hank marvin - guitar hero

when i was a kid my dad used to drive me to guitar lessons every thursday after school. on the way we would listen to the shadows, and although at the time i thought the music was kinda lame, i couldnt help but fall in love with the songs and eventually learn to play them myself. the shadows were originally cliff richards’ backing band and were known for their dance moves whilst playing their instruments. supposedly these dance moves made the crowd go wild. and the shadows played some tight tunes

to me, hank marvin, the shadows lead guitarist is the benchmark for what a guitarist should be looking to achieve. he had a way of getting the most out of the instrument without working it too hard. he played some wicked sounding stuff, had a distinct guitar sound, played complex yet clean riffs, and was able to be a showman all at the same time. he could play within the minor pentatonic scale yet you would never think blues, he would then play a little harmonic minor riff and you would never think jazz. he made the guitar sound like he just invented something new

music has progressed, regressed, expanded, changed and developed in a billion ways since the shadows were making records, yet i still find the essence of what hank was doing all those years ago in some of our modern guitar heros. ian mackaye (fugazi) plays the guitar with an intense honesty and power , nick zinner (yeah yeah yeahs) is ferocious on the instrument but keeps it clean and simple, and don't get me started on johnny greenwood (radiohead). these guys are doing what hank did, letting the guitar speak. no need for bullshit filler notes, no need to over complicate things. just play simple riffs, bring some melody into the equation, and create a sound that is you. this isn't as simple as it seems. making something simple, rather than complicated requires sophistication and intelligence, but you also need the feel and artistic sensibility that makes these guys so special. this is guitar playing on another level. this is art! making you feel an emotion with the pluck of every string. hank marvin is still around and still playing guitar. he is and always will be an influence in the guitar world. i suggest you find some shadows records and check them out for yourself

ps. when i was 19 i bought myself a coral pink hank marvin signature strat, just so i could sound like hank. if only i could master all his techniques