Has Hank been ever-present?

[captainhaddock]

I know that throughout the Shadows history, Bruce Welch, Brian Bennett and John Rostill have for reasons of illness been replaced by substitutes so has there ever been an occasion when Hank has been replaced by a substitute or has he been ever present.

[Pedro]

I seem to remember someone stood in for him in the very early 60s whilst they were at the Liverpool Empire.
I volunteered but they would not pay me enough

[Mikey]

At least he hasn't been the subject of one of those urban myths where the real guy dies but they hush it up and replace him with a lookalike

[George Geddes]

Wasn't it Bruce who took ill at the Empire, with Peter Carter standing in? JimN was there...

As far as I know Hank has never had a stand-in.

George

[cockroach]

With due respects to guys like Phil Kelly and Colin Pryce- Jones etc , it would surely be a case of "No Hank = Not really the Shadows"

Even Bruce has not been indispensible at odd times due to illness etc. But I suspect Hank may be the only one that they really couldn't do without...

[Pedro]

Wasn't it Bruce who took ill at the Empire, with Peter Carter standing in? JimN was there...

As far as I know Hank has never had a stand-in.

George

I think you are right. It was over 45 years ago.

[Martin Page]

I know The Hunters substituted for The Shads in backing Cliff on one occasion - yes, I know that's not quite the same...

Martin.

[Frank Marvin]

A very interesting question. I think if he has been ever present, it's a remarkable achievement. Over fifty years of never missing a gig or recording session - amazing! I wonder if anyone else could claim that.

[JimTidmarsh]

Well, he has missed a gig !!

I went to the Finsbury Park Astoria during the 1969 tour with Cliff, after Alan Hawkshaw had replaced Bruce.

John Rostill announced that Hank couldn't be with the Shads that night since he was suffering from 'flu. As a result, the Shads set consisted of only three numbers, each featuring one of the remaining three members - Theme from Exodus (Alan Hawkshaw), Little B (Brian) and Nivram (John).

I seem to remember reading somewhere that not everything was harmonious during that tour and have always wondered if Hank's absence was 'political'!

[George Geddes]

Ah, I had forgotten about that Finsbury Park show... I suppose it does suggest Hank is irreplaceable?

George