by Shasta Simpson
It isn’t every day one crosses the path of a living legend, but such was the case recently when I “Rock(ed) around the clock” with Warren Batts, the last surviving member of Bill Haley and the Comets.
Before Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, there was Bill Haley and the Comets. Known in the beginning as Bill Haley and the Saddlemen, the group started mixing blues with country and western. This new sound was being recognized as rock and roll.
In 1951 they recorded a rockabilly version of Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm’s “Rocket 88,” making it the first rock and roll recording by a white artist.
And in 1953, they became Bill Haley and His Comets, in reference to Halley’s Comet.
Later on, Haley found himself in need of a rockin’ guitar player who could keep up with the band’s electric rockabilly sound. That is where Warren’s amazing skills came into play.
Batts was born in West Frankfort, Illinois in 1946. His love for music emerged at the young age of 10 when his dad purchased a National guitar from a pawn shop for $5.00. The strings were considerably high off the neck, and Batts recalls his dad saying, “If you can play this, you really wanna play guitar!” Knowing three chords, Warren taught himself how to play “Ghost Riders in the Sky”.
An active member of the Boy Scouts, most troops had a specialty such as cave exploring. However, not this troop. They made the executive decision to put together a rock band. Knowing just three songs, Ghost Riders in the Sky, Under the Double Eagle, and Steel Guitar Rag, the band played at events such as sock hops and Scout-o-ramas.
Warren continued to “Rip it up” throughout southern Illinois with his local band, while he rested his head in Benton, Illinois, where he became friends with neighbor Louise Harrison. In 1963, Louise’s brother George Harrison, yes — that George Harrison of the Beatles, came for a visit. Louise introduced Warren and George, who quickly became friends.
The two would hold jam sessions in the living room, rocking out to artists such as Carl Perkins and Chet Atkins. This is where Warren’s big break was about to happen.
Bill Haley and the Comets were touring out of the country when events quickly unraveled at Wembley Stadium. Most of the Comets were terminated after a concert went awry. The record company was in a panic. They reached out for help any way they could, including asking the opening act, The Silver Beatles (The Beatles without Ringo). George Harrison spoke up quickly and said, “Oh, I know one.”
This was Warren’s time to shine. At the age of 16 he was transported immediately to the gig. No audition, very little time to prepare, learning the set list and songs on a bus. Needless to say, he rocked it, performing nationwide in concert venues, at festivals, and even lighting up the stage for the Queen of England. Warren remembers practicing for hours on proper English etiquette.
The magical moment Warren recalls is nothing short of amazing.
His favorite guitar on the road was a true original, a hybrid. It carried the neck of a Stratocaster and the body of a Telecaster, something many said couldn’t be done. “You can’t do that, those are two different scales,” they told him. But Warren didn’t care.
He had a craftsman in Evansville move the bridge to the proper distance so the Strat neck would fit the Telecaster body. Then he took it a step further, having it dipped in wild flame graphics in Owensboro, Kentucky, making it just as bold visually as it was musically.
Because of its unique build, not just anyone could pick it up and play it. It demanded a certain touch, and in the right hands, it produced a sound that was unmistakably his.
Having toured full-time as a member of Bill Haley’s Comets from the mid-1960s until 1988, while performing his Rock-It Man act, Batts had the opportunity to perform alongside several legendary rock and country musicians such as Fats Domino, Roy Orbison, Del Shannon, and many more. As a small child, Reba McEntire sang backup for Batts on a Chrysler commercial.
He also found himself sharing a hospital room with country legend Loretta Lynn, both admitted for sheer exhaustion from life on the road. This was a rare moment where two artists, living the same relentless dream, were forced to slow down at the same time.
On a personal note, I can recall dancing in my room as a child to many different types of music, including the hits of Rockabilly Hall of Fame inductees Bill Haley and the Comets. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined meeting such a living legend. Not just hear about one, not just see one on a screen, but stand in the same room, feel the energy, and watch history breathe right in front of you.
Warren “Rock-It Man” Batts still shares his amazing talents locally, and it is a privilege to be entertained by him. He doesn’t just play rock n roll, he was a part of its beginning and still lives it to this day.
Featured Image: Warren Batts “Ripin up” the stage
Warren “Rock-It Man” Batts
Recent photo of Batts at The Red Geranium in New Harmony
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