BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Full Name: John Henry Rostill
Description: Bassist, UK
Known For: Mainly known as member of “The Shadows”
Instruments: Bass
Music Styles: Instrumental
Location: United Kingdom
Date Born: 16th June 1942
Location Born: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Date Died: 26th November 1973
Location Died: London, United Kingdom
Cause Of Death: Electrocution
Memorial: Sadly John Rostill was electrocuted in his home recording studio in 1973.
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BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
John Rostill
An English bassist and composer, recruited by The Shadows to replace Brian Locking.
Born in Kings Norton, Birmingham, England, Rostill attended Rutlish School in south London (1953-59).
He worked with several artists before joining The Shadows, including Bournemouth band The interns (nowadays sometimes confused with Welsh band The Interns who were based in London at this time, signed with Tito Burns Agency.
In fact, they were two different bands), The Flintstones and a stint as part of Zoot Money’s early backing band. He also played in the bands recruited to back such visiting artists as the Everly Brothers and Tommy Roe.
Stylistically, Rostill combined the solidity of Brian Locking and the adventurousness of Jet Harris. Many of his bass lines were heavily syncopated and he developed a range of new sounds on the Burns bass during his time with the group, a longer period than Harris and Locking put together.
To many players, Rostill was ahead of his time and included double-stopping in his technique. Unusually, for that time, Rostill played bass finger-style rather than with a plectrum.
These days this is the accepted style of playing a bass guitar, though when playing very fast bass lines, or to produce a percussive quality to the notes, then he did use a heavy gauge plectrum.
After The Shadows break-up at the end of the 1960s, Rostill toured with Tom Jones. Although he was not involved in the Marvin, Welch & Farrar project (he was with Tom Jones at the time — 1970–72), he would have been a part of subsequent Shadows projects had he not died in November 1973, when he was electrocuted in his home recording studio.
Rostill was a prolific songwriter, contributing to the Shadows’ output from the start (both as a solo composer and as part of the mid-sixties “Marvin/Welch/Bennett/Rostill” team). This combination composed hits: “The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt” (a UK no. 5, 1964) and “Genie with the Light Brown Lamp” (UK no. 17, 1965)
They also wrote the Cliff Richard and the Shadows hits, “I Could Easily Fall (In Love with You)” (UK no. 6, 1964), “Time Drags By” (UK no. 10, 1966) and “In the Country” (UK no. 6, 1967)
He later went on to write for other artists such as Elvis Presley and Olivia Newton-John (“Let Me Be There” (US no. 6, 1973), “If You Love Me, Let Me Know” (US no. 5, 1974) and “Please Mr. Please” (US no. 3, 1975), the last-mentioned song co-written with Bruce Welch)).
Above: As a member of “The Shadows”.
As a Shadow, Rostill played a prototype Burns “Shadows” bass guitar which differed from the production model that followed.
A replica of his bass was produced by Burns London in late 2006. His personal favourite instrument was a Fender Precision bass, which he played in both the Terry Young Band and in Bournemouth band, the Interns.
As a Shadow, Rostill played a prototype Burns “Shadows” bass guitar which differed from the production model that followed. A replica of his bass was produced by Burns London in late 2006. His personal favourite instrument was a Fender Jazz bass, which he played in both the Terry Young Band and in Bournemouth band, the Interns. He also used it with the Shadows towards the end when the Burns instrument began to wear out.
John Rostill died in Radlett, Hertfordshire, England, on 26 November 1973 aged 31. .John suffered from depression in his life and after an argument with his wife, John went to his room to be found on 26 November 1973 by Bruce Welch and Johns wife Margaret, a coroner’s toxicology report reveals that John died of a barbiturates overdose.
He was survived by his wife Margaret and his son Paul, who was a year old when his father died.
John Rostill died in Radlett, England, on November 26, 1973. He was electrocuted by his guitar owing to faulty or improperly grounded electrical equipment.
He was survived by his wife Margaret Rostill and his son Paul (a year old when his father died) in Shenley, Hertfordshire. (aged 31)
Early career
1963 – Zoot Money Quartet
Zoot Money (keyboards); Andy Summers (guitar); Jimmy Shipstone (guitar); John Rostill (bass); Colin Allen (drums)
1964 – The Interns
Discography
1969: Tom Jones Live in Las Vegas
1971: “Green Apples”/”Funny Old World” – Columbia – DB 8794.
Filmography
Wonderful Life (US title: Swingers’ Paradise)
Finders Keepers
Rhythm ‘n Greens (B-film)
Thunderbirds are Go (as puppets)