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Hi all,

Up to now I believed that John Rostill was in Tom's backing band only on the "Tom Jones live at Caesars Palace" album, which was recorded in 1971.
An entry in Wikipedia lists John Rostill also for the Tom Jones album "Live in Las Vegas", recorded in 1969. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Jones_Live_in_Las_Vegas
Can anybody confirm this? Many thanks in advance.

Ulrich

It's possible but John is also recorded as making his last Shadows appearance in June 1970. I don't know whether Shadows activity was sufficiently fragmented by then to allow a Tom Jones tour the year before.

Thanks Iain,

That's exactly my problem. From July '69 onwards John was the bassist in the Brian Bennett Orchestra accompanying Cliff at his concerts in the UK, Japan and back in the UK again. In the first half of '69 I could not trace any activities.
The US Tom Jones tour was at the Flamingo in Las Vegas between 6. February and 8. March and the announcement of the musician on the album in question says "on drums we have Chris, on bass we have John, on lead guitar we have Jimmy". Jimmy is certainly Big Jim Sullivan and John could mean John Rostill but not necessarily.
Question yet unanswered.

Ulrich

In Mike Read's book, Brian says he went and played with Tom Jones and Big Jim in Washington USA for a week in March 1969, but declined Gordon Mills (Tom's manager)'s offer to stay and go with Tom to Las Vegas...no mention of whether John Rostill went with him.

however..The Shads toured Japan in 1969 (with Hank,John Rostill, Brian Bennett and Alan Hawkshaw) so it probably wasn't John playing with Tom Jones in 1969..

Does this sound feasible?

cockroach wrote:In Mike Read's book, Brian says he went and played with Tom Jones and Big Jim in Washington USA for a week in March 1969, but declined Gordon Mills (Tom's manager)'s offer to stay and go with Tom to Las Vegas...no mention of whether John Rostill went with him.

however..The Shads toured Japan in 1969 (with Hank,John Rostill, Brian Bennett and Alan Hawkshaw) so it probably wasn't John playing with Tom Jones in 1969..

Does this sound feasible?

Many thanks for your comments.
I think you are referring to the "Shadows live in Japan" album. This was recorded on 12. October when Cliff & the Shadows (as part of the Brian Bennett Orchestra) visited Japan.
On the "Live in Las Vegas" album Tom Jones annouces a drummer "Chris", so Brian Bennett must have been there after the Las Vegas concerts.
So still no answer regarding the period in February/March.

HI

John did not work with The Shadows from December 1969, apart from the two TV appearances, New Years Eve and the Cliff Richard show, until June 1970.

The Shadows did three 'gigs' in between. Batley Variety Club for a week in March/April 1970, finishing 4th April, then a week at the Golden Garter Wythenshawe commencing 14th April and finally the NME Poll Winners Concert in May.

On all those gigs Paul Ferris played Bass and I went to the gigs at Batley and Wythenshawe and I was told that John was not available because he was working with Tom Jones. Brian Bennett told me that.

Regards

Stuart

Brian told me that John took the weeks with Tom Jones and that the money was very good

Regards

Stu

There you are Ulrich! What do you think now?

If I get Stu correctly that Brian Bennett made the remarks about John's participation in Tom Jones' US tour prior to spring 1971 then John Rostill IS the bass player on the 1969 "Live In Las Vegas" album.
Question answered.
Thanks to all for your help.

Ulrich

Hi Phil,
Many thanks for this information which closes the last gaps.
Ulrich