Crossword Dictionary
the Shadows
the Shadows, London-based instrumental rock group whose distinctive sound exerted a strong influence on other young British musicians in the 1960s and beyond. The original members were lead guitarist Hank B. Marvin (original name Brian Robson Rankin; b. October 28, 1941, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England), rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch (original name Bruce Cripps; b. November 2, 1941, Bognor Regis, Sussex), bassist Jet Harris (byname of Terence Harris; b. July 6, 1939, London—d. March 18, 2011, Winchester, Hampshire), and drummer Tony Meehan (byname of Daniel Meehan; b. March 2, 1943, London—d. November 28, 2005, London). Later members included drummer Brian Bennett (b. February 9, 1940, London) and bassist John Rostill (b. June 16, 1942, Birmingham, West Midlands—d. November 26, 1973, England).
Formed in 1958 as the Drifters, the foursome became the backing group for Cliff Richard, the British answer to Elvis Presley. A name change to avoid conflict with the American vocal group the Drifters prefaced the release of the first of the Shadows’ singles. The group’s trademark was the smooth twangy sound produced by lead guitarist Marvin’s lavish use of the tremolo arm of his Fender Stratocaster, an effect that could be made to sound either lyrical or sinister. As the primitive charm of the skiffle era faded, the Shadows showed a generation of embryonic British rockers what to do. Thousands learned to play guitar by imitating the Shadows’ hits, which included “Apache,†“F.B.I.,†and “Wonderful Landâ€; many went on to buy their own Stratocasters as the British “beat boom†took off. The era of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones made the Shadows’ musicobsolete, and the group officially disbanded in 1968.