Del Shannon Performs "Runaway" | Letterman

The singer-songwriter performs his massive hit tune.
(From "Late Night," air date: 2/10/87)
#delshannon #runaway #letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. And for those of you who like Miscellaneous, you may very well find some Miscellaneous here.

[@OTOss8]

RIP Del. He was about two years away from his death in this clip. What a sad story that was. He still sounds fantastic here. What a legend.

[@pcolageorge]

I think he would have been Orbisons replacement in the Wilbury's to be honest. What a tradegy 😞

[@OTOss8]

@@pcolageorge I agree. It's incredibly sad. He would have been a stellar addition to the Willburys. It hurts to think what might have been but never was. It's a loss for everyone. As a side note, that medication was all the rage back then and was being prescribed left and right. People didn't understand the potential negative side effects. I was put on a medication that is a close cousin to it and immediately I started feeling some of the side effects Del complained of and within a few days my personality changed in troubling ways. I started seeking out and engaging in incredibly dangerous activities, like dodging trains (literally, not metaphorically). That push-pull disruption of the air as it races past an inch or two away from your face is something I never want to feel again. After a few months I went against the advice of my physicians and took myself off the medication and I think had I not, I might well have ended up with an outcome similar to Del's. Stay safe friends.

[@juliusseizure2673]

Three years actually. Almost to the day. This was 2/10/87, and he died 2/8/1990.

[@dimitreze]

I never knew. sad stupid death bummer

[@OTOss8]

@@juliusseizure2673 Ah yeah, you're right about that. For some reason I had it in my mind that he died in '89. Well, three years then. Still sounded oustatnding.

[@michaelcorvin4330]

One of the best Rock 'n' Roll songs ever written.

[@hinthegroove9740]

Dave always chose fantastic artists, Paul and the band were second to none backing them up too.

[@inconsiderate_weasel]

1:04 after Del's first falsetto during the chorus, he looks over at Paul(?) with a smile. I like to think Paul gave him a 'yeah!' after he hit it and Del was smiling at the accolade.

[@edwinramirez5850]

Was more like hell yeah !! You nailed buddy

[@Marie70272]

Paul on keyboard is having a blast!😂❤️❤️

[@derekdrums]

I'm glad to have played this song with him on 2 occasions, about a year after this recording.

[@remastersofcomedy]

Hi Derek, did you play with Del twice? That's pretty cool!

[@derekdrums]

@@remastersofcomedy Hi. Yes, he would use a different, local band in each town as he travelled around. I was in a beach party (Beach Boys tribute) band called Endless Summer. We did the same thing with Peter Noone.

[@remastersofcomedy]

@@derekdrums Cool, do you have a website or contact email please? I am making a Del Shannon doc and have a few other guys from his backing bands in it who have provided interviews. If you are up for it and have some equipment to film yourself with - I can send you over more details and the interview questions? No worries if not. Thanks.

[@jameskipp1657]

This guy is a legend. The song had a huge influence on a lot of musicians.

[@cjmPSU99]

I would have LOVED to hear Del on the 2nd Wilburys album following Roy’s passing . Take me to that alternative timeline please.

[@nostraa6125]

As always, Paul and the band do a great job on these songs.

[@LarryTruglio]

i’ll tell you I loved this guy. He really really was a gem and I consider him one of the best rock ‘n’ roll stars of all time.

[@zippitydoowopjoe]

Max Crook co-wrote this song with Del Shannon. And played an instrument that he created called The Musitron, which was one of the first synthesizers ever used on a recording, during the solo and following chorus. He also played piano on another track. Nobody knew what the instrument was at the time and people were guessing everything from violin to flute, trying to figure out what the solo was played with. Del and Max recorded this in New York City at Bell Sound studios in 1961. The only other time Max performed in New York was for a Del Shannon tribute concert in 2004 where he joined my band to rock out all of the hits. What an honor and magical evening ✨

[@mssofia378]

❤❤what a blessing and thanks for the info!

