Bruce Welch

Bruce Welch (right) with Hank B. Marvin (left) and Sir Cliff Richard (center), O2, London on September 29th 2009

Bruce Welch , OBE (* 2. November 1941 in Bognor Regis , Sussex , United Kingdom as Bruce Cripps ) is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer and singer who primarily as a rhythm guitarist of the group The Shadows was known.

Bruce Welch continued his father's name up to and including 1958, he only found out in 1959, when he had the wedding papers for his (first) marriage made out, that his parents were not married. He himself has not overcome this flaw (according to his own memoir) to this day. The first word in his own biography “Rock and Roll, I gave you the best years of my life” is therefore characteristic. He only knowingly saw his father twice in his life, the first time shortly after the end of the Second World War, the last time at the age of 17 for a few minutes.

Welch grew up with his aunt Sadie in Chester le Street, County Durham , after his mother died of tuberculosis in 1944. He later moved to Newcastle upon Tyne . After learning to play guitar, he formed the skiffle band The Railroaders at the age of 14 . His school friend Brian Rankin ( Hank Marvin ) later joined the band. The Railroaders went to London in 1958 to take part in a talent competition. Although they were only third, Hank and Bruce stayed in London and formed the band The Five Chesternuts with other participants in the competition - including Pete Chester (* 1942, son of comedian Charlie Chester ) on drums. In September 1958, Welch and Marvin became members of Cliff Richard's backing band The Drifters, which later became The Shadows . Welch had as much success as with the Shadows as a producer for Cliff Richard and as a songwriter for his former fiancée Olivia Newton-John . Bruce brought a solo single titled "Please Mr. Please" out, which, however, was not successful, although the song of several other artists gecovert was.

Among the songs composed or co-written by Welch are z. For example the successful Shadows songs Foot Tapper , Theme for Young Lovers and The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt , Faithful and My Home Town by Marvin, Welch & Farrar or hits by Cliff Richard such as In the Country , Summer Holiday and I Could Easily Fall (In Love with You) .

He was married a total of four times, from his first marriage (in which Sir Cliff Richard acted as best man) the son Dwayne was born.

He owns the legendary fiestarote Fender Stratocaster No. 36346, the first Strat in Europe.

Bruce Welch was named Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2004 for his services to music .

Web links

• Bruce Welch tribute page from Rune Moe