The ShadowMusic Web Community

Some will remember discussion here of Tony's brief television connection with Bert Weedon immediately after leaving The Shadows in October 1961.

On the Rediffusion childrens' TV programme "Tuesday Rendezvous" (the one with the China Doll theme tune) Bert announced that same month that he was going to host a series of items over the following few weeks showing viewers how to play in a pop group, adding that for the first feature, he'd have one of The Shadows in the studio. By the following Tuesday, it was known that Tony had left The Shadows and he diplomatically referred to himself as one of the original Shadows (possibly the first time the phrase had ever needed to be employed). Tony explained his drumkit and also gave advice on which drum to buy first if money was tight (the snare, of course).

This was about the same time that Tony played session drums on Bert's Red Guitar single.

I knew there was a related photo somewhere - and Piet Muys has come up with the link. I've added it to flickr so that it can be accessed from here. Note the Gretsch kit - and Bert's sunburst Verithin (that must be a rarity):

And an early Verithin at that, complete with factory Bigsby.
In later life those ones used to come apart as the glue on the body started to fail. My old Verithin (a 63) with lyre tail went that way.
cheers
ian

Myself and some mates from our church choir watched this series and were inspired to form our first band!

Yes, that Red Guitar session was at Abbey Road on Thursday 26th October, 1961, and the track was issued as the B side of China Doll (HMV POP 946). I've still got my copy hidden away somewhere amongst the old vinyl collection!

http://www.45cat.com/record/pop946

Bill

Regarding Berts' Verithin, Hofner made lots of different versions of their many models but only a limited number of variations were imported to the UK through Selmers. It's worth taking a look on various vintage European guitar websites- for example, as well as all the Hofners, there were many variations of the Dutch Egmond guitars, of which only a few were sold in the UK as Rosetti models...

I hadn't seen that photo with Tony and Bert before, it must have been just before Bert got his Guild Starfire..

Where was Ollie Beak?

GoldenStreet wrote:Yes, that Red Guitar session was at Abbey Road on Thursday 26th October, 1961, and the track was issued as the B side of China Doll (HMV POP 946). I've still got my copy hidden away somewhere amongst the old vinyl collection!
http://www.45cat.com/record/pop946
Bill

When the programme changed in format (slightly), ceased to be "Lucky Dip" and became "Tuesday Rendezvous", the new (Bert Weedon) theme tune was already recorded (and was used) but didn't yet have a name; titling it was left to the viewers as a write-in competition.

China Doll was the winning entry. I wonder whether the winner knew that there were two other songs (at least) with the same title?

I can remember seeing The Shadows on there at a later date, they played Guitar Tango which was their latest single at the time and then they were interviewed with just Bruce doing the talking.
I'm not sure now as it was many years ago but did Bruce appear solo on there? I seem to vaguely remember something or it may not have been as I was only 9 at the time and only then got into The Shadows.

Not sure if it was that show, but I remember them doing Guitar Tango and obviously miming, as the tape went wonky and they had to cut it short - the presenter stepping in before the end!

Did anyone see the show when Tony was playing in Bert`s backing band when the drumstick flew out of his hand and then pick it up.