Buddy Holly, Ariel Cyclone, 1958

Above is some fantastic home movie footage of Buddy Holly and the Crickets messing around on motorbikes in 1958. The story behind the bikes in the video starts after Buddy Holly, Joe Mauldin and Jerry Allison came back from a successful tour in 1958, flush with cash. The trio decided to spend their rock and roll dollars on brand new motorcycles.

Flying into Dallas, Texas the bandmates started shopping the local bike dealers. Whilst browsing a number of shops, the owners treated the three poorly with one Harley dealer asking them to stop touching the bikes and to leave the store. Later the musicians went to a Triumph dealer where the owner recognised them, after parting with their pockets full of cash Buddy left with an Ariel Cyclone, J.I got a Triumph Trophy and Joe B a Thunderbird. Before heading home they made sure to stop by the Harley dealer to show off their new rides.

After Buddy's death, the bike changed hands until it ended up being re-bought by The Crickets and given to Waylon Jennings as a birthday present. It went up for auction by the Jennings' family estate but did not sell.

By Robin Goodwin