Shaduows comprise of Brian Houghton (Lead Guitar/Vocals) and Paul Schofield (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals) originally a mixed covers Band covering songs from Pink Floyd, Dire Straits and The Beatles and not forgetting The Shadows.
Brian: We had both been in different bands throughout the years I met Paul through my uncle we instantly got on and had the same musical interests and ideas of stage craft and professionalism.
Whilst touring around the northern club circuit for many years they eventually secured some really good bookings and where booked to play a wedding for Nicodemus (Guitarist & Singer from The Dreamers) what they didn’t know at the time was every band that was approached to do it before them turned it down, because they would be performing in front of some of the original band members of Freddie and The Dreamers.
Paul: I remember we didn’t worry as we where more concentrating on our act and one of the numbers we did was Sultans of Swing one of The Dreamers said it was fantastic after we did it.
It was round about this time Brian and Paul where invited to play for Mr Jim Bowen (Bullseye)at his little club The Redwell.
Brian: Jim Bowen realized we had a good sense of humour and was doubled up laughing at one of Paul’s merry quips. He really made us feel welcome and even put on a buffet after our show which was a nice touch.
Shortly after this we got a few high profile corporate bookings appearing with Steve Preston (The UK’s No1 Elvis impersonator), also Gerry Grant (Roy Orbison tribute) and The Backbeat Beatles, who starred in the film Beatles Biopic Backbeat.
Paul: we thought the market was saturated with the likes of Elvis’s and Beatles tribute acts, besides we are a duo and needed something that would suit us, we did like the idea of being a tribute act but which one?
They where performing a few Cliff & Shads numbers one night alongside their multi-tribute act and decided to do a tribute to Cliff and The Shadows after having seen how well recieved the songs went with the audience, and after having seen the Cliff & Shads reunion tour in 2009 at M.E.N arena, they where both raring to go.
Brian: along with “that sound” we noticed Cliff & The Shadows had a fantastic sense of humour without being a comedy act; they really connected with the audience on every level even in a venue as big as the M.E.N.Arena in front of 30,000 people.
Hank and Bruce didn’t take themselves too seriously (I guess this mainly applies to the many tribute acts that sometimes do) they had good rapport with the audience, along with their fantastic sound we noticed similarities in what we where doing on stage, it all started to fit.
Brian and Paul formed a Cliff & Shadows Tribute Duo albeit a small part of The Shadows personnel but enough to secure work in smaller venues as well as theatre & corporate work.
They had to adopt a suitable name and agreed on Shaduows as it contained what they where about (shadows) and the name (duo) all combined.
Shaduows where booked to appear at Stanley Park Blackpool alongside Jimmy Jemain. In a pre-event show to the very first Cliff and Shadows convention.
They where also honoured to perform at The first Cliff and Shadows Convention in Broxbourne (Broxbourne Civic Theatre) this was one of the highlights of 2010 for them both as they got to meet Cliffs sister Joan and niece Lindsey who really enjoyed them, they also got to meet two original Shadows members in the shape of Bass Players Brian “Liquorice” Locking and Alan Jones.
In 2011 Shaduows performed at the prestigious Bruce Welch's Shadowmania Friday night party laid on for friends and fans from all over the world, in the Peninsula Suite of the Lakeside Hotel, Frimley Green,Surrey.
Shaduows continue on their journey to pay tribute to the Peter Pan of pop Sir Cliff Richard and the world’s most successful instrumental Band The Shadows.
To be continued
Please read this very informative biography on the Shads: The Shadows Biography
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