The Shadows using Stools as Stage Props

[MMStingray54]

I'm aware that several of the Shadows tribute acts around feature groups of songs played with the guitarists and bassist sitting on stools.

Did the Shadows actually do this and if so what era - I've not been able to find any photos of this. Sorry if this seems a daft question but I was just curious and I'm sure some of you knowledgable guys will know exactly.

[Jay Bass]

Hi heres A early video of the shads sitting down
they also used stools on the re united tour (travelin light, all shook up etc)
jay

[cockroach]

They used them as part of some comedy onstage too...

When I saw them in the '80's, the stage hands brought two stools on stage for Bruce and Alan Jones, but not Hank...he looked to the wings and called out 'where's mine?' and the stage hand threw it at him from the wings...bloody near hit him too!!

[Moderne]

The 1978 London Palladium reunion video captures a nice bit of 'business' around the stage stools idea - where the stage hands have left Bruce's stool at the side of the stage and Cliff goes to get it for him. "I don't mind humping your stool Bruce; fame hasn't changed me!" (NB I don't think 'humping' had taken on the vulgar slang meaning it has now!!) As a pseudo-sophisticated 14-year old, I thought this was impossibly corny, but now it makes me smile!

[Iain Purdon]

One great thing about a Shadows stage show was the variety. Sitting down was just one of many devices they used to make sure it didn't all look and sound the same. They were ultra-professional and could keep the audience engaged throughout the set. It didn't matter how many times you'd seen them, they would always surprise and delight you with something new.

[neil2726]

They used stools on the 2004 final tour too!

[MMStingray54]

Hi heres A early video of the shads sitting down
they also used stools on the re united tour (travelin light, all shook up etc)
jay

Great stuff - thanks guys. I had guessed it must have formed part of their show at times. Jay, that's a great version of Nivram - excellent guitar solo and bass solo - also some nice thoughtful and spacious rythmn playing from Bruce. Apart from the wonderful Alan Jones and Mark Griffiths, John Rostill is my favourite Shadows bassist from the 60s - is the description 'basse' and 'basse ist' used by Hank some sort of joke - reminiscent of a currently popular fish dish but not sure if it had been invented (as a popular food) in the 60s!!