John Rostill - 70 today (if he'd lived)

[Arpeggio]

I didn't see that little item in the Daily Mail. Thanks. Refs: Hank & John - Brian Bennett has confirmed that Hank & John were on friendly terms. When the group initially split up in 1968 - there were different internal tensions / conflicts between group members. But the affable Brian (who always seemed to be very calm, level - headed and non - judegemental) was always realistic. In any group, he told me, no matter how easy - going some of the members were - there would always be problems and personality clashes. It was simply a result of fatigue and spending so much time in each others' company. With their own commitments and add to those commitments to Cliff, the strain of continuous touring, recording, TV shows, radio shows, films, pantos etc. ,etc....was immense. After 10 years (1958 - 68) with John being there during 1964 - 68 the group was, as Brian put it....'seriously burnt out emotinally and physically'. They needed the break. Hank was happy enough to work with John again in 1969. But the fact that the Shadows didn't really exist as a full time touring / recording group was the reason that John signed up with Tom Jones. In separate interviews - Bruce Welch, Brian Bennett and Hank Marvin all told me that, although John wasn't available for "Rockin' With Curly Leads" (still under contract to Tom Jones), he WAS nevertheless very much part of their plans for the future and would have definitely been included in the re- formed Shadows line - up. Any fallings out that Hank & John had were fairly minor and petty & already in the past by the time of John's untimely death.

Rob

[StuartD]

Hi Rob

I can second that. I was pretty close to the group when Alan Hawkshaw was playing with them and Hank and John were fine. I remember one night at Poco a Poco in Stockport staying behind after the show whilst all four of them jammed 'Jazz' style until 3.00am. There were certainly no problems at all between them at that time.

Regards

Stuart

[Arpeggio]

Many thanks for that further insightful confirmation Stuart.

Bests....Rob

[Derek Mowbray]

I like the vidios posted by Donna, nice to see John singing though only miming he didn`t seem to sing with The Shadows much Hank and Bruce did most of the singing. The Burns guitars that Hank and Bruce were playing look like The Burns Marvin 2 which as far as Iknow never saw the light of day. Also I would like to know who were the musicians backing Olivia on Let Me Be There maybe John was one of them as he wrote the song.

[hankb56]

Re John not singing much with the Shadows I think you will find on listening to some songs i.e My Way, Trying To Forget The One You Love, Time Drags By, One Way To Love & Stay Around, to name just a few from this era he sang on Quite a number of tracks.

Ian

[StuartD]

John sang great harmony on I Can't Forget.

Stuart