[@suecox907]

I'm glad for KZbin. Children today can see and listen to what good music was really like.

[@michaelparks6120]

I truly love this song.. very mature bee-bop music

[@KungEMuller]

Wow! That's pretty amazing. Dave had all of the legends on his show way back when.

[@greenrobot5]

You could see how much fun Paul was having playing that song

[@commanderkeen3787]

Always loved the spooky bridge music

[@bessiemorris5282]

Wow he was so handsome and such a beautiful singer i loved his music they dont make them like him anymore rest in peace mr del shannon you are loved and missed

[@Sourpusscandy]

I don’t think Paul gets enough credit for hismusical talent. Look at him cookin’!!!

[@judyholland7236]

Love how Del Shannon & Paul are having the best time together! I heard that Tom Petty was trying to get Del to join the Traveling Willburys but unfortunately it was never to be.

[@jonrukavina9011]

Del and Petty were working on a new album for Del when the demons overwhelmed him. Sad.

[@mcbillygoat]

Paul really shines here on the keyboards. Del Shannon truly was an American original with this hit.

[@NathanWind99]

Paul played the keyboard solo on Scandal's Goodbye To You, heavily inspired by or as a tribute to the solo on Runaway

[@GregorySoon]

When I was a kid in the 1980s this song always played on the Oldies station

[@markaruski]

I remember watching this when it came on tv and was blown away! So great!

[@gamernorcal]

Thank you Letterman KZbin for posting this. Keeping the memory of a legend alive!

[@goldenhog]

paul shredding

[@mumblesslam]

Big thanks to the legendary Letterman archivist Don Giller who this footage probably came from. Watched it first on his channel years ago.

[@MrKimJoJo]

Awesome song..! ❤

[@cherylimeson3006]

Paul was really into it. LOL

[@charliewon100]

The greatest song that will never be forgotten by the greatest singer. Rock On Del.

[@susanbrown5004]

RIP❤ great performance by everyone ❤

[@christianseaman4692]

Man that Epiphone Coronet is cool.

[@patrickjoneill4551]

Fantastic , Thanks for releasing this clip from your official archive 👏

[@Noomz-of-Earl]

26 years after he made his original recording of "Runaway," the man's abilities were undiminished. An irreplaceable giant of rock & roll.

[@AnnaMurphy-t7l]

Music rock and roll of the 50and 60

[@lorrainestarks6628]

THIS WAS A GOOD SONG! EVEN TODAY!!

[@thefonzkiss]

Nice dance moves Will.

[@alexcika9906]

Paul was in his Glory !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MrsJones-di8lg]

These guys are great!

[@geraldking4080]

The makers of Paxil left a lot of bodies in their wake. Dell was great.

[@MusicOverMyHead]

It was Prozac

[@ChilliCheezdog]

Del Shannon is Jeff Lynne's hero.

[@CletusHunnicutt]

"twenty-six years ago". I was a child in 1987 and this broadcast was 300 years ago and Runaway was a hit 10,000 years ago.

[@mssofia378]

😂I concur! Great music, then and Del the best

[@thebeachboyschannel]

Rock On, Del

[@SueNicoll-ep7ht]

Love you del 🌹

[@thenumber331]

Paul was really keeping up too!

[@lourdesturcios3354]

Me emociona mucho Ésta canciòn, lloraba sin saber porqué siempre que mi esposo sintonizaba esa canciòn, él sabía que me llegaba hasta mis entrañas, hasta que él me abandonò en leña pandemia .😢

[@harrycanyon6061]

Now i want to know what the "other one" is. LOL

[@joeg3313]

Possibly Hats off to Larry?

