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Well, this discussion is lively! I can't tell you how many interviews I've seen
with "classic
rock" artists who said they were influenced by Hank Marvin & the Shadows: Neil
Young,
Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck. MONSTERS of rock, who would in turn go on
to
influence future generations.
The only big player I remember who said he was influenced by The Ventures is
Eddie Van
Halen, who said the first song he learned was "Walk Don't Run." (Page did say he
tried to
get a fuzz effect to replicate the sound on The Ventures "2000 Pound Bee"). But
I am sure
Ventures advocates could find dozens of examples to prove me wrong!
I think we can all agree, The Shadows were the mind-blowing musicians, for their
time.
Can't be said of The Ventures, but they did bring surf to the national attention
with "Walk
Don't Run," "Perfidia," and more.
The Ventures probably inspired many more Americans to pick up guitars in the
first place
and play. Hmm...remember, the U.S. kids had many more artists to be influenced
by, so
how many successful ones would say they related primarily to The Ventures? And,
let's
face it, most of the surf bands would have been influenced by Dick Dale, Duane
Eddie, Link Wray, jazz artists, Catalonian sheep herders, and others - The
Ventures were
their contemporaries. And, I wonder if The Ventures weren't more influenced by
those
fairly anonymous surf bands, given their penchant for raiding other people's set
lists and
sounds!
Truly, the Shadows had a more sophisticated approach. In the end, tho, I think
all three
bands (Ventures, Shadows, & Dick Dale & His Deltones) deserve a wing in the
R'n'R Hall of
Fame. Or, at least a wave pool.
