Ex Shadows guitarist Jet Harris dies

12:32pm Friday 18th March 2011 in News Photograph of the Author By Duncan Eaton

Ex Shadows guitarist Jet Harris dies Ex Shadows guitarist Jet Harris dies

Veteran rock ‘n’ roller Jet Harris who was the original bass guitarist with The Shadows has lost his brave battle against cancer.

Jet, who was 71 and lived in Bembridge, Isle of Wight, is understood to have died in the early hours of this morning. Tributes have started to pour in from Shadows fans around the world.

The legendary guitarist joined Cliff Richard’s backing group The Drifters in 1959. It was he who came up with the name The Shadows.

After breaking away from the band he forged a partnership with the former Shadows’ drummer, the late Tony Meehan and they topped the singles charts in the 1960s with Diamonds.

About a year ago he received an MBE from the Queen for his services to music. He was the first musician to use an electric bass guitar.

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Comments(9)

Dasal says...
1:02pm Fri 18 Mar 11

My era . " Diamonds" Fantastic track - RIP Jet.

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stuartjebbitt says...
1:22pm Fri 18 Mar 11

One the great british bass players. He helped to make playing bass guitar cool and not just a poor second to playing lead guitar. Shame the rest of the shadows (and Cliff) treated him so shoddily in his later years, when they could have included him the various reunions.

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Scrutinizer says...
4:04pm Fri 18 Mar 11

A very sad loss. Although a generation before mine, I'm aware that a lot of British guitarists were inspired to take up playing because of the Shad's classic sounds. Their influence on the music scene in this country is much underestimated by the so-called 'music intelligensia'. Thanks for your contribution to putting British rock on the map, Jet. You won't be forgotten.

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downfader says...
6:35pm Fri 18 Mar 11

RIP!
.
The Shadows were one of my favourite bands when I was growing up in the 80s. His bass playing was melodic as well as rhythmic.
.
What an amazing life to have lived too.

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penhale says...
8:14pm Fri 18 Mar 11

Sad loss, R.I.P Jet.

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Forest Phil says...
8:27am Sat 19 Mar 11

Very sad to hear, another great name from our past. Like the original Shadows a real inspiration to guitar players ....with Tony Meehan too,Diamonds, Scarlet 'O Hara......RIP A bass guitar legend.

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Forest Phil says...
8:28am Sat 19 Mar 11

Very sad to hear, another great name from our past. Like the original Shadows a real inspiration to guitar players ....with Tony Meehan too,Diamonds, Scarlet 'O Hara......RIP A bass guitar legend.

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Invisible says...
11:22am Sat 19 Mar 11

To the master of the Fender Bass VI. Gawd Bless yer, and thanks for so many very happy memories!

RIP

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raybass man says...
3:11pm Tue 22 Mar 11

Only just heard the sad news about Jet as working abroad at the moment.
I had the pleasure of working with Jet back in the eighties when he was playing guitar and I was his bass player, so a real priviledge as he was the first musician to play electric bass in the uk. He was one of the warmest and most genuine people I have ever had the pleasure to have worked with and he always had time for everyone he met..a rare quality in this business. He will be sadly missed by many people.

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