Great English rock band Cliff Richard occasionally eclipses Shadows. Many Music Man readers know that Richard was marketed as a young rock & roll vocalist like Elvis Presley and Little Richard. Between 1958 and 1968, The Shadows, previously The Drifters, were his backing band for his biggest successes.
In response to pressure from the US singing group famed for Under the Boardwalk and Save the Last Dance for Me, The Drifters became The Shadows. The 2020 BBC 4 documentary The Shadows At Sixty uses this material. The section covers The Shadows’ debut hit, Apache. Jerry Lordan wrote and Bert Weedon sang it, but The Shadows changed it.
The video matters for several reasons. I love seeing the band together and nosing around their old rehearsal room, seeing how well the reformed band members play Apache, and seeing Hank Marvin play The Shadows’ opening riff. Mike Gee Guitarman says he never tires of that sharp twangy guitar tone. It’s pure, lovely, and honest; no distortion or hiding.”
Shadows lead guitarist Hank B. Marvin (born Brian Rankin) is most famous. Gilmour, Townshend, Young, May, Knopfler, Summers, Blackmore, Emmanuel, and Iommi were inspired by him. Others in the band are strong. Joseph Amego comments, “Brian Bennett is a drummer I could listen to all day.” Comments praise others, but let’s listen to Apache silently:
