Wow! The Shadows Rock!!

mattayou

Came across a DVD of the Shadows live in 2003 this weekend! Man they are polished!! Hank Marvin does not hide behind any Distortion etc, but still makes the guitar look like a toy in his hands and really portrays the Fender Stratocaster sound!

I reckon Fender must have sold many models as a result of their playing!

Gearhead

Hearing Hank Marvin play is to me like watching grass grow. All it did for Fender I think is promote Candy Apple Red finishes and tremolo's that fail to return to pitch. But that's just my opinion 8)

mattayou

Interesting view Gearhead! His style is unique i agree, but if you cut out that and just look at his knowledge of the fretboard etc you can see he knows his stuff when it comes to playing lead!

Gearhead

I never said I did not appreciate his skill and/or influence, he was undoubtedly influential to lotsa people I admire and enjoy. I just don't enjoy his music (I seem to recall I did at age 14 though ? ). In fact I believe that he turned a lot of rebellious young guitarists in the early sixties away from the Strat, which only got undone by Hendrix.

FenderBender

They'll be in SA (with Cliff Richard nogal) next year. Here's the CT url:

http://www.capetowntoday.co.za/Music/Live_Performance/2009/Cliff-Richard-and-The-Shadows-in-South-Africa.htm

AlanRatcliffe

Cliff Richard got his start in the Shadows, so it's not surprising.

Don't underestimate The Shadows - they may sound tame by today's standards (and look like complete and utter nerds) but they were probably the most influential European band of the 20th century. They set the stage that allowed the guitar-centric music of the '60s to happen, they made the guitar an instrument in it's own right, instead of just being one of the instruments that supported the singers. They were direct influences on most everyone who followed, from the Beatles to Black Sabbath and Motorhead.

In fact I believe that he turned a lot of rebellious young guitarists in the early sixties away from the Strat, which only got undone by Hendrix.

Not at all. Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend, Brian May all first picked up a guitar because Hank Marvin. What caused the trend away from the Strat - or rather the trend towards the Gibsons - was the humbucker equipped Gibbys could make an amplifier distort more than a Strat could. Hendrix used a fuzzbox for more distortion, which got around that, and the Strat became more viable as a rock instrument.

Ever notice how British guitarists tend to go for red guitars (Mark Knopfler, Gary Moore, et.al.)? That's purely because Hank Marvin played a Fiesta Red Strat.

FenderBender

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Cliff Richard got his start in the Shadows, so it's not surprising.

Yip that was exactly 50 years ago. It's an anniversary tour.

and the Strat became more viable as a rock instrument.

I would imagine its robustness and bolt on neck would have stood it in good favour against the Gibbys, especially since the fuzzbox allowed it to quack like a giant toothed duck ?

Riaan

The Shadows' tunes bring back lots of happy childhood memories. My dad was (and still is) a great fan. In fact, he bought me the first Dire Straits album in 1978 because he liked their sound, said it reminded him a bit of the Shadows... ?

As a teenager, it was very uncool to listen to the same music as one's old man, but later on in life and now we both enjoy listening to it - me occassionally, my dad all the time!

One of my all time favourites: See You In My Drums. Because of the drum solo! Before I got interested in the guitar at about 17 or so, I was into drums big time. Never had a drumkit though, hence the thousands of small indentations on some hand-me-down furniture I now have!

Riaan

They'll be in SA (with Cliff Richard nogal) next year.

I just bought my dad some tickets as a surprise. If my mom doesn't want to go (very likely), I'll go with him.... ?

PeteM

I was hugely influenced by the Shadows when I started playing, but soon changed my attitude towards them when The Stones, Beatles, Deep Purple, Hendrix and Clapton came on the scene. I saw them as whimpish - no b@lls.
It's only in my dotage that I realise the influence that Hank B did have on my playing and listening to them now, I can appreciate their musicality and the command they had over their instruments. BTW Brian Bennett, the drummer went on to become a highly respected composer and arranger see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Bennett_(musician)

aubs1

PeteM wrote: I was hugely influenced by the Shadows when I started playing,

And so was I, Pete.......the Shadows and The Ventures are the groups that influenced my first few picking songs, and the sound and tone Hank Marvin got out of his Strat. The Strats in those days only had the 1,3,5 switches (compared to todays Strats), and it was a major thing for me to figure the in-between tones only a Strat could get (2 and 4). Wish I could have gotten a Burns, but the Strat was just Awesome, thanx to The Shadows.

I was fortunate to see Cliff and The Shadows in CT those many years ago........ ?

Bob-Dubery

There are players from the sort of early days of Rock 'n Roll - late 50s, early 60s - who sound tame to modern ears but were hugely influential on the guys who came along just a couple of years later. Hank Marvin is one such player. Others would be Scotty Moore, Buddy Holly and James Burton.

Bob-Dubery

X-rated Bob wrote: Hank Marvin is one such player. Others would be Scotty Moore, Buddy Holly and James Burton.

And, of course, Chuck Berry

aubs1

X-rated Bob wrote: And, of course, Chuck Berry

Hey Bob, just could not resist......"That Intro".........Chuck Berry showing Keith how!!!!..... ? ? ? Keith on a Strat!!!

I know we're talking about the Shadows, but simply could not resist.......hahahaha......apologies all round!!!

selbydoodl

Small correction Alan.

Cliff and the Shadows were originally called Cliff Richard and the DRIFTERS.

They had to change the name due to the American group of the same name.

The chose the Shadows as the second name of choice.

DonovanB

Flip anyone who hasn't seen Cliff Richard perform needs to. sheesh he is great live.

Bob-Dubery

DonovanB wrote: Flip anyone who hasn't seen Cliff Richard perform needs to. sheesh he is great live.

Personally I haven't seen him perform and I have no urge to. It's not a case of my preferring to stick needles in my eyes, but if it was a choice between watching Cliff in concert and watching the paint dry I'd be so busy debating the pros and cons that by the time I'd made my mind up to watch the paint dry Cliff would have left the building.

PeteM

X-rated Bob wrote: There are players from the sort of early days of Rock 'n Roll - late 50s, early 60s - who sound tame to modern ears but were hugely influential on the guys who came along just a couple of years later. Hank Marvin is one such player. Others would be Scotty Moore, Buddy Holly and James Burton.

And don't forget Chet Atkins - a huge influence on Mark Knopfler and other finger-style players.

DonovanB

X-rated Bob wrote: Personally I haven't seen him perform and I have no urge to. It's not a case of my preferring to stick needles in my eyes, but if it was a choice between watching Cliff in concert and watching the paint dry I'd be so busy debating the pros and cons that by the time I'd made my mind up to watch the paint dry Cliff would have left the building.

Ha ha Bob, he is a very good performer.

Bob-Dubery

DonovanB wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: Personally I haven't seen him perform and I have no urge to. It's not a case of my preferring to stick needles in my eyes, but if it was a choice between watching Cliff in concert and watching the paint dry I'd be so busy debating the pros and cons that by the time I'd made my mind up to watch the paint dry Cliff would have left the building.
Ha ha Bob, he is a very good performer.

So are West Life. And I'm even less keen to see them in concert.