Shadows line up - current tour with Cliff

[hansaustria]

I am surprised that nobody here in this forum had the idea and the desire to see the original
60 `s - 80`s line up of the Shades ( with B.Locking / J. Harris / A. Jones on bass ). The current
bassplayer is for me NOT a "Shadow".

Any comments ?


Regards
Hans

[AlanMcKillop]

Mark Griffith's started playing bass with The Shadows following Alan Jone's car accident and continued in that role with Hank during his solo tours. Mark has also been a member of Cliff's band over the years and played on Cliff's 50th Anniversary tour, so I guess he was the obvious choice, which his playing deserves.

[StuartD]

What a load of tosh!! Of course Mark is the right Bass Player for this tour. I am sure they wouldn't even have considered anyone else. He is a very accomplished musician and well worthy to be called 'A Shadow'.

Regards

Stuart

[dave robinson]

Alan Jones left the Shadows for a lucrative season in the West End with Cliff Richard in the musical 'Time', his accident came later. Mark Griffiths was offered the job for this reason and has only been with them for 20+ years, on record and on stage . . . . . .

[BarryH]

I thought we'd been through all this at great length on the build up to the tour.

Cheers
Barry

[stagetech]

So he's only been with them 20 years +. What are you saying Dave, that he is not a Shadow! Just kidding.

Let's end this argument here. The Shadows are who Hank, Bruce and Brian choose to have with them.
That's good enough for me.

Ian

[Paul Creasey]

CORRECT!

[petercreasey]

Apart from booking an accomplished lady bassist ( who I know had prior engagements), of course Mark would be the man the Shads would employ

[MeBHank]

So he's only been with them 20 years +. What are you saying Dave, that he is not a Shadow! Just kidding.

Let's end this argument here. The Shadows are who Hank, Bruce and Brian choose to have with them.
That's good enough for me.

Ian

IMO the current Shadows are Hank, Bruce and Brian only. Anyone else who appears on stage with them is a session musician and does not attain to the status of "Shadow". That is supported by the way the stage is set on the current tour. There is little or no interaction with Warren, Mark and Keith and the difference in heirarchy is more obvious than ever before. It's as though the tour is saying "We know who you are really here to see." I mean no disrespect to Warren, Mark or Keith by that statement, though.

The only people that qualify to be Shadows and who do not appear on the tour are (IMO): Tony, Jet, Lic, John Rostil, John Farrar and (at a push) Alan Hawkshaw. Cliff Hall and Alan Jones completed the ideal line-up for me: there was obviously a magic on stage in the seventies and eigties that hasn't been equalled since, in terms of fun and entertainment. Cliff and Alan are the closest things to Shadows without actually being Shadows. A lot of that is, I think, due to their obvious passion for the music and for the love of the fans. They are loyal and have a visible sense of respect for the heritage and legacy of the Shadows, which is why we love them.

J

[George Geddes]

Not just your opinion, Justin, it's a fact...

George