Band members
Geoff Bearpark – Lead Guitar Vocals
“My Introduction to Guitar music happened by chance in Christmas 1968 when my older cousin’s band gathered to play a few tunes in the Front Room to family members as a captive audience. Steve ( lead Guitar) and Ian ( Drums) with 2 others on Bass and Rhythm Guitar launched into some instrumentals. WOW! Never heard anything like that before, the next day I bought my first Shads Album. ( Music for Pleasure label as it was cheaper)!
That was it. I was hooked – one year later I had my own acoustic and chord book and merrily played along to the record player and growing number of Shadows LP’s ( Yes it was a long time ago). Without the help of Bert Weedon’s Play in a Day book progress was slow but gradually I began to play a recognisable tune without the complication of reading music dots.
My first band was (REFLEX) – around 1974. Our first gig was in a Youth Club in a dubious part of town to which we played a selection of instrumentals which included Status Quo’s Caroline! We had to play the whole set again as we ran out of numbers. (I don’t know how we walked out unscathed)! A singer joined soon afterwards. This started my introduction to Social, Working Men’s Clubs and Functions throughout the area. Other Bands followed (SOLITARE and SIGNATURE) – weekend Gigs and Summer Seasons followed for many years to which Shadows numbers were always in the set – they always went down well. (Like the one legged tap dancer).
Its an honour to be part of THE BOOTLEG SHADOWS – I will be the one on the end grinning as well as glancing at the chalk marks and trying to get the steps right ! Status Quo anyone?!”
Howard Gillespie – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar & Vocals
Howard was 14 years old in 1972 when he went along to a Variety show in which his father Stuart (a well known Northern Stand-up Comedian) was appearing. On the bill was a duo who amongst other things played Hank Marvin’s arrangement of ‘Born Free’. Like Geoff he was mesmerised, THAT SOUND, THOSE GUITARS. The lead guitarist, Francis Wyatt, suggested that he buy “Mustang” an LP featuring 1960’s Shadows EP tracks. It wasn’t long before he collected the rest of their albums. “I spent hours after school in my bedroom learning to play tunes by ear from my ever growing collection of Shadows LPs” he says. These had fortunately been re-released following The Shadows getting back together to tour in 1975. “I was not only able to see them in concert but also meet them in person afterwards”. Hank, Bruce and John Farrar were very kind and encouraging to the budding guitarist and his friends he recalls. “I feel very fortunate to be part of The Bootleg Shadows Family and to be able to continue to keep the music of The Shadows alive”, says Howard and as long as fans of The Shadows want to hear the music he will keep playing it. Rhythm or Lead!
Tim Jackson – Drums
With his dad being a big Shadows fan Tim grew up around the music playing it from an early age. His love for drumming started when he was very young. By the age of 8 he was having lessons with a local drum tutor Dave Williams, (who went on to tour with ‘Beyond the Barricade’), and at only 9 years old Tim became a founder member of his first band, The Foottappers, a popular and successful junior Shadows tribute band. At 14, Tim showed his excellence as a drummer studying music and obtaining Distinction at Grade 8. He has received many accolades for his drumming skills from top musicians including Clem Cattini, Brian Bennett, and Bruce Welch.
Tony “Binks” Bayliss – Keyboards.
Tony’s musical career path was determined as a teenager when he discovered rock music. The organ sound of Deep Purple’s Jon Lord caught his ears and he discovered that a guitar distortion pedal turned a tame cabaret sounding organ into a rock monster. He played with several rock bands in the early 80’s playing original songs, notably blues-rockers In the Evening and One Sun Apart from the Stourbridge indie rock scene. Then he joined the blues band Sneakin’ Suspicion featuring Tony Cole on bass who would 20 years later persuade him to join him in the Bootleg Shadows. He and Tony continued in a succession of blues, rock and covers bands – Pig In Shades, Backdoor Blues Corporation, The Big Blues Tribe and Cockermouth. Tony is The Bootleg Shadows very own one man orchestra and in addition holds the enviable record as the longest serving Bootleg Shadow.
