Bert Weedon OBE (born Herbert Maurice William Weedon on10 May 1920; died 20… Read Full Bio ↴Bert Weedon OBE (born Herbert Maurice William Weedon on10 May 1920; died 20 April 2012) was an English guitarist and composer whose style of guitar playing was popular and influential during the 1950s and 1960s. He was the first British guitarist to have a hit record in the UK Singles Chart, in 1959, and his best-selling tutorial guides, Play in a Day, were a major influence on many leading musicians. He was born in East Ham, Essex, now Greater London.

Weedon began learning the guitar at twelve. The first British guitarist in the UK Singles Chart, with "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" in 1959, he was an influence on many stars, including Eric Clapton, Brian May, Mike Oldfield, The Shadows and The Beatles.

As well as his hits and TV appearances at a crucial time in modern British music history, his best-known contribution to British guitar style is his tutorial guide Play in a Day, which many stars claim was a major influence on their learning and playing.

His playing style focuses on both rhythm and melody, and is itself influenced by the jazz guitarists of the 1950s, notably Les Paul. Weedon placed a lot of emphasis on control of tone, and wanted to make the guitar the star of his music.

The later 1960s generation of underground rock performers satirised him as too mainstream, the Bonzo Dog Band singing the line "We are normal and we dig Bert Weedon" in 1968.

Married to Maggie Weedon, he has two sons, Lionel and Geoffrey, and nine grandchildren.

A Water Rat, he is highly active in charity work and fundraising, especially for children and the disabled, and was elected King Rat in 1992. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001 for his services to entertainment and charities.

His playing style is best known nowadays through the music of The Shadows, especially Hank Marvin.

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Apache
Bert Weedon Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Apache' by these artists:

Bjelleklang Holiholihoo Først kommer det reklame, alle sitter pal og P…
Black Eagle Señales de humo te hago Y la pipa de la paz…
D-Vission Non parlo più corro per me Non to mai chiesto nulla…
DJ JS-1 J. Period And DV-One Hoes on my dick, money on my ice Chains on my…
E.Decay and Soulpride Depois da violeira de Apache Agache, relaxe, disfarce, encai…
Fatboy Slim Fatboy Slim You've Come A Long Way Baby Gangster Trippin' …
Grandmaster Flash Ho, ho, ho! Tonto, jump on it, jump on it, jump…
Grandmaster Flash & The Sugarhill Gang Ho, ho, ho Tonto, jump on it, jump on it, jump…
Grandmaster Flash Sugarhill Gang & The Sugarhill Gang Ho, ho, ho! Tonto, jump on it, jump on it, jump…
hooligan chase What′s up, ooh(do it, do it, aye-aye) What's up, ooh(do it,…
Huecco Señales de humo te hago Y la pipa de la paz…
Incredible Bongo Band Baby, come tell me 'bout your tree-house And your candy-str…
J. Period DV-1 & JS-1 Hoes on my dick, money on my ice Chains on my…
J.D. Beatz Non parlo più corro per me Non to mai chiesto nulla…
JÃ¸rgen Ingmann Apache Indian Karma I Pray (unplugged) Chorus Say me a sit d…
John A. Walker For the love of man, she's come to seek me For…
John O'Callaghan & Starfighter a battleship apache…
johnny & the jammers Hoof prints and foot prints deep ruts the wagons made…
Jorgen Ingmann & His Guitar Apache Indian Karma I Pray (unplugged) Chorus Say me a sit d…
Jørgen Ingmann Apache Indian Karma I Pray (unplugged) Chorus Say me a s…
La Pequeña Revancha Que me lleve lo oscuro Y que rompa en pedazos Sobre mí…
Las Cafeteras Put down the pain, put down the gun Dancing warrior of…
Les Akouphènes Elle se déguise Elle se prend pour une peau rouge Au milieu…
Les Innocents Tu aimerais te perdre au pas de la foule Au…
LONG3 Πες τους δεν θα φύγουμε ποτέ Στην φωτιά με αμανέ Γίναν' οι…
M.A.S.I. Hoes on my dick, money on my ice Chains on my…
Musab Al-Adani I challenge the I challenge the Apache And I challenge the B…
Piola Vago Nació en un barrio muy conocido y popular nació en un…
Santo & Johnny cPcCHE HOTEL Words and music by Johnny cimcrier © 2023 Mineo…
Santo & Johnny - Vol 5 Hoof prints and foot prints deep ruts the wagons made…
Scooter Check, one two, ah Take care to get what you like Or…
Scripture Check,one two Aahhh Take care to get what you like Or you…
Smuggler Πες τους δεν θα φύγουμε ποτέ Στην φωτιά με αμανέ Γίναν' οι…
Sonny James Lonely Silver Dove Sweet Apache maid Lonely Silver Dove Swee…
SPEEDHEADS Glazba Krešo Bengalka Kolje se prase lule mira se gase Ratn…
Star Fighter a battleship apache…
Starfighter a battleship apache…
Starfighter (Johan Gielen) a battleship apache…
Still Fresh Paname c'est pas beverly hills elle pourrait s'faire marave …
Sugarhill Gang Ho, ho, ho! Tonto, jump on it, jump on it, jump…
The Chiefs Take a step back Listen what I'm saying Apache Appleseed I'm…
The Heritage Orchestra & Jules Buckley & Ghost-Note Non parlo più corro per me Non to mai chiesto nulla…
The Ruse I’m sticking out like a shout on the sideline Hot on…
The Southern Death Cult The apache means enemy to me The apache means enemy to…
The Sugarhill Gang Ho, ho, ho Tonto, jump on it, jump on it, jump…
The Sugarhill Gang vs. Grandmaster Flash Ho, ho, ho! Tonto, jump on it, jump on it, jump…
The Ventures Babys, the The Babys If you've got the time If I say I…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Bert Weedon:

