Brian Bennett

[StuartD]

Hi

Just a reminder that it's 60 years ago today since Brian Bennett joined the Shadows. Best decision they ever made

Regards

Stuart

[GoldenStreet]

Is the 1st October 1961 (a Sunday) the day Tony left or Brian joined? Was there not a few days gap until Brian's debut at the Blackpool Opera House or elsewhere? Either way, it was certainly a momentous decision for both parties!

Bill

[martcaster]

Hi! Stuart.
Couldn't agree more with your opinion of Brian's appointment. What an asset! Almost impossible to over-emphasize his contribution to 'that' sound. He truly deserves the epithet 'The Guv'nor'. Thanks, Brian for everything.

[Iain Purdon]

The answer can be found in Chris Colverson’s excellent history https://meandmyshadows.me/ where you will find this clipping from the NME. As I interpret it - first appearance by BB Sun 1st October 1961, stand-in drummer Sat 30th Sept, last appearance by TM Fri 29th Sept 1961 - assuming the appearances were nightly?

You can see posters for “The Big Show” at Blackpool Opera House here http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/BlackpoolTheatres/OperaHouseBlackpoolProgrammes.htm

[StuartD]

You are right Ian

Tony left on the Friday and Brian was contacted. They had a stand in Drummer on the Saturday and Brian drove up to Birmingham where they recorded Thank Your Lucky Stars. He mimed to Kon Tiki and continued to Blackpool.

Brian continued for the rest of the season at Blackpool and has been there ever since!!

Regards

Stuart

[GoldenStreet]

By chance Ulrich has just posted link in the Lounge to a previous post by him from March 2015 of his exhaustive documentation of early tour dates/bills including the Drifters/Shadows. Couldn't help noticing this reference to Brian's appearance (if accurate) on the 24th September 1961, exactly a week prior to his accepted debut with the group on 1st October...

Su 24.09.1961
Leicester (De Montfort Hall) – 17.40 & 20.00
Programme: The Red Price Group - Alan Field - The Two Tones - Alan Field - The Shadows - interval - The Rec Price Group - Alan Field - Patti Brook - Alan Field - Cliff Richard and the Shadows [Hank Marvin (lg), Bruce Welch (rg), Jet Harris (bg), Brian Bennett (drms)] - Ulrich

Guaranteed final word from me on the subject!

Bill

[Didier]

Bruce wrote in his book that after Tony Meehan left, he called Brian Bennett to ask him to join The Shadows, he asked "how much are you making ?" the answer was "£ 25 a week". Bruce said : "we'll double it !". that's how Brian joined the Shadows...

Didier

[UlrichS]

By chance Ulrich has just posted link in the Lounge to a previous post by him from March 2015 of his exhaustive documentation of early tour dates/bills including the Drifters/Shadows. Couldn't help noticing this reference to Brian's appearance (if accurate) on the 24th September 1961, exactly a week prior to his accepted debut with the group on 1st October...

Su 24.09.1961
Leicester (De Montfort Hall) – 17.40 & 20.00
Programme: The Red Price Group - Alan Field - The Two Tones - Alan Field - The Shadows - interval - The Rec Price Group - Alan Field - Patti Brook - Alan Field - Cliff Richard and the Shadows [Hank Marvin (lg), Bruce Welch (rg), Jet Harris (bg), Brian Bennett (drms)] - Ulrich

Guaranteed final word from me on the subject!

Bill

I am sorry to have risen some confusion regarding the drummer change from Tony Meehan to Brian Bennett.
My contribution to the thread mentioned above is six years old and in a few points outdated by now. (I have corrected the entry in question).

The change happened during the 6 weeks variety program "The Big Show Of 1961" at the Opera House Blackpool, which went from Monday, 28th August until Saturday, 7th October 1961. There were two shows per day at 18.15 and 20.50 with no shows on Sundays.
As stated before Tony Meehan's last concert concert in this program was on Friday, 29th September 1961.
On the Saturday, 30th September he was replace by Derek Fell from The Echolets.
On Sunday, 1st October Brian Bennett was on drums but not in Blackpool but at the Hippodrome in Birmingham (17.30 and 20.00).
From Monday, 2nd October until Saturday, 7th October Brian played the final week in Blackpool with Cliff & The Shadows.

Ulrich

1961-10-01 f01.jpg (33.26 KiB) Viewed 3995 times

[Iain Purdon]

Thanks Ulrich. So we can put this one to bed now!

[JimN]

A minor point - there is no 31st September.

The Saturday in question was the 30th September (and the Friday was the 29th).