The Shadows

The Shadows started out as the backing band for British pop idol Cliff Richard in the late '50s. Under their own name, led by guitar hero Hank Marvin, they pioneered an instrumental variant on American rock & roll and surf music. Their 1960 smash hit "Apache" made them part of rock & roll history, and inspired countless budding U.K. rockers, including most of the mid-'60s British Invasion groups. After appearing in films with Cliff Richard and scoring more hits, the Shadows metamorphosed into the folk-rock trio Marvin, Welch & Farrar in the early '70s. Over the subsequent decades, they underwent various reunions, often to great success.