The Shadows

The Shadows were a British instrumental rock 'n' roll group active from the 1950s to the 2000s.

1970s

The group reformed again in 1970 with Welch back on rhythm guitar and the addition of Australian John Farrar on bass, guitar, and vocals, brought in following the death of John Rostill. An album, Rocking With Curly Leads featured Hank using vocoder to modify his distinctive sound. Some tracks used Farrar as a second lead guitarist, making this album sound fresh and different.

Related Topics:
1970 - Australia - John Farrar

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The group were chosen by BBC Boss Billy Cotton Jr to perform the A Song for Europe in the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest The Shadows recorded a number of alternatives and played a song each week on a six week television show. The public then voted on the best song and eventually, Let Me Be The One by Paul Curtis was chosen. The group didn't win, coming a creditable second to Teach In's Ding-A-Dong, but the Shadows were re-established as a chart act. Other records soon followed, featuring Farrar's strong vocal and writing talents as well as his instrumental skills.

Related Topics:
BBC - Billy Cotton Jr - A Song for Europe - 1975 - Eurovision Song Contest

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During the early 'Seventies, the three principal members of the Shadows had a second career as vocal group Marvin Welch and Farrar. They recorded two critically acclaimed albums and several singles, and without Bruce, a third album Marvin and Farrar, which Hank described as 'Frankenstein meets the Beach Boys'. This group's live performances were hampered by the fact that everyone who saw Hank in his distinctive spectacles expected a performance of the Shadows' greatest hits. As Hank says (interviewed in Guitar Greats by John Tobler) 'In the Batley Variety Club we walked off stage to the sound of our own footsteps!'.

Related Topics:
Marvin Welch and Farrar - Batley

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The packaging of the group's greatest hits in Twenty Golden Greats by EMI in 1977 prompted the group to reform for a tour featuring Francis Monkman from Sky on keyboards, leading to a number one album and a top ten hit single Don't Cry For Me Argentina.

Related Topics:
1977 - Sky - Don't Cry For Me Argentina

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