Past Shadows influence in Australia & N.Z.

[cockroach]

I was reading a very interesting new library book last night, about 35 selected Aussie and New Zealand groups of the '60's, from world famous ones such as the Easybeats, to almost totally obscure provincially based groups which perhaps only recorded one demo disc, with the band histories being recounted by way of interviews with surviving band members.

The interesting thing was that virtually ALL of these bands either started out playing Shadows or similar guitar instrumental music!

Example- Harry Vanda of the Easybeats had a Shads type group in Holland before he emigrated to OZ- they were the Starfighters, and evidently they backed Cliff at some point!

The Atlantics are included, as are Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs- who recorded their own original guitar instrumentals without their vocalist, as did many other OZ groups back then (around 1961-64...) emulating the Shads doing their thing without Cliff!

I'm sure this situation also happened worldwide, Canada, South Africa, Asia, Europe etc - as I've seen, heard and read of the phenomenon!

For Aussie/Kiwi members, the book is called 'Wild about You!'- The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand, by Ian D Marks and Iain McIntyre, published by Verse Chorus Press - 2010....ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4.

[Rosemary]

Hi John
The brilliant Australian singer songwriter, Doug Ashdown also started his musical career playing Shadows.
http://www.dougashdown.com/bio.htm
best wishes
Rosemary

[cockroach]

Hi Rosemary

Yes, I have met Doug on a few occasions over the years, as he was from Adelaide originally...a nice bloke and a great guitarist too!

[John Boyd]

Hi John,
Can you please indicate which NZ groups are featured in the book.
It looks to be one I should add to the music section of my bookcase!
Cheers,
J

[cockroach]

Hi John

The NZ '60's bands featured are: Ray Columbus & the Invaders, Dave Miller & the Byrds, Bari & the Breakaways, Chants R'nB, La de Das, Pleazers, Underdogs, Bluestars.

[John Boyd]

Thank you John. I'll go lookng.
Cheers,
JB

[tonykiek]

I seem to remember seeing a video somewhere of Billy Thorpe playing with The Shadows doing some intrumental numbers. If anyone has a link please post it as I'd love to see it again.

Tony K

[cockroach]

Hi Tony - from John from Adelaide (I think you may remember me playing at that Shads night in Adelaide with Ian Sanders some years ago- you played keyboards with us?)

Have you found anything on YouTube? I know the Aztecs did instrumentals on their own without Thorpie ('Smoke and Stack' etc) but I've never heard of him sitting in with the Shads...