Guitar Boggie Shuffle Aerosmith Box Of Fire Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogi…
Guitar Boogie Aerosmith Box Of Fire Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogi…
Guitar Boogie Shuffle Aerosmith Box Of Fire Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogi…
Rock Shuffle Boogie Aerosmith Box Of Fire Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogi…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

Comments from YouTube:

Dominic Culleton

12y↑6

A great inspiration to all the guitar greats, Clapton, McCartney and May to name a few. RIP Mr.Weedon.

Philip Hovey

4y↑2

I’ve still got that Bert Weedon LP 😘 and I remember seeing him live 😜

Peter Austin

3y↑3

Bert recorded this months before the Shadows got hold of it.!!!

Alejandro Blanco

6y↑7

This version is so cool and interesting ,more experimental than the Shadows and Ventures...

ronowen39

10y↑1

bert plays extra notes in this version of apache what a player

Geoffrey Lamb

5y↑1

Sadly Bert Weldon was a generation ahead of me, so as a 13 year old boy with his first guitar, I viewed his Playing way out of my league, but we were on the cusp of BRITISH rock, with the Beatles another generation away. So I dismissed Bert as a serious role model, going the route of Skiffle to my hero’s (whom sadly still older than I am, I doubt I’d ever meet... isn’t one of Hanks Guitar cases to hold his Zimmerman frame). This is where time was plotting against Bert, I’m reliably informed that Apache was intended for Bert. The Shads (my semi reliable ) informant tells me, had QM’s stores as the intended A side of a disk, which Bruce believed would only sell to their parents! Hank is credited and industry ‘badged’ as being the CLEAN SOUNDING ORIGINAL. But I just listened to Bert’s rendition of of Apache, with no effects at all, and I know Hanks reputation for being a really excellent and honest person, probably because of his faith, and I’d be really interested for Hank to tell me IF he used Bert as a mentor. As an adequate player myself, I feel that Bert laid the groundwork, but with Bruce’s 6 hits in a row written for Sir Clifford, and those incredible lead breaks by Hank, the first BRITISH sound was born. How could the Shads fail with tramlines laid, equipped by Fender and Vox (my source tells me) a Watkins’s Copycat somewhere in the mix and incredible TALLENT . Oh my source? Sadly he died of Asthsma in 1969, we’d started a band at school and as I was the only one who could play chords, he was lead guitar. His name was Pete Welch....in the months before he died he claimed he had an Aunty in Bognor who was always telling him about his cousin Bruce who played in « some skiffle group » encouraging us to do better.. she even bought him a VOX. Anyway, we never put the dots together while Pete was alive and it’s far too late now... but I wonder. So that’s my contribution to Rock history, from a framework built by Bert Weedon, to the Shads and upwards. One piece of Rock wisdom. Our little band were once the warm up for the WHO. The audience actually noticed us and gave us a ripple of applause as we went off. This bloke in the wings ‘ordered us to take a bow’... a total no-no, he said he’d fix it up with ‘management’. Slightly more enthusiastic ripple rising to a roar as this bloke came on stage with us. As we staggered off the bloke said to me « Beats enfin drugs doesn’t it? ». Turns out the bloke was the singer for the main act..I think his name was Rodger Daltry. I genuinely believe that Bert paved the way for BRIT-ROCK. When Pete died I got a proper job, according to my dad. But then again, I was missing the 2 essentials demonstrated by BERT. DEVOTION TO THE ART AND TALLENT. This guitar hack misses him greatly, thanks Bert for being the pathfinder.

