Reunion - Cliff - how arrogant

[AlanMcKillop]

Going over old ground again Bill.

[Pedro]

I think the posts are a little disengenuous to Mark Griffiths. Lets Face it, he has played Bass for the Shadows now for over 20 years. Much, much longer than any of his predecessors. Further, Mark is probably a finer Bass player and certainly more technically proficient than any for his predecessors.

[Bojan]

I think the posts are a little disengenuous to Mark Griffiths. Lets Face it, he has played Bass for the Shadows now for over 20 years. Much, much longer than any of his predecessors. Further, Mark is probably a finer Bass player and certainly more technically proficient than any for his predecessors.

As for Mark and his prowess as a bass guitar player, I certainly agree with you Pedro; there's no question about it. And I also agree that Mark playing bass on the whole tour was probably the most sensible solution. But in spite of being a fabulous bass player, Mark does have the charisma of Jet Harris, or even Licorice, at least in a Shadows context. Jet is a living legend. That is the main difference.

What they could have done was invite Jet and Lic to make a single guest appearance each at only one single concert, the one that was recorded for the DVD. I'm sure this would have been the real "closure" that us fans have been wanting to see. Two years ago, Marty Wilde did that when he called in the original Crew Cats, including Lic, Brian, and "Big" Jim Sullivan and performed Bad Boy. He also invited Jet, Bruce and Hank . . . At the end, they all came on state, which was great, because at last you had Hank, Bruce, Brian, Jet, and Lic on stage all together. If Tony had been alive, he would have been invited too, without any doubt. So, if Marty Wilde could do it, why couldn't the Shadows!

[Pedro]

I think the posts are a little disengenuous to Mark Griffiths. Lets Face it, he has played Bass for the Shadows now for over 20 years. Much, much longer than any of his predecessors. Further, Mark is probably a finer Bass player and certainly more technically proficient than any for his predecessors.

As for Mark and his prowess as a bass guitar player, I certainly agree with you Pedro; there's no question about it. And I also agree that Mark playing bass on the whole tour was probably the most sensible solution. But in spite of being a fabulous bass player, Mark does have the charisma of Jet Harris, or even Licorice, at least in a Shadows context. Jet is a living legend. That is the main difference.

What they could have done was invite Jet and Lic to make a single guest appearance each at only one single concert, the one that was recorded for the DVD. I'm sure this would have been the real "closure" that us fans have been wanting to see. Two years ago, Marty Wilde did that when he called in the original Crew Cats, including Lic, Brian, and "Big" Jim Sullivan and performed Bad Boy. He also invited Jet, Bruce and Hank . . . At the end, they all came on state, which was great, because at last you had Hank, Bruce, Brian, Jet, and Lic on stage all together. If Tony had been alive, he would have been invited too, without any doubt. So, if Marty Wilde could do it, why couldn't the Shadows!

Maybe there is 'baggage' somewhere that lesser mortals, like you and i, will ever get to know about. We see the Shadows on stage and some members might know or have met the Shadows. But who really knows? It is very much a Hank/Bruce thing and I imagine they could be difficult. Comeing from a seafaring background I know what resentment is all about and there just might be something here.

[Bojan]

Maybe there is 'baggage' somewhere that lesser mortals, like you and i, will ever get to know about. We see the Shadows on stage and some members might know or have met the Shadows. But who really knows? It is very much a Hank/Bruce thing and I imagine they could be difficult. Coming from a seafaring background I know what resentment is all about and there just might be something here.

I think you are absolutely right Pedro.

[alewis41]

If they are anything like the "Final Tour" gigs, the shows are as closely scripted as a play or a musical - Down to the exact same jokes being inserted in the exact same places every night. This would seem to rule out the "let's get all the Shads on stage together one last time" plan, as appealing as that might sound to the fans.

[Bill Bowley]

Resentment at sea Pedro? Never seen it in my 33 years in the Navy (probably too drunk to remember!) -there is a fair bit in Reserves though!

[Pedro]

Resentment at sea Pedro? Never seen it in my 33 years in the Navy (probably too drunk to remember!) -there is a fair bit in Reserves though!

Well Bill, I came across a lot of it. I assume by Reserves you mean RFA but then they are neither Royal or Merchant and I would expect plenty there

[Alan Prudhoe]

If they are anything like the "Final Tour" gigs, the shows are as closely scripted as a play or a musical - Down to the exact same jokes being inserted in the exact same places every night. This would seem to rule out the "let's get all the Shads on stage together one last time" plan, as appealing as that might sound to the fans.

"Ad libs" in live shows are rarely what they seem.
I remember Eric Morcambe saying in an interview that their ad libs, for which they were famous, were all scripted.

[Bill Bowley]

Resentment at sea Pedro? Never seen it in my 33 years in the Navy (probably too drunk to remember!) -there is a fair bit in Reserves though!

Well Bill, I came across a lot of it. I assume by Reserves you mean RFA but then they are neither Royal or Merchant and I would expect plenty there

Pedro,

No, not RFA - we don't have that in Australia, the RAN mans its own replenishment ships (and arms them too). What I was referring to was the RAN Active Reserve, like the RNR (with the occasional bit of full time service) which I transferred to on reaching the then compulsory retirement age of 55 after 33 years full time RAN, I'm signed on in Reserves till age 65 with further extensions after that depending on med status and Navy requirements.

On reflection, I would agree with you regarding resentment in the service, but more as the exception rather than the rule. Jimbo, I can see why stopping the tot caused some resentment, I think the Kiwi's are the only ones that still have it!