This is all the more significant to me as Tony Meehan was about 1 month younger than me. He was possibly the youngest professional musician in the country at the time he became full-time drummer with the Shadows. His drumming inspired me & many other young people to become musicians as did Hank Marvin's guitar playing. Although his replacement Brian Bennett is an excellent musician I always preferred Tony Meehan's distinctive style. His drum solo on the Shadows first album is a classic, along with Jet Harris' bass solo on the same album.

I don't think the Shadows are given the credit they deserve. They were the first group (in the UK at least) to feature the familar 2 electric guitar, electric bass guitar & drums line-up for a backing group. They inspired countless budding musicians who were later to become legends in their own right. The Shadows are still the biggest selling instrumental group of all time in the UK. http://www.mcr26.freeserve.co.uk/shadows/Default.htm

PS. Tony is not the first Shadow to die in an accident at home. Bass player John Rostill was electrocuted in hs home studio in 1973. http://www.mcr26.freeserve.co.uk/shadows/JohnR/John.htm