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Just curious whether Bruce ever played lead guitar on any trax? He certainly capable since we've seen him play the Nivram harmony part and he's a fantastic rhythm player.

There've even been a few rare instances of The Ventures' Don Wilson playing lead guitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD-pLJPsoIw

Good for Don ! That's a new one for me. Apart from 'Nivram', there are one or two twin 'Lead' lines in the Shads repertoire, but I'm not sure wether they are simply Hank's overdubbing of a dual track on the recording or whether Bruce actually contributed. 'Theme from a Filleted Place' is a good example from the first album, but whether it was actually played live, I don't know.

Tony.

There's a general assumption amongst fans that Bruce may have played lead on the Shadows and Cliff tracks where Hank was playing piano.

George

I did hear that once on a live television programme (something 'Billy Cotton's Band Show', so that's how long a go it was) that there was a failure with Hank's sound - the lead perhaps - and that Bruce took over. Does anybody know if this is true?

John

RUSSET wrote:Good for Don ! That's a new one for me. Apart from 'Nivram', there are one or two twin 'Lead' lines in the Shads repertoire, but I'm not sure wether they are simply Hank's overdubbing of a dual track on the recording or whether Bruce actually contributed. 'Theme from a Filleted Place' is a good example from the first album, but whether it was actually played live, I don't know.

Tony.

There's a few that could be contenders. The Girls from The Boys EP could certainly fall into this bracket.

Martin.

I seem to remember that Bruce has said, maybe in his book, that he couldnt play any tunes, not even Apache! He also said that he can play 3 chords - but in any key! We all know he was being rather modest!!

i remember in his book that he said he couldn't play apache...but I don't remember him saying that he couldn't play lead.
I know that he does play the odd little lead line - as others have said. It's amazing what you pick up from watching the dvds or even live - I had not realised until recently that bruce picks a few notes in the middle of foot tapper - at the start of Brian's drum solo...just check out the latest dvd.

mind you, when you're as good as bruce at rhythm - why bother trying to play lead...as someone said in another recent thread - on the latest CD there is clear separation between the lead vocals, and most of Hank's lead lines...and what you're left with is a rhythm guitar master class.....(not forgetting Brian, of course...)

I noticed that Bruce also mirrors the little bass 'run-up' to 'D' in the Middle Eight on 'Dance On'. Very effective. My band & I are certainly learning one or two little tricks in style & presentation from the DVD. Now for those FBI high kicks ....... owwww !
Lost me shoe again.

Tony.

Small digression: Bruce plays those three notes (C# D E) on the original recording of Dance On. I used to play rhythm in our band and I always played them as a run-up to D Major. It's hard to spot (unless you're a rhythm guitarist ), but if you play the CD on Winamp, or some other player that lets you shift balance, listen just to the right channel, Hank and Bruce, and you will hear it better.

Didn't Bruce play the guitar solo while Hank was playing the piano on "Stand Up and Say That!" on the first LP?