Charlie McGowan's Partick Hill Station

11y↑3

Bert weedon -Magic. Loved to watch him on BBC

canarsie56

4y↑12

this is great but the cover by the Shadows with Hank Marvin is the best

Kaz Dziamka

And many have thought so: the best, "definitive" cover of Lordan's masterpiece (inspired by a stupid, racist American movie, though) is that by the Shadows. Thanks.

Robert Mixchum

4y↑1

On every version of this tune, even those by Bert Weedon, Apache is credited Jerry Lordan... Nothing more to say !

David Perkins

This record sounds like it's off-center! WOW!

Chris Mulwee

12y↑4

The original and best! Of course I've never heard a bad version. Love the covers by The Shadows and Jorgen Ingmann

Henri Fenger

I too have never heard a bad version..even when kids in Japanese surf bands play it ..it still sounds great...a real idiot proof song

Paul Aungiers

About 1985 I saw a booklet which I think was titled '22 Golden Guitar Greats' - ( I bought the album in 1976.)

This booklet contained transcripts of Sleepwalk; Apache and Albatross - I seem to recall(?)

I have been trying to trace the book in recent years but I draw a blank!

Do you know anything about it, please? It is about time some guitar fans transcribed Bert's solos - he was very creative and had splendid ideas for tunes.

uk7769

6y↑1

Apache (instrumental) REFERENCE WIKIPEDIA: "Apache (instrumental)" "Apache" is an instrumental written by English composer Jerry Lordan.[1] The original version was by Bert Weedon, but Lordan did not like the version. The British rock group The Shadows recorded "Apache" in June 1960 and released it the next month. It topped the UK Singles Chart for five weeks.[2][3]

In 1961, Danish jazz guitarist Jørgen Ingmann's cover of "Apache" (which he recorded in the fall of 1960) went to #2 in the US and #2 in Canada.[1] A 1973 version by the Incredible Bongo Band has been called "hip-hop’s national anthem".[4] Although this version was not a hit on release, its long percussion break has been sampled countless times on hip hop and dance tracks since the 1980s.

In March 2005, Q magazine placed "Apache" by The Shadows at No. 96 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.[5]

barrygioportmorien1

I know this may sound sacrilegious, but the first version I ever heard here in Canada was by Jorgen Ingman, and since then I have heard most all of the others... and with all due respect Jorgen's version is still my absolute favourite. Since music is subjective, to each his own.

Denis Lessard

barrygioportmorien and john hodges. i agree with barry that jorgen ingmann's version is the best. as for john it is a copy of the shadows but he expands the song notes and it is a tighter arrangment. to each his own.

john hodges

Ingmans version was a note for note copy of Hank Marvins arrangment

JoneSalat

12y↑3

I have just read today that Bert has been taken from us. There must be much joy in heaven listening to his work. Thank you Bert for the talent God gave you, and that you chose to share with me.

