When was the first time you saw The Shads?

[donna plasky]

Hi, everyone. I had an idea for a thread...it's kind of a slow news week...so I wondered if anyone would be interested. Since we're such a diverse group of people, my idea was to ask you when was the first time you recall seeing The Shadows...and/or just Hank? Most likely, it's when did you first see them on TV?

My story will sound pretty silly compared to others, but here it is. I'd been a Cliff fan since my teenage years in the mid/late 1970's, but I didn't really know about The Shadows until sometime after the year 2000. Cliff's "40 Golden Greats" album certainly does bear The Shadows' name, but I didn't understand (yet). At some point, whenever it was, I'd finally gotten my hands on a DVD of Cliff's Countdown Tour video, which I believe was filmed in 1999. I waited to buy a copy until I owned a computer that could play foreign region DVDs. Eventually that day arrived.

Here's the video clip I saw -- the first time I ever saw Hank Marvin. Musically speaking, it was love at first sight. And although Hank's pre-performance banter with Cliff was certainly scripted, it gave me an indication of Hank's sense of humour (which is not unlike Bruce's, of course) which is a secondary reason why I like The Shadows.

Thanks for listening.

Kind regards,
Donna



PS: If anyone would like to see the Bruce-related matter which Hank and Cliff are joking about, here is the video clip. Bruce is teasing Cliff about how little The Shadows (Drifters) were paid back in 1958.

[Mikey]

Great question Donna!
Mine was in 1967 at the Winter Gardens Theatre in my home town of Bournemouth.
My memory of the event isn't crystal clear - it was a very long time ago! - but I do remember being particularly impressed by Nivram.

[chippy71]

hank in 2002, shads in 2004.......... im only a youth! lol
neil

[ecca]

1960, in Cannock...... or was it 61 ?

[Gatwick1946]

Hi Donna,

The old memory is getting a bit rusty, but it was in 1963 in Lewisham, South London, England. The line-up was Hank, Bruce, Licorice and Brian. Cliff Richard was top of the bill and the Shads closed the first half of the show. The rest of the acts were what you would probably class as vaudeville, ie jugglers, dancers and novelty acts.

The audience was mostly female, to see Cliff of course, but there were a few teenage boys like myself, who wanted to check out the guitar playing. I recall that:-

The curtains were closed and the house lights were dimmed,

there was a buzz of excitement in the audience,

there were noises from behind the curtains, which I now know were powerfull guitars, amps and echo box being plugged in,

the PA crackled and broadcast "Ladies and Gentlemen, the finest instrumental group in England - THE SHADOWS",

the curtains opened, the spotlights hit the stage,

the girls in the audience screamed like a steam locomotive whistle,

Hank played the opening riff to Shazam, then his hand shot up and down the fretboard with the echo sound a fraction of a beat behind,

then the Shads all walked forward in the now famous Shadows Walk,

THE SOUND WAS AMAZING!

They all wore matching, shiny, coloured, mohair suits which reflected the spotlights, as did those red guitars.

I have seen them many times over the years, but the first time was special.


Kindest regards and keep up the guitar playing,

Christopher

[boritz]

Circa 1963 [edit: live not TV] at Great Yarmouth UK while on summer holiday (no pun intended: Shad's only - no Cliff) with my parents (we all moved Downunder in 1966).

I was only 10yo and don't remember the line up or what was played

[edit: it could have been even 1964 - I think they had their white/black-trim Burns guitars ]

[JimN]

Circa 1963 at Great Yarmouth UK while on summer holiday (no pun intended: Shad's only - no Cliff) with my parents (we all moved Downunder in 1966). I was only 10yo and don't remember the line up or what was played [edit: it could have been even 1964 - I think they had their white/black-trim Burns guitars ]

The Shadows were using white Fender guitars from about May 1963 onward, replaced (on stage at least) by the Burns guitars in about March or April 1964, at the time of the promo appearances for The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt. The White Fenders were thus in use concurrent with the release periods for Atlantis, "Los Shadows", Shindig, Geronimo and Theme For Young Lovers.

In '63, the white Fenders were used to promote Atlantis (May/June), the "Los Shadows" EP and during the Blackpool summer season of that year. I'm not sure whether there was a tour in the second half of 1963, but spot appearances on TV to promote Shindig and (later) Geronimo saw the white Fenders still in use. Although there are early photos of the white Fenders with white scratchplates, they were soon fitted with tortoiseshell 'guards and the Burns guitars (when they arrived) was very clearly modelled after the general appearance of those white Fenders. The white Strats and Precision Bass were also used in the film "Wonderful Life". I can't remember any national UK TV appearances to promote Theme For Young Lovers in early '64.

JN

[Didier]

Hi, everyone. I had an idea for a thread...it's kind of a slow news week...so I wondered if anyone would be interested. Since we're such a diverse group of people, my idea was to ask you when was the first time you recall seeing The Shadows...and/or just Hank? Mostly likely, it's when did you first see them on TV?

I first discovered the Shadows as Cliff's backing band (as the Drifters first), and then as an instrumental group with "Apache", but I don't remember seeing them on TV, so the first time I saw the Shadows must be when I went to see them at the Paris Olympia in 1961. Tony and Jet were still there. It was the first time that an instrumental group played at the top of the bill in this prestigious music-hall.

Didier

[Rosemary]

Hi Donna
I've been a Shadows fan for a very long time and had seen them on TV many times since the 1960s but as I was too young to go to concerts back then it wasn't until their final tour with Sir Cliff in 2010 that I actually saw them. Just the sight of the red Strats on stage before they started and I was as excited as all those screaming teenagers in the 60s but managed to stay in control It was the best concert ever. They were absolutely brilliant - and Sir Cliff was excellent too! It was a night to remember forever and of course was the reason I decided to learn guitar like millions of others even though I'm a late starter
Best wishes
Rosemary

[Mike Honey]

Cliff and the Shads , Walthamstow Granada in ( I think) 1961; I remember one of the supports was Nero and the Gladiators in their togas
Next time was Aladdin at the Palladium

mike