Introduction:
“Apache,” a pioneering instrumental track by The Shadows, is a song that has carved a distinct place in the history of rock and roll and popular music. Released in July 1960, the song was an instant hit and became one of the most recognizable pieces of music from that era. The Shadows, originally a backing band for Cliff Richard, were formed in the late 1950s, and they quickly became famous for their distinctive instrumental style, particularly thanks to lead guitarist Hank Marvin’s use of the Fender Stratocaster, which gave their music a distinctive, clean tone.
The song “Apache” was written by Jerry Lordan, a British songwriter, and was inspired by the 1954 American Western film Apache starring Burt Lancaster. While it was first recorded by Bert Weedon, it was The Shadows’ version that took off. “Apache” was included in The Shadows’ self-titled debut album released in 1961, though it gained most of its fame as a standalone single.
“Apache” is categorized primarily under the instrumental rock and surf rock genres. The Shadows’ version of the song became an iconic example of the emerging instrumental rock genre of the late 1950s and early 1960s, and its Western-inspired sound also drew from elements of folk and rockabilly music. Its unique sound came from Hank Marvin’s pioneering use of echo and reverb effects, which were relatively new in pop music at the time.
Upon its release, “Apache” quickly climbed the charts, achieving #1 on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks in 1960, and becoming one of the most successful singles of the year. In the U.S., however, the song was covered by Danish guitarist Jørgen Ingmann, whose version hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961, further cementing the song’s international appeal.
“Apache” is often credited with influencing later guitar-based music and has been covered and sampled by numerous artists over the decades, including within the hip-hop genre, where it became a staple breakbeat for early hip-hop DJs in the 1980s. Its enduring legacy lies in its cross-genre appeal and its role in shaping the sound of instrumental rock, making it one of The Shadows’ most iconic and enduring contributions to music history.