Editing Gene Vincent (section)

===Europe===
A dispute with the [[Internal Revenue Service|US tax authorities]] and the American Musicians' Union over payments to his band and his having sold the band's equipment to pay a tax bill led Vincent to leave the United States for Europe.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Farren|first=Mick|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/784882138|title=The Mammoth Book of Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll.|publisher=Constable & Robinson|year=2010|isbn=978-1-84901-461-8|editor-last=Driver|editor-first=Jim.|location=London|pages=50–51|chapter=Gene Vincent – The Genesis of the Dark Side|oclc=784882138}}</ref>

On December 15, 1959, Vincent appeared on [[Jack Good (producer)|Jack Good]]'s TV show, ''Boy Meets Girl'', his first appearance in England. He wore black leather, gloves, and a medallion, and stood in a hunched posture.<ref name="Larkin"/> Good is credited with the transformation of Vincent's image.<ref name="Larkin"/> After the TV appearance he toured France, the Netherlands, [[West Germany|Germany]] and the [[UK]] performing in his US stage clothes.<ref>Farren, Mike (2004). ''Gene Vincent There's One in Every Town''. Do Not Press. pp. 75–80. {{ISBN|1-904316-37-9}}.</ref>

On April 16, 1960, while on tour in the UK, Vincent, [[Eddie Cochran]] and the songwriter [[Sharon Sheeley]] were involved in a high-speed traffic accident in a private-hire taxi in [[Chippenham]], [[Wiltshire]]. Vincent broke his ribs and collarbone and further damaged his weakened leg.<ref name="Larkin"/> Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Cochran, who had been thrown from the vehicle, suffered serious brain injuries and died the next day. Vincent returned to the United States after the accident.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

While they were preparing to board their taxi, Vincent and Cochran had rebuffed [[Tony Sheridan]]'s request to ride along with them to the next venue. After escaping that fateful road accident,<ref>https://www.rte.ie/radio/doconone/771586-are-you-tony-sheridan Martin Duffy. ''Are You Tony Sheridan?'' (RTÉ [[Doc on One]] radio documentary), 17 July 2010.</ref> Sheridan soon relocated to Hamburg, where he helped influence the musical training of many British groups who would later become part of the [[British Invasion]], including one of his backing bands, [[the Beatles]].

Promoter [[Don Arden]] had Vincent return to the UK in 1961 to do an extensive tour in theatres and ballrooms,<ref name="Larkin"/> including the Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley<ref name=":0">Ronnie Wood (Show) in conversation with Paul McCartney confirmed meeting Vincent at the venue. sky.com/ronnie</ref> with Chris Wayne and the [[The Echoes (English group)|Echoes]]. In 1962 Vincent was on the same bill as the Beatles in Hamburg; Paul McCartney recalled an incident with a pistol at Vincent's girlfriend's hotel.<ref name=":0" /> In 1963 Vincent appeared in court for pointing a gun at his then wife Margaret Russell and threatening to kill her, though his wife said in court that she had forgiven him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spentbrothers.com/archives/2005/06/02/singer_who_pointed_gun_at_wife_says_she_forgives_me/|title=Gene Vincent &#124; Singer who pointed gun at wife says 'She forgives me'|website=Spentbrothers.com|access-date=May 22, 2021}}</ref> After the overwhelming success of the UK tour, Vincent moved to Britain in 1963. On a UK tour Vincent had pulled a gun on [[Jet Harris]], Harris hid behind [[John Leyton]], the situation was defused and the three would later become friends.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cochran|first=Bobby|url=|title=Three Steps to Heaven: The Eddie Cochran Story|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|year=2003|isbn=978-0-634-03252-3|pages=177|language=|chapter=U. K. Tour}}</ref> His accompanying band, [[Sounds Incorporated]], a six-piece outfit with three saxophones, guitar, bass and drums, went on to play with the [[the Beatles|Beatles]] at their [[Shea Stadium]] concert. Vincent toured the UK again in 1963 with the [[The Outlaws (UK band)|Outlaws]], featuring future [[Deep Purple]] guitar player [[Ritchie Blackmore]], as a backing band. Vincent's alcohol problems marred the tour, resulting in problems both on stage and with the band and management.<ref>Bloom, Jerry (2008). ''Black Knight''. Omnibus Press.</ref>