Nathan J Hulse – Bass Guitar, Vocals
The newest member of the Bootleg Shadows, Nathan began his musical career studying classical piano at the age of 11. But when he was 15 he saw the film “Elvis That’s The Way It Is”. After listening to more Elvis Presley he decided he wanted to play Rock and Roll music and to be a Bass Guitarist. He has had an amazing career playing for John Leyton of “Johnny Remember Me” fame, Mike Berry, The Drifters, Billie Davis and Denny Laine (Moody Blues and Wings). Playing Bass guitar for former Shadow Jet Harris is just one of the highlights of a fantastic musical journey. He featured in the live band in a West End show about Cliff Richard staring Mike Read and also appeared in a TV advert in a Summer Holiday spoof where the red London bus was driven not by Cliff Richard but by none other than Gary Lineker. Look out for his superb bass solo in Nivram and his high kicks in FBI.
Bob Dore – PA & Sound Enginner
Our sound man, Bob Dore is very much our 6th member.
Bob’s website is here.
Enjoyed the show in Derby tonight. Shads fan for over 50 years and still love the music. You did it proud – well done. See you again I hope!
Thanks Ian. We had a great night and should be back next Easter. We’ll put date on the web site if/when confirmed.
Brilliant nite with the Shads in Weston s Mare last nite
Great night watching the Shadows in Crawley yesterday, can’t wait for next year!
Thanks for your support. Much appreciated and we very much hope to be back.
Full house in Crawley last night and deservedly so. A terrific evening with both the audience and the band obviously enjoying themselves.
You deserve to be more widely known and I can’ t wait to see you again when you come within travelling distance.
Thank you for your great comments Bazza,
We did all enjoy this one. It was also filmed with most of the numbers intact. We may do something with this.
Glad you enjoyed it – we will see you next year, keep an eye out for more 2017 dates, one of which should be Crawley!
Great night at Derby Guildhall!
Good mix including some Cliff and Beatles and the great Albatross!
Thanks Trevor. We enjoy mixing it up a bit and it’s nice to have a lead guitar spot for Keith. As Tony C puts it, think of it as a mixed salad and we’re the tossers!
Hi Trevor
Finally have a gig in Derby at a new venue for us since the Guildhall closed. Melbourne Assembly Rooms 8th December 2024. Hope you can make it and tell your friends! Thanks for your support.
Daw you at The Guildhall Derby on 30th March 2018 and same as last year you were fantastic. I was brought up on Cliff and The Shadows and absolutely love the music. Keep the good work up looking forward to seeing you next year
Thanks Cheryl. Derby crowd fantastic as ever and yes very much hope to see you next year.
Finally have a gig in Derby at a new venue for us since the Guildhall closed. Melbourne Assembly Rooms 8th December 2024. Thanks
Hi Geoff and all of the band. I just want to tell you how much I enjoyed your performance at Tilburg on Saturday. And it was a great pleasure to talk you you. Pity you were not the last band to end the event because there was no increase possible and the final act was very disappointing (exept the brilliant “ELVIS”.)
I hope to see/hear you again some day somewhere.
And again “Thank you for the music” and the brilliant most entertaining show.
Best wishes, Ernst (burnsernst)
Hi Ernst – It was great to talk to you too, thanks very much for writing in. The Bootleg Shadows were there 10 years ago when Tim was in THE FOOTTAPPERS – He was recognised by many people which was lovely. For us, it was a fantastic weekend – memories will stay with us a long time.
We all very much enjoyed the experience and would love to come back another time.
Wonderful night at the palace threate in Paignton…these guys are as good as it gets..brilliant all round show , very funny and most of all fantastic music….if you like the shadows , they are as good.
Hi Ken Thanks so much for writing in – it was our pleasure! Tony will be pleased his Jokes are funny… We are back at the Palace Paignton in July 2019 so hope to see you again.
This is Keith – the bass player from the Wannabe Shadows, saw you guys last night at the Shadows celebration at Lakeside in Frimley – what a fabulous show – the energy, the professionalism and the effortless musicianship was a joy to watch……..well done lads……….. 🙂
Came to see you at the Tivoli Wimborne last night. What a fantastic evening, a great show. Came out with a smile on my face, as well as a CD and tee shirt. My wife wondered what I’d been doing! Hope to catch you again when you’re next in Dorset.
Our wives wonder what we are doing too….or more like jobs we’re not doing while we’re out gigging. Thanks for the comments and see you next time.
Thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s show at Chipping Norton. Hope you come back in the not too distant future. Thanks.
Hi Sue
Many thanks for writing in – all being well Autumn / Winter 2020 for Bootleg Shadows – the sequel!
Hi again Sue. After all the cancellations in 2020 and 2021 we’ve finally got back to normal service and have an upcoming gig at Chipping Norton, 14th July 2024. Let your friends know and thanks again!
Hi Geoff and all the Band.
