Don is exactly as I always imagined him to be. Witty, easy going, chatty and just so likeable.
It is obvious that The Ventures have had so much influence over so many different genres of music throughout the decades.
Listening to, and watching the expressions on people's faces while being interviewed, it is plain to see how much they thoroughly enjoy the music, the skill, the dedication put in by the band members and how well they've mastered their art-form. It's clearly not a 'craft' and most definitely an 'art' with the different ways they got the sounds out of their guitars.
They remain huge in Japan, which is fantastic, with many cities having Ventures tribute bands.
You'd have to have been living under a rock or on another planet to not know one of The Ventures classics or at the very least a few bars of some of them.
The band had quite a few line-up changes through the years, with the exception, until recently, of founding member, Don Wilson, yet managed to retain that well known sound.
This film is one I could and will watch a few times and still pick up little details here and there that I missed the first time through. It is beautifully put together and just a joy to watch.
With Don now having retired from the touring, he, amongst others, are hoping the sound, the name and the band will live on for years to come.
Shell Williams
Winged Horse Productions
