The Shadows' members positions on stage

[iefje]

The position on stage of The Shadows' members has virtually been the same ever since they first appeared on stage. From an audience point of view and taking the original Shadows line-up as an example, Hank's position is front right, Bruce's position is front left, Jet's position is front centre and Tony's position is back centre. This has stayed this way after Brian Bennett, Brian Locking and John Rostill joined. Exceptions thereafter were the Hank, Brian, John and Alan Hawkshaw line-up and the Hank, Bruce, Brian, John Farrar and Alan Tarney line-up. From the “20 Golden Dates” tour on, the place of the four main musicians on stage reverted back to their original positions, but with an additional position for the keyboard player back left.
I was wondering who originally decided these positions and why they are as they are. Does anyone know?

[JimN]

The first time I saw The Shadows live was in April 1962 at the Liverpool Empire. Jet had left about ten days earlier and this was Licorice's third night playing live.

But...

Bruce was taken ill and was unable to perform. His place was hurriedly taken by Peter Carter of the Checkmates. The stage layout was (from the audience POV):

Licorice ........ Peter Carter (with Brian Bennett behind) ........ Hank.

There was a white grand piano behind Hank's position, which he used to play Stand Up And Say That! as part of the show.

Peter didn't so all of the stage movements, but definitely joined in for F.B.I.

[Moderne]

According to Bruce, Jet was originally on the left (from the audience POV) but they moved him to centre to stop him chatting to girls on the edge of the stage and wandering off - as he was prone to do! As mentioned above, they varied their positions when John Farrar was in the group- as can be seen on the Eurovision performances on the Lulu shows (available to view on YouTube).