Blues Magic

He made the Sound.

2 More Replies...

Pasquale Marongiu

7y↑1

semplicemente fantastica qualsiasi versione

Percy Longshaft

3y↑1

Come on here expecting to slate it for not being as good as the Shadows , but liked it and just as good .

nigel lewis

Play in a day, Bert made a killing there God Bless him RIP Bert I bought my copy still can't play Nutty Nige

Henri Fenger

i don't think there is a "best" version of this..the man who wrote this Jerry Lordan ,,did not like this version..and actually showed it to the Shadows..on the ukulele..and then there is the Jørgen Ingmann version which was the first one I heard,in Canada..and while it may not be the best according to your personal taste..it is my favorite.

jrgboy

Bert used to co-host an ITV children's show call The Five O'Clock Club which later became Tuesday Rendezvous, in which he used to show how to play guitar..

jrgboy

12y↑5

I believe Bert recorded his version in Jul 1960 but writer Jerry Lordan was not happy with it so it was put on hold, The Shadows were offered it and recored their version in Sept 1960 - I personally prefer the Shadows version , I think Bert added to many trills and what we used to call 'twiddley bits ' that make it to fussy to my ears. Bert did record a slower version more in the Shadows later.

MY3RS

@jrgboy thx. Wait?! This is the same video?!

jrgboy

@MY3RS This is the re-recording - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSh9ET2xKOE

MY3RS

@jrgboy oh, ok, can i find it on YouTube?

jrgboy

@MY3RS In the shadows style...

MY3RS

What do you mean? He was in The Shadows? Where can i find that slower version?

HooDie HuSSeiN

5y↑1

Sounds like the intro 2 a great Tarantino movie... He should use this n the future... (If there is a future Tarantino movie...)

ledzeppelin27

9y↑4

now that's an album I have to have

Jagdtoq

7y↑2

Had this as a teenager and wore it out, I used to listen Bert as I read Asimov sci fi, the two seemed to go together

kenny bandit

12y↑2

in the begining there was Bert Weedon then along came the rest after the best

jose marques

still love Jorgen Ingmann's version more, this one next and the The Shadows

Mikey Hall

9y↑4

The Shadows 'Apache' is the masterpiece.

Carlos Arturo Sousa Garrido Lecca

6y↑1

Mikey Hall no. This the original version.

DelTangBrav

7y↑2

Incorrect - Jerry Lordan didn't write it for the Shadows he gave it to Bert Weedon first - apparently not liking Bert's version he suggested it to Jet Harris of the Shadows.

Bryan Pabustan

+Mikey Hall This was written by Jerry Lordan but first recorded by Bert Weedon (not this particular version though) but it was not released. The Shadows heard the composer play it on a ukelele and asked him if they can get a crack at it. When the Shadows version started climbing the charts, Bert Weedon's recording was then released peaking at #24.

Mikey Hall

8y↑1

Wrong! The piece was written by Jerry Lordon for The Shadows.

LAW 13IE

4y↑1

This is a re-recording from Bert, if you find the original from Bert it's quite different & rather slow (not to my taste) However this re-recording I like ! Bit different,

Simon Swain

11y↑4

Jerry Lordan said of Apache: "... when I heard what Burt Weedon had done with it, I could have cried." I can understand why; Weedon was a fantastic guitarist but on this track he just didn't seem to know when to leave well enough alone. Still, nobody's perfect. R I P Burt.

jwades77

6y↑2

what must he have though of michael viner's incredible bongo band version, it spawned a whole new music genre.

Tombstone Harry Studios

6y↑2

A.J. Swierzbinski its a figure of speech; he meant that he was frustrated with the version Bert Weedon played.

