Simply Shadows are a band of highly experienced ex-professional and semi-professional musicians from West Sussex who joined together to recreate the sound of one of Britain's best loved and admired instrumental groups; The Shadows.

Jimmy Solo, lead guitarist, met Paul Spooner who plays rhythm guitar towards the end of 2005 and began playing early tunes of the Shadows. In the summer months of 2006 they were joined by Roy Clark on drums and Steve on bass guitar.

In 2007 Steve left the band for personal reasons, the following September, after being spotted and "head-hunted", the vacancy for a bass guitarist was filled by ex Presidents bassist, Tony Busson. There followed three months of hard work in rehearsals and "Simply Shadows" were ready to roll.

Despite the overwhelming sadness at the passing of Jimmy, and Paul's inability to continue due to ill health, the band have been forunate enough to continue to play with the highly experienced and talented additions of Trevor Nobes on rhythm guitar, and Allen Taylor on lead guitar.

 

Rhythm Guitar - Trevor Nobes-

To be added...

Bass Guitar - Tony Busson -

Tony began taking an interest in the guitar in the late 1950’s and progressed to the bass guitar in the early ‘60’s.

In the early days one of Tony’s musical friends in Epsom, Surrey, was Jimmy Page

At the time when Jimmy joined ‘Neil Christian and The Crusaders’, Tony was bass guitarist with ‘Vern Rogers and The Hi-Fi’s’ and played the popular music venues around the Country as a pro musician, - at the tender age of 18. This era ending with The Hi-Fi’s appearing as the supporting Band on the Stage Tour ‘One Night Stand’, backing Duffy Power, Don Spencer and girl duo Wendy Richards / Diana Berry.

Straight after that Tour, in 1962 came the offer to join the Sutton based Band "The Presidents" The vinyl 45 ‘Candyman’ was released and the Band enjoyed several years together. In the early 1970’s Tony was a regular bass player with the late Aussie piano entertainer Colin Hindmarsh, and then played in several semi-pro Bands prior to taking a break to raise a Family from 1980.

Returning to music several years later Tony was a founder member of ‘Bognor Regis Concert Band' and when the Band performed at Arundel Festival Fringe in 2007, Tony was offered the vacant bass player role in a Shadows Tribute Band. A little dubious at first, Tony was soon enjoying re living the music he enjoyed back in the early days in ‘Simply Shadows’.

'In late September  2009 bass player Tony Busson left the Band to take up other options on the local music scene,and Simply Shadows are currently in limbo until a replacement bass player is appointed'

Drums - Roy Clark -

Roy has played various musical instruments since the age of seven. The drums became his main interest after playing with the bands and groups accross the country over the years. Roy has always taken a great interest in the music of the The Shadows

 

Lead Guitar - Allen Taylor -

 As a child he was always by the record player, listening to music. He started playing the guitar at the tender age of 11 years old, after listening to groups like The Sputniks, Ventures and the Shadows, and to guitar players like Chet Atkins and Les Paul.

Allen came top in music at school, and at this time Allen started playing in a Band called ‘The Soundcasters’ who won several talent contests and played at varied functions. Then Allen won an audition out of 80 guitarists for a chance to play on the ‘Mecca’ circuit in the Jeff Rowena Band. So at the age of eighteen Allen turned professional. He formed his own Band with Mecca as ‘The Allen Taylor Sound’, who played the Hammersmith Palais for 2 years.

Allen was also a session musician and played on many hit records of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s and on many TV themes, which included  working with ‘The Tremolos’, ‘Edison Lighthouse’ ( Love Grows) and Tony Hatch ( The ‘Crossroads’ theme)

After some time out of the music scene, Allen was offered a residency as the guitarist in the House band at a Holiday camp in West Sussex. Allen’s meeting with ‘Simply Shadows’ happened after spotting an advert in a local music shop for a Tribute Band lead guitarist.

After it was apparent that former guitarist Jimmy Blanchard would be unable to continue in the Band due to failing health, and following his subsequent death, Allen stepped in at short notice. In his words –“ I intend  to keep ‘Simply Shadows’ on the map in Jimmy’s name.”

The next chapter has begun……………………………

 

For enquiries email Allen Tayloe- a.taylor329@btinternet.com