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The Shadows
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
The Shadows was an English instrumental rock group, formed in 1958 under the name The Drifters. They began as the backing band of the singer Harry Webb, who started calling himself Cliff Richard. Their first single with him was Move It. In 1959 the guitarist Hank Marvin, rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch, bassist Jet Harris and drummer Tony Meehan joined the group. Marvin caught the eye of the producer Johnny Foster in a Soho coffee bar, with his guitar playing and his Buddy Holly-style glasses. Because an American vocal group had the same name and threatened legal action, Harris came up with the new name in July 1959.
Music and breakthrough
In 1960 their instrumental single Apache reached number one in the United Kingdom. Other number ones were Kon-Tiki, Wonderful Land, Foot Tapper and Dance On! In 1961 Brian Bennett replaced Meehan, and Harris left in 1962. They remained Richard's backing band until 1968 and then split up, but got together again in the 1970s. Until 2007 they were the fifth most successful act in the British singles chart, after Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Cliff Richard and Madonna.
Influence
The Shadows played in the line-up of lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass and drums, and built their sound on Fender guitars and Vox amplifiers. They were the first backing band that also had commercial success of its own. In this way they set an example to many British boys: a group could manage on its own, with guitars. For the beat groups of the 1960s, the Beatles themselves among them, that was an important cradle.
Listening
Discography
Studio albums
- 1960Me and My Shadows
- 1961Dance With the Shadows
- 1961Dance With the Shadows
- 1961The Young Ones (soundtrack)
- 196232 Minutes and 17 Seconds With Cliff Richard
- 1962Out of the Shadows
- 1963Summer Holiday (soundtrack)
- 1963Surfing With the Shadows
- 1963When in Spain…
- 1964Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (soundtrack)
- 1964Dance With the Shadows
- 1964The Fantastic Shadows
- 1964Wonderful Life (soundtrack)
- 1965Brilliant Shadows Brilliant Songs
- 1965The Sound of the Shadows
- 1966Shadow Music
- 1967Cinderella
- 1967From Hank, Bruce, Brian and John
- 1967Jigsaw
- 1968Established 1958
- 1969Somethin’ Else
- 1970Shades of Rock
- 1972Mustang
- 1973Rockin’ With Curly Leads
- 1975Specs Appeal
- 1977Tasty
- 1979Thank You Very Much
- 1980Change of Address
- 1982Life in the Jungle
- 1983XXV
- 1984Guardian Angel
- 1987Simply Shadows
- 1989Steppin’ to the Shadows
- 1991Apache (soundtrack)
- 1991The Deerhunter
- 2009Reunited: 50th Anniversary
- 2014Atlantis
- 2014Sunflower Edition
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- Mixtape 2: Youth Cultures 1950-1980NL Reader
Mentioned in other articles
- Fender Stratocaster Technology
Buddy Holly made the Strat known in rock 'n' roll, Hank Marvin of The Shadows in Europe.