To be honest, I can see why...Bert was a jazz guitarist first, who got into session playing because of his ability to read music and to play technically well. However, he’s adding lots of fills and tricky bits to the music because he can, not because it needed it. Jazz and classically trained musicians tended to look down on rock and pop as primitive and Mr Weedon felt the need to show off

Compare it to The Shadows version. Hank was barely out of his teens when he recorded their version, but his playing is far more evocative if cowboys and lonesome plains...because he lets the music breathe, and he pushed and pulled against the tempo the way a singer would vocalise. It’s in the feel!

A.J. Swierzbinski

7y↑1

Simon Swain why would someone almost cry like a baby over a song that Bert Weedon perfected himself?

jwades77

class, and not well known these days/

Tina Patton

5y↑1

Weedon CUT IT 1st but Lordan thought the Shads could do it better. Release dates are irrelevant.

stocktonful2

11y↑1

This is better than Berts first release listen to that and understand Jerry Lordons dissapiontment 1960 top rank

michael Terry

10y

very good

andres cori

AUNQUE JERRY LORDAN LO COMPUSO Y DESPUES LO GRABO ,ESTA VERSION ES LA ORIGINAL DE COMIENZOS DE 1960.

Alan Farr

9y↑2

Considerable improvement here on his original recording in 1960.
His original recording contained rather lame backing effects and was very much slower. He was always miffed that it didn't do better in the charts, but in fairness, the other 3 versions (1.Shadows, 2.Jørgen Ingmann, 3.Ventures) were all better.

Alan Pullen

7y↑1

Sorry this is a year later, but according to the Virgin Book of British singles,T he Shadows released the record just one week before the Weedon version. I have followed the Shadows from watching them in the 2Is coffee bar to now. I am 74 and have seen them a few times including the Paris Olympia when I was in the Army in the middle to late sixties. Their version of Apache was my favourite of the three mentioned, but my favourite Shadows track was The Rise and Fall of Flingle Bunt. As you say it is a matter of taste

60s70sTheBest

8y↑1

+Arrow401 davie It's purely a personal choice. I just came across something that indicated Weedon "recorded" the song shortly before the Shadows "released" their version.

Arrow401 davie

9y↑1

@Alan Farr But can you prove that? It just depends on which you like.I like the Ventures version the best. But you can't PROVE it's the best,or better.

fluxstringer

10y↑23

Wkipedia says this was the first recording of the tune.

Pen Holder

Now i know why Lordan didnt like this version. It’s so funky and dont mix with the image of the ‘apache’ tribe whatsover.

The shadows verson more like the Western tune and it fits perfect.

Leon Greenwell

fluxstringer As is pointed out elsewhere this is not Bert’s original recording, which is, itself, a bit weird! This is obviously a cover of the Shadows version, and really quite tasty

Georg Ernst

@Potato Salad! Right!

Daniel Kingsley

@Mikey Hall The first version was written by Jerry Lordan in 1959 and Bert Weedon made this song based on that (though Jerry Lordan said in an interview in 1993 that he wasn't happy with what Bert made of his song). The Shadows heard it while on tour in the UK in early 1960 and decided to record their own version of it as a planned B side.

Chris Mulwee

5y↑3

Yes but this is not Bert's original recording. His first recording, and for that matter THE first recording by Bert in 1960, was a much slower song that really lacked the energy of the Shadows cover. Here is Bert Weedon's first recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTtEPmorY2I Give it a listen, I don't know when THIS later recording by Weedon was done. @Tina Patton

6 More Replies...

vlayco33

His version was original, but this is not the one, this is later version. original can be found here https://youtu.be/BTtEPmorY2I

willy wanker

11y

Virtusoso playing and all that but it all sounds so thin. Calling Norrie Paramour. Andy White, the drummer, played on one of the takes of The Beatles 'Love Me Do'. This album was heavily promoted back in 77.

OmikronWeapon

love the pointless, epileptic flashes btw.

Lobo Estepario Chilensis ALFREDO

11y

Is the original version.

Noodles37UK

10y

: D

stocktonful2

11y

sorry about the spelling im a one finger typist who does not lookup at screen and go to post without checking Saw Bert at dancehall early 60s all the lads stood around the stage watching his fingers red hot guitarist