The Shadows, Britain's most successful instrumental group of all time, are saying farewell after five decades by touring together for one last time - the first time they have played together for more than ten years.

Original members Hank B Marvin, Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett open their 37-date tour tonight in North Yorkshire at the Futurist Theatre, Scarborough, and play at a sold-out York Barbican Centre next Friday in the leisure centre's last rock concert before its proposed closure for redevelopment.

The Shadows' final UK tour will conclude with a home-town show at the London Palladium on June 14 and is accompanied by this week's release of two new compilations to mark the group's 45th year: the 36-track Essential Collection on the EMI Gold label and Universal's 45-track Life Story - The Very Best Of The Shadows.

The Essential Collection compiles three number ones - Apache, Kon-Tiki and Dance On, 13 Top 40 hits, B sides, cover versions and album tracks. The career-spanning Life Story takes its title from a new tune by Apache writer Jerry Lordan, recorded by Marvin and co in early 2004.

The Shadows had begun life as The Drifters, being talent-spotted by Cliff Richard's manager at London's 2i's Coffee Bar when Cliff needed a guitarist for his touring band, and the rest is rock'n'roll history.

On a hot June day in 1900, The Shadows entered Abbey Road's Studio 2 to record Apache, and by August 25, the instrumental began a five-week run at the top of the charts.

Four more number ones ensued, and the band's crisp, polished playing, choreographed dance steps and sweet, yet haunting, melodies still delight today.

Updated: 16:29 Thursday, April 29, 2004