| The Shadows over New Zealand |
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... the New Zealand Tours ... ... the end of an epoch ... the ultimate break-up ... ... and beyond to the "Final" Tour ... ** Click on any Tour Brochure front cover to page through that brochure ... ** Click on any hotlink to view exclusive pictures (if available) from that tour ... |
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Cliff Richard and The Shadows New Zealand Tour 1961 Cliff Richard (20) - Vocals d.o.b. 14/10/1940 Hank Marvin (19) - Lead Guitar d.o.b. 28/10/1941 Bruce Welch (19) - Rhythm Guitar d.o.b. 02/11/1941 Terrence "Jet" Harris (22) - Bass Guitar d.o.b. 06/07/1939 Brian Bennett (21) - Drums d.o.b. 09/02/1940 At the time of this first New Zealand Tour, Brian Bennett had only just replaced The Shadows' original drummer Tony Meehan, hence Brian does not feature in any of the tour publicity shots. |
"Take a quartet of dedicated-to-success young men. A trio of guitars and one drum kit. Add a lot of hard work, spice with a great degree of natural talent - serve hot. Then you have THE SHADOWS."
I well remember my first glimpse of the Shadows. They came out onto the stage and opened with Shazam (a number I had only ever associated with Duane Eddy until that moment when my mind was changed forever). My father took me to the concert under mild sufferance, and I had to endure several days of the cold shoulder from my high school music master who could not understand how a "five minute wonder" guitar group could possibly take precedence over a school musical evening. Time however now favours my judgement - he was wrong and I was right! |
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The Shadows Silver Anniversary World Tour 1983/84 Hank Marvin - Lead Guitar Bruce Welch - Rhythm Guitar Alan Jones - Bass Guitar Cliff Hall - Keyboards Brian Bennett - Drums |
| A handwritten note from Cliff, shown in the centrefold of the program reads...
Dear Hank, Bruce and Brian, We made it - we survived 25 years !! You were a source of inspiration at the start not only to me but to many others also and there are loads today who would benefit from taking a listen to (and looking at) you !! Still recording - still touring - me too !! See you on the motorway - keep well to the left !! Love you ! Cliff From "The Daily Star" Friday, September 9, 1983 Hank said: "We never realised we would still be around making money and selling records 25 years later. I've really enjoyed the success and good times we've had. We will keep on going as long as people want to see and hear us and as long as we find it fun." 1984 (NZ) TOUR ITINERARY ..... Auckland - Wednesday Jan 25th, Thursday Jan 26th Wellington - Friday Jan 27th, Saturday Jan 28th Christchurch - Monday January 30th, Tuesday January 31st |
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| 1983/84 Newspaper Clipping 1984 Tour Poster |
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The Shadows Australia and New Zealand Tour 1985 Hank Marvin - Lead Guitar Bruce Welch - Rhythm Guitar Alan Jones - Bass Guitar Cliff Hall - Keyboards Brian Bennett - Drums |
| Power to Andy Shann for lending Hank a Strat when Hank's gear got delayed Thanks to Andy Shann and John Boyd for the interim brochure scans |
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| The ability to change and stay fresh and enthusiastic while retaining all their strengths built up in the last 25 years, has been a central factor in the continuing success story of The Shadows. For they know that to survive, they must attract young fans as well as please those who have been with them all the way.
Through all the triumphs and the trails, all the sold-out concerts and hit records and big selling albums, as well as the difficulties and disappointments that have inevitably occurred during 25 years, the anchor for The Shadows has not been their ego. It has, instead, been that boyish love of pop music that first drove them together. The Shadows took off with their own identity, recording a series of beautifully melodic tunes that took them into the British top ten no less than twelve times between 1960 and 1963: the songs include five chart toppers, Apache. Kon-Tiki, Wonderful Land, Dance On! and Foot Tapper and the unmistakable sound of Hank Marvin's guitar has been a major influence in charting a future for British pop throughout the past two decades. While the 1950's and 1960's were pop's most formative, high energy decades the 1970's and 1980's have proved the periods when the true test of enduring talent, style and professionalism have allowed the real artists to shine on. 1985 TOUR ITINERARY ..... Dunedin Town Hall - Monday Jan 28th Christchurch Town Hall - Tuesday Jan 29th Wellington Michael Fowler Centre - Friday Feb 1st, Saturday Feb 2nd Palmerston North Sports Stadium - Monday Feb 4th New Plymouth Bowl of Brooklands - Wednesday Feb 6th Hamilton Founders Theatre - Thursday Feb 7th Auckland Logan Campbell Centre - Saturday Feb 9th |
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Pix from Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
Pix from Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland 1985 Newspaper Clipping 1985 Newspaper Advertisement | |
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Moonlight Shadows The Tour 1987 Hank Marvin - Lead Guitar Bruce Welch - Rhythm Guitar Mark Griffiths - Bass Guitar Cliff Hall - Keyboards Brian Bennett - Drums |
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Bruce would be the first to agree that when The Shadows began their career as teenagers he could hardly have imagined becoming one of the best-regarded figures in pop. It takes a certain kind of confidence and resolve to improve again and again, constantly seeking new and better ways, but in common with Hank and Brian he has never been complacent; on the contrary he pours out a seemingly endless stream of energy, an unashamed enthusiasm for music driving him on. |
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The Shadows The Tour 1989 Hank Marvin - Lead Guitar Bruce Welch - Rhythm Guitar Mark Griffiths - Bass Guitar Cliff Hall - Keyboards Brian Bennett - Drums 1989 Newspaper Advertisement |
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Pete Townshend of The Who sums it up for us all ... "The Shadows will always be a living myth to me - a legend - even though I can now prop up the bar with any one of them and talk music, family, religion. They are frozen in my mind as one of the greatest passions of my life, one I have not, after thirty years, come close to outliving." |
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Cliff Richard and The Shadows The Final ReunionTour 2010 Cliff Richard - Vocals Hank Marvin - Lead Guitar, Vocals Bruce Welch - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals Mark Griffiths - Bass Guitar, Vocals Warren Bennett - Keyboards, Vocals Keith Hayman - Keyboards, Vocals Brian Bennett - Drums At last the long awaited "Final Reunion Tour" |
| Cliff Richard and The Shadows dominated the pop scene in the late 50s and early-to-mid 60s. Now after surviving collectively and individually for over 50 years, they stage a world tour to mark the end of an incredible career in the undeniably fickle music business, and what better way to celebrate than to play to a string of packed houses around the world. It seems inevitable that this will be the "final" outing for these guys. We their fans will always cherish the enjoyment received from their performances and extensive recording careers — and we still have the memories. 2010 TOUR ITINERARY ..... Auckland (Vector Arena) Wednesday, February 24th Auckland (Vector Arena) Thursday, February 25th New Plymouth (Bowl of Brooklands) Saturday, February 27th Christchurch (Westpac Stadium) Monday, March 01st Christchurch (Westpac Stadium) Tuesday, March 02nd
An incredible 50 years coming, but this tour was such a revelation. How could the best be even better? Cliff had the final word(s) .... "When will we meet again? ... When? When?? When???" |
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