoy my life! I also travel around a fair bit too which I enjoy a lot..

Do you see much of Brian Bennett?

I do speak to Brian from time to time and we enjoy long conversations! I would love to see him more as he is one of my great friends but, as you know, Brian is very very busy with his musical projects.

What was touring with The Shadows like back in the '60s?

I would best describe it as an awesome privilege. Very hard work though and very hectic! Whilst in The Shadows I never stopped working! and whilst on tour we were all well looked after - thank goodness! a great change from when I first started in music being on tour was very different to what it is today, there was no one to look after you so to speak - you'd arrive in a town and have to find your own accommodation! before doing a show and then on to the next town and the same again! - how times have changed!

Why the name Licorice is this anything to do with playing the clarinet (licorice stick) - if so  do you still play it at all?  

It all came about in 1956 when the singer in the band which I was playing in at the time, called me 'Licorice' as the day earlier all the band had been larking around playing with 'toy' instruments - mine was a clarinet! - so, 'Licorice' was born - and the name stuck and has been with me ever since..

Has your bass playing style changed since the 60s. ( I get the impression bass players in the 60's just 'thumped' if that's the right expression - a simple bass line adding to the drum part.) Since then a   different melodic style of bass line seem to have developed any comments to make on that? The "Dance with the Shadows" LP with John Rostill has some very melodic and nifty bass  lines. How was Johns style different to yours?

The difference I suppose is that I originally played "double bass" and had a more simple swing jazz style feel to it and so I converted the same style to the jazz bass than say, for example John Rostill, whose playing style was more technical and nifty and therefore when he was playing it sounded different .

Do you still use tape wound strings and what other equipment would you use nowadays?

Yes I do still use tape wound strings - really because I like the feel, sound and resonance of them - particularly on my 1960 Fender Precision Bass.

Is the sparkly finish on your Burns bass available as standard or a custom extra?    Do you use a chromatic or fixed key harmonica?

The sparkly finish is a custom extra and I believe that my bass is the only one available currently in that light blue colour. I use a chromatic 12 hole Hohner No 270 and I also use occasionally a 10 hole blues harp (not chromatic).

Any comments to make on the bass playing style of Jet Harris?

Jet Harris' bass sound is strong, driving and assertive and yet, in contrast he is able to achieve a very nimble, sweet delicacy of style on his 6 string Burns - I'm jealous!!

As many Shadows fans know you left the group in order to devote more time to your faith, are you still involved   with the church today?

Yes I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and my faith does still take priority in my life.

How you do manage to hold that smile constantly and play at the same time!?

With great difficulty! As you know Shadows music is so therapeutic - the depth and enjoyment of it lies in its simplicity & it reaches people - and to sense that they are enjoying it makes me smile and honoured to be a part of it!

Brian can you tell us a little about your pre-musical days prior to The Shadows? .. Your time   with Marty Wildes band and I understand you backed Gene Vincent on one of his tours as  well as Eddie Cochran. What was it like playing with these guys?   What is for you your most vivid memory from the 50's / 60s ?   Since you left The Shadows what have you been doing vis a vis your music.

It was a wonderful time, I was on "Teenager in Love", "Sea of Love", "Bad boy" with Marty Wilde.  Yes I backed Eddie Cochran on tour and recorded with him as well as Gene Vincent.  What an experience that was and I have never forgotten it.  I think my most vivid memory from the 50's and 60's has to be walking into the 2Is and playing down there regularly with Brian Bennett and also going to South Africa in the 60's  with Cliff playing at one of the black townships there - the concert was packed out  with men, women and children all singing along to the songs.  Lots of harmony singing I recall as well - an awesome memory!  When I left The Shadows I played for four years in a band in South London. 

What were your favourite bass players when you were a teenager?  

My first inspiration was Lonnie Donnegans bassist Micky Aslman. I was also inspired by listing to jazz bassists Leroy Vinneear, Ray Broan and Percy Heath.

How young were you when you first started playing? When did you make decide to make music your career?

I started playing when I was 15 years old on harmonica but at age 17 years took up the bass. My decision to make music my career was formed when we came second in a competition on a television programme and were subsequently invited to play regularly at the 2Is coffee bar with our group called "The Vagabonds".

Who was your biggest influence in music and the one person, if any, who made you start playing? 

I think I have to say Brian Bennett - he was a really big influence on me and instilled in me great motivation to make something of myself in music. Musically we shared everything - we were a great team!

Who is your favourite drummer?

Buddy Rich and Brian Bennett

Which guitar, out of all the ones you have ever played, would you say was your favourite, and why? 

I am still playing my original 1960 Fender Precision bass which I play with great pride and fondness - it still plays easily and very beautifully!

Most bass guitarist's seldom change their guitar strings, do you?

I do change my bass strings I believe you should on a regular basis in order to obtain that lovely long ringing sweet tone - I simply dont like a dull thud on the strings!

VOX amplifiers were very popular in the 60's, were they really up to the job, or did you have a better solution?

I found VOX amplifiers to be just right for me - they looked good and sounded good. However I have played with some excellent home-made ones as well which gave a good sound!

You always look relaxed and happy when you play and always have done since the early days, what is the secret? Do you enjoy playing now, more than in the early days?, equally so?, or is it better these days without all the fuss and fan stuff?. When I mention fans, I am talking of course about the fans of yesteryear, not your friends and lifetime fans of today, the fans and friends of Brian Locking the man.

I do enjoy playing now - I still have the fuss and fan stuff which is great - I dont mind because the fans are the ones that have put you there and there is genuine appreciation expressed. I do feel an awesome privilege to have played a part in all this.