Bassist Rick Huxley of Dave Clark Five dies at age 72; played on band’s big hits in 1960s

LONDON – Bass player Rick Huxley, one of the founding members of the Dave Clark Five, has died. He was 72.

Clark announced Huxley’s death Tuesday, saying the news was “devastating.”

Huxley played on the band’s signature hits from the era when they briefly rivaled the Beatles in popularity. They were part of the British invasion that included the Rolling Stones, The Kinks and other bands.

Their best-known songs included “Bits and Pieces” and “Glad All Over.” They enjoyed a large following in the United States after appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, the Sunday night television show that also introduced the Beatles to American audiences.

The band, with a middle-of-the-road pop rock sound, was known for drummer Clark’s driving beat and exuberant vocals. But it faded after several years when harder-edged bands such as Cream, the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the Doors rose to popularity. The Dave Clark Five broke up in 1970 after 12 years together.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

Huxley, who suffered from emphysema, died Monday.