Great evening at Crawley on Friday.Our first time and won’t be our last.Couldn’t believe the time !0.45pm,The time just flew by!!
Lovely mix of great music and fun,Well done.
Hank be very Afraid!!!
Chris and Christine
Hi Chris & Christine, Thanks so much – It was as Tony said our “end of term” date – we love playing the Hawth and will be back there next year ( see our GIGS tab ). We usually are in bed by 10.30PM look forward to seeing you both soon. Cheers Geoff
Saw you all on 8th August 2021 at the West Cliff theatre Clacton on sea. What a great show as always. You couldn’t improve on perfection ( I was the one who commented about improving after your last appearance 2 years previous. I’m a joker as ever.) The one thing that my wife and I enjoyed about the show was the fact that you all seemed to be enjoying yourselves. It was not so much a job more a party that we were invited to. Can’t wait to see you again.
Thanks for the comments and the heckling. All good fun and thanks to you and everyone for coming out to support us.
Hi Derrick.
Advance notice – we’re back in Clacton on 16th March 2025. Hope you can make it and tell your friends! Thanks for your support.
Had a great night watching in Telford and meeting afterwards.
Loved the association with the Thunderbirds theme.
Would recommend to anyone who wants a good night out.
Many thanks Raymond for yoursupport and comments.
Market Drayton Saturday 6th April 2024 – let your friends know!
The second visit to see you talented men at Crawley tonight.
My son came with me as l went on about you fellas so much.
He could not believe the professional performance you give. Shut your eyes and you go back almost 50yrs and was as a perfect performance from then. Will be back on your return. Gentlemen thank you for a perfect evening . Dave…
Thanks for that very nice message Dave. Many people say we look better when they shut their eyes. The alternative is wearing masks, which was suggested for us even before Covid, but we do try to put on a good show and put a lot of time into making it sound good. Our very sound sound guy Bob Dore is a big part of that. All the best and hopefully see you back at the Hawth next year.
I saw the original Shadows in 1962 and later in the 80s, but you lot are far more entertaining. Musically and presentation 10/10 as well as having us in stitches. You are brilliant and we can’t wait to see you again. You certainly raised the roof at Coalville’s Century Theatre last night. I’ll have to get one of those long silk ties for my band, not to mention wear a fox hat.
All the very best, and keep on keeping on.
Tom & Marianne
Hi Tom & Marianne. Peter Gabriel used to wear a fox hat and red dress back in 72/73 with Genesis. He didn’t do the joke but Tony doesn’t wear a dress (except sometimes in our Abba tribute show – but for that it’s usually hot pants). Thanks for coming to the gig and the compliments – gratefully received.
Hi guys, just wanted to say what a brilliant show tonight at Gorleston Pavilion, great lead guitar especially, and the comedy made it a great all round evenings entertainment. We saw you in Cromer before Covid and have been waiting for you to come back to the Yarmouth area, looking forward to the next time, thanks once again, Phil and Sharon.
Thanks for the support and comments. Think that was our 5th visit to Gorleston in the last few years so I’m sure we’ll be back – hopefully next year. Long trip but well worth it for the great audience there.
We do so enjoyed the Gorleston gig think it’s 3 times we have seen you now.
Have contacted Warners head office as I said I would, nothing ventured and all that, you would please the audiences there much more than some if the so called professional acts we have seen!!
Thanks so much for your support and contacting Warners. We did two of their 60s weekends in the early days of the band – must be 10 years ago now. We went down well but new management came in and we haven’t managed to get back in there since.
Medina theatre 29 June.
Thank you very much , I had a wonderful evening , it was great to feel young again-and full of energy.
Ps Ive seen one or two other tribute bands- You are the best of the lot
Thank you for your support and comments. Much appreciated,
I enjoy the weekend watching you on stage again hope you can get to melksham soon it will be nice to see you here
Thanks for your support and the message. We are in Wiltshire next month – Swindon – not too far from Melksham and a lot nearer than Cornwall. Our 7th time there in 8 years I think. Missed one year due to lockdown.
Saw the show at the Princes theatre(Clacton-on-sea) on 24/2/2025-I really enjoyed it and I could see the boys on the stage did genuinely too! Very interested to read on Wikipedia that the band has been performing `Shadows` songs ranging from 1860-I didn`t think they were going THAT long!
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the message. Nice one Wikipedia. You do get deliberate mistakes on there sometimes or misinformation but this is a simple mistake which will hopefully get corrected. We’ll be back in Clacton in October – that’s not a misprint.