My First Love The Shadows

Fairport Convention’s multi-instrumentalist reveals an early fondness for the choreographed

guitar pioneers. “My first musical love was the debut album by The Shadows – in mono. It’s got a picture of them with all their lovely sweaters on and all their lovely Fender guitars. A teenage boy’s dream, those guitars. I bought it with my own money in a record shop in Acock’s Green in Birmingham, and I’ve still got it. Anyone who plays the guitar at my age – I’m 66 – will have had The Shadows as heroes.

“It started for me with Bert Weedon when he used to be on the telly, doing The Five O’Clock Club. I bought his Play In A Day book, but it took me two weeks to tune the guitar. I then found out the guitar that I had was unplayable anyway [laughs].

“But when I could play a little bit, [Shadows guitarist] Hank Marvin became my hero.”

”The Shadows is still an incredible album when I play it now; the recording and musicianship is iconic. That sound, that tone. It showed the Strat off as the guitar. And the great thing is that today I can go into town and buy one for 60 quid. I’ve got several of these cheaper ones around the house cos I love the shape of the instrument – and they cover up a lot of dodgy plasterwork [laughs].”