[@ZackfromNoHo]

Or maybe From Me to You. That was a minor hit for Del, and it was the first time a Lennon-McCartney song charted in the USA. Del knew the Beatles because he toured with them in the UK... @@joeg3313

[@williamponath4798]

thanks

[@markbirchette8740]

Del Shannon and the Runaways

[@qualqui]

Del Shannon, rio, so sad he went away way before his time.😢

[@mellocello187]

You’re singing along.

[@patriciamorgan6545]

Yes, I am.

[@kstepko]

I’m trying to, but this live version is not exactly like the recorded version. I keep coming in too early!

[@mellocello187]

@@kstepko Agreed, but if you watch him you’ll see where he hesitates and the second time you watch will be perfect. This was back before they realized that people need the exact tempo of the original.

[@Miss_Chick]

Poor guy. Such talent!

[@ThaKinOfDk]

And 3 years later, Del Shannon was gone. So sad 😞

[@kleverich]

I much prefer the re-recorded version of this used for the "Crime Story" opening to the original from the 60s, specifically using a guitar solo instead of the keyboard. However given that it is Paul playing, it was entirely appropriate to keep the keyboard here. And he did a great job.

[@joeg3313]

I love both versions. Never heard him do the Crime Story version live.

[@heatherhale6526]

❤

[@LaughingLion4Ever]

He died almost exactly three years later. Sad end to Del Shannon. Beware of antidepressants if you have never taken them before.

[@jonrukavina9011]

I heartily second that. Back in the 80s I tanked after my Dad died and went into treatment for depression. Psychiatrist had his office 2 floors away from his records. He got in the habit of changing meds over the phone. One period I was awake for 4 days 24/7. I accidentally overdosed once. Well 2 non-interventions in the same day turned me around. To this day I don't even like to take aspirin. 2weeks ago, I had hip replacement surgery and took one oxycodone and the rest is going down the toilet. Just a warning. Don't blindly trust someone because of who they are, question side effects, etc.

[@rsgabrys----]

------------------------ good song.... good show .....good night .....thanks4sharing

[@regularguy9]

0:47 Nice toupee. Awesome performance here.

[@ImaneBou30]

Please upload the Carla Bruni interview

[@XtotheK]

Who is the Bass player in Paul's band? I'm guessing he is Australian based on his sweater.

[@billhampton8004]

The Four Seasons should’ve did a version of this song.

[@btipton6899]

Almost a Wilbury😢

[@jimyoung688]

I wonder if Lawrence knew what this song is about? He certainly hung hung out with a few musicians in his time.

[@BatoBoss-BonJoviTrader2]

Del Shannon, the American rock and roll singer and songwriter known for his hit "Runaway," died by suicide on February 8, 1990.

[@zindi1138]

7400 views 300 likes wth

[@ColtyT33]

So Kanye’s song is a cover!

[@bar8393gm]

Presumably, I’ll say RIP? Edit: apparently he died 3 years ago, but usually when a letterman vid shows up in my feed, it’s in response to that celebrity’s recent death.

[@kleverich]

Yes, but not recently. As others have noted, he died only a few years after this was recorded.

[@martinriepma5009]

He committed suicide (.22 rifle) shortly after starting to take Prozac, an antidepressant, for stress.

[@ivannovotny4552]

​ Yes, 3 years.

[@kleverich]

Not three years ago. About three years after this appearance.

[@julesl6910]

WHOS THE KEYBOARD PLAYER????????????????????????? HE ROCKS BABY!@ YEAH

[@marineone1]

American Graffiti

[@PatriotsVideos]

Not a very good song at all but I sure do miss when homely people could be pop stars. Before The Beatles ruined popular culture.

[@rdmeenach]

Merry Christmas

[@PatriotsVideos]

@@rdmeenach Why are you talking about a pagan holiday that's more than a month away?

[@MichaelMurphy-kj3xf]

​@@PatriotsVideosyou sound like a sad, little, old man 😔

[@fsisXPXP]

@patriotsVideos, you. Are. A. Troll. Get back to your ‘juggalos’. Del was THE definition of cool.