| His 1981 album "Drop Down & Get Me", (produced by Tom Petty) was released to rave reviews and the single "Sea Of Love" saw Del in the U.S Top Forty for the first time since 1965. With the release of the album came the "Drop Down & Get Me" Tour and had Del and his band on the road playing from San Fransico to New York and all stops in between. Radio stations WXRT-FM Chicago and WNEW-FM New York broadcast Del's live shows on air in their cities. |
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| In 1985 Del signed with Warner Brothers and released two country-styled singles, a re-make of his 1974 tune "In My Arms Again" and "Stranger On The Run". There was an albums worth of material ready for release but after "In My Arms Again" had only scrapped through in the Country Top 50 and "Stranger On The Run" bombed altogether, there was some what of a falling out and Del left the label on uneasy terms. |
| Australian fans were treated to a new Del Shannon rocker in 1984 when his original number, "Something To Believe In" appeared on the Aussie movie soundtrack to "Street Hero". It was vintage Del Shannon with this song, but the version on the film differs to the one of the soundtrack LP. The rock styled guitars are strangely replaced by a horn section which gives the song a much softer edge. |
| A year later he was asked to re-record "Runaway" for the 1960s styled cop TV drama, "Crime Story". The one track session was produced by Michael Mann and resulted in weekly TV exposure. |
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| At this time his 31 year marriage had ended and by 1987 he had re-married. Del Shannon's records continued to sell in every corner of the globe and in March 1987 Del toured Japan. Although ill for most of the tour he still put on great shows night after night. The Japanese had always been loyal fans but tours there were gruelling. Appearing on Japanese TV's "Music Fair", Del had to wait an incredible eight hours in a television studio to record his segment. |
| The road seemed never ending and by 1989 Del was once again on tour in Australia. Fans there had always treated Del extremely well, and in return he released a new single there titled "Walk Away" on RCA Records which was written with pals Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne of the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys. Suddnely rumours were circulating that Del would replace Roy Orbison in the Wilburys who had passed away suddenly several weeks before. |
| During the Summer of 1989 Del and the Wilburys (excluding Bob Dylan and Orbison) worked on a new solo album that would include the above Australian released single. The album, "Rock On!" contained mostly all originals except for a stirling re-make of The Tams '60s hit "What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am". |
| January 1990 saw Del move to a new home in Santa Clarita, California but with the combination of moving and taxes due proved to be a stressful time for Del and he had fallen into a deep depression. He was proscribed Prozac and soon began to lose weight and interest in all things. His final concert appearence took place on February 3 1990 in Fargo, North Dakota with Bobby Vee. During the show Del complained of the bright spot lights, and at least one be switched off as well as the back stage door be opened which was a strange request considering the extreme cold winter weather in Fargo. As he was suffering with some kind of flu bug and running an obvious fever, Del cut his performence short and left the stage for the final time. |
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| Five days later on February 8 1990, Del Shannon was found dead in the den of his home with a single bullet wound to his right temple and a .22 calibre rifle at his side. Many close to Del questioned the fact that no note was ever found, but L.A Police ruled his death as suicide. Del Shannon was 55. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in March 1999. |
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| Del Shannon International 2002 |
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