The Honeycombs’ ‘Have I the Right?’ Tops Charts in 1964, Showcasing Unique Sound and Female Drummer
In the summer of 1964, as Beatlemania swept across continents and the British Invasion dominated charts, a band few had heard of exploded onto the scene with a thunderous sound that demanded attention. “Have I the Right?” by The Honeycombs wasn’t just another chart-topping pop song—it was an electrifying fusion of stomp, melody, and novelty that took the UK by storm, eventually reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart and climbing into the Top 5 in the U.S. The track’s success marked an important moment not only for its infectious rhythm but also for the fresh, almost radical composition of the band itself—particularly its female drummer, a rarity at the time.
The Honeycombs emerged from North London, originally performing under the name The Sheratons. Founded by guitarist Martin Murray, the group was a typical five-piece beat ensemble in sound and setup—except for one critical detail. Honey Lantree, the drummer, was not only the rhythmic force behind the band but also its most visually distinctive member, standing at the front of a rock ‘n’ roll revolution that hadn’t yet made room for women in the rhythm section. Alongside lead singer Denis D’Ell, bassist John Lantree (Honey’s brother), and guitarist Alan Ward, they brought an unusual mix of polish and rebellion.
The track that would catapult them to fame, “Have I the Right?”, was penned by the songwriting team Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, who had stumbled upon The Sheratons during a performance at a local pub. The duo was struck not only by the band’s energy but by Honey Lantree’s presence and performance. Believing they had the right song for the right band, Howard and Blaikley introduced “Have I the Right?” to the group, and the chemistry was instant. The moment caught the attention of legendary producer Joe Meek, who wasted no time bringing the group into his famed home studio to cut the track.
Joe Meek’s unorthodox production methods were a perfect match for the wild energy of “Have I the Right?” Recorded in his flat on Holloway Road, the song became a showcase for Meek’s pioneering techniques. To capture the powerful, stomping rhythm that drives the song, Meek had the band stomp their feet on a wooden staircase, which he miked up with bicycle clips. He also sped up the final tape slightly to give the song its manic, insistent pulse. The result was a raw, almost tribal track that felt like a cross between pop and primal scream.
Upon release, the song didn’t immediately catch fire—but within weeks, it began picking up steam across Britain. It shot to number one in the UK in late summer 1964, and its success rippled across the globe. It topped the charts in Australia, made waves in Germany, and peaked at number five in the United States, cementing The Honeycombs as a key player in the British Invasion alongside The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, and The Rolling Stones. This was no fluke—listeners responded not just to the beat, but to the song’s pleading intensity and unique sonic identity.
More than a chart success, “Have I the Right?” had a deeper cultural impact. The presence of a female drummer in a Top 40 pop act was a seismic shift in the early 1960s. Honey Lantree was not a gimmick—she was the backbone of the sound, a capable and charismatic player whose presence on TV appearances challenged the gender norms of rock ‘n’ roll. Her visibility inspired young women across the UK and beyond to pick up drumsticks and imagine themselves on stage. In an era when women were largely relegated to singing roles or girl groups, Lantree’s central position behind the kit made a statement that could not be ignored.
For The Honeycombs, the success of their debut single ushered in a whirlwind year of fame. The band embarked on international tours, performing across Europe, Australia, and Japan. While they never quite replicated the seismic success of their first hit, their time in the spotlight was marked by an impressive run of singles and a self-titled album that maintained their distinctive, Joe Meek-enhanced sound. “Have I the Right?” gave them a place in pop history, and it paved the way for more experimentation in the mainstream beat music of the era.
The song’s influence extended beyond the band. Producers and bands alike began taking more risks with sound textures and rhythms, inspired by Meek’s unconventional methods. Elements of his production style—layered noise, speed-altered recordings, and ambient effects—would later appear in works by artists ranging from Phil Spector to Brian Wilson. “Have I the Right?” thus acted as both a sonic experiment and a blueprint for future innovation.
In the years that followed, “Have I the Right?” was covered by several artists across genres. The Dead End Kids revived it as a glam-styled rock hit in the 1970s, while punk band the Dead Kennedys gave it a raw, ironic spin. Each version paid homage to the original’s primal energy and unforgettable hook, demonstrating the song’s flexibility and enduring appeal.
At the height of their fame, The Honeycombs faced internal changes—founder Martin Murray left the band shortly after their hit, and lineup changes followed. Yet the core legacy of their debut remained untouched. Honey Lantree’s presence in particular made her a quiet icon in rock history, a pioneering figure often cited by later generations of female musicians who found inspiration in her visibility and skill.
Today, “Have I the Right?” endures not just as a nostalgic gem of the British Invasion, but as a revolutionary recording. It continues to receive radio airplay, and its stomping intro is instantly recognizable to fans of vintage pop. The song has earned a spot on numerous best-of lists for the 1960s, and its legacy remains intertwined with the daring vision of Joe Meek and the fearless rhythm of Honey Lantree.
The song’s impact on production can’t be overstated. It pushed boundaries of what could be done outside a traditional studio, giving birth to ideas that would later evolve into lo-fi, DIY aesthetics. It also demonstrated that emotional urgency and raw texture could outshine technical perfection—a philosophy that would guide much of rock’s evolution in the decades ahead.
After her passing in 2018, Honey Lantree was remembered not just as a novelty but as a trailblazer—one of the first women to hold her own in a male-dominated world of rock. “Have I the Right?” is her most enduring monument—a song whose title doubles as a bold challenge to the norms of its time.
In hindsight, it’s clear why this track struck such a deep chord. It captured the restless energy of a changing decade, the sound of young voices stomping out their place in a world that wasn’t quite ready for them. And in doing so, it earned The Honeycombs—and their unforgettable debut—a rightful place in music history.
