Showaddywaddy biography

British rock group

Showaddywaddy are excellent rock and roll group from Metropolis, England. They specialise in revivals show consideration for hit songs from the 1950s turf early 1960s, while also issuing new material. They have spent 209 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, splendid have had 10 Top Ten singles, one reaching number one.

History

Formation

The belt was formed in 1973 by high-mindedness amalgamation of two groups, Choise (Dave Bartram, Trevor Oakes, Al James, existing Romeo Challenger) and the Golden Hammers (Buddy Gask, Russ Field, Rod Deas, and Malcolm Allured), the latter frequently known simply as The Hammers. They both played at the Fosse Presume pub in Leicester, and soon observed shared musical tastes. After playing connect in jamming sessions, they joined eternally, and Showaddywaddy were born. This play to an eight-member band, with loftiness unusual feature of having two vocalists (Dave Bartram and Buddy Gask), cardinal drummers (Romeo Challenger and Malcolm Allured), two guitarists (Russ Field and Trevor Oakes, and two bassists (Rod Deas and Al James). The band's lid gig as professional musicians was bear the Dreamland Ballroom in Margate, Painter, on 1 September 1973,^[1] although authority first gigs under the Showaddywady label were in 1972.

1970s–1980s

Showaddywaddy won round off programme on the ATV series New Faces, in November 1973, and were runners-up in the "All Winners Final", which was broadcast on 28 Dec 1973. They have made nearly Cardinal television appearances, including their own BBC TV special, Showaddywaddyshow, broadcast between Yuletide and New Year in 1980. Distinction band also appeared in the 1975 film Three for All, where they performed "The Party" from their 1974 debut album.^{[citation needed]} Their first inimitable, "Hey Rock and Roll" (written overtake the band), was released in Apr 1974. It reached number two set of contacts the UK Singles Chart.^[2] Starting information flow "Dancin' Party" (1977), the band around their own records with more shield versions including "I Wonder Why" (originally by Dion and the Belmonts), "Blue Moon" (based on the Marcels' interpretation) and the Curtis Lee song "Pretty Little Angel Eyes", co-written by Military man Boyce. After their first single, Showaddywaddy went on to have a new 22 UK hits^[3] until late season 1982. Their most recent chart unattached was "Who Put the Bomp", uncomplicated number 37 hit in 1982,^[2] which they also promoted in their furthest back Top of the Pops performance. Amuse total, they had ten top-ten singles, a solitary number one ("Under decency Moon of Love" in 1976), splendid spent 209 weeks in the UK Singles Chart, including seven successive top-five entries. Their biggest-selling single was "Under the Moon of Love", which vend 985,000 copies.^[2]

They had most of their biggest hits with covers of songs from the 1950s and the ahead of time 1960s. These included "Three Steps concern Heaven" (originally by Eddie Cochran improve 1960), "Heartbeat" (originally written and real by Buddy Holly), "Under the Satellite of Love" (originally a US dig for Curtis Lee in 1961, reevaluate co-written by Tommy Boyce), "When" (originally by the Kalin Twins), "You Got What It Takes" (originally by Marv Johnson) and "Dancin' Party" (originally rough Chubby Checker). These six singles were all produced by Mike Hurst (a former member of the Springfields). Highlight the South African chart, "Three Ranking to Heaven" reached number 6 accent 1975 and "Under the Moon show Love" number 6 in 1977.^[4]

Later period

Malcolm Allured left the group in 1984, followed by Russ Field in 1985, and Buddy Gask in 1987. Ballpoint ran a guest house with coronate wife in Beadnell, Northumberland, and unrelenting plays guitar in a local bedding band, Before The Mast. Allured illustrious a nightclub called MFN at Shipley Gate, Derbyshire, and still plays be present in local bands. Field was replaced by Ray Martinez in 1985, who was subsequently replaced by Danny Willson in 1995.

Cherry Red Records began to release Showaddywaddy's extensive album daze catalogue on CD from 2000 public disgrace their 7Ts imprint. The reissues featured rare bonus tracks, B-sides and non-album singles.

Early in 2008, the could do with finished recording their album The Dappled Album (I Betcha Gonna Like It), released on Voiceprint Records. A joint limited edition (500 copies only) was available, signed by the whole button, and comprised a CD, a DVD, special packaging and extended sleeve video. In September 2011, lead singer Dave Bartram released his long-lost solo recordings from 1982 to 1985 on Hidden Hands Music. The original tapes challenging been in his loft for 25 years. The seventeen-track album was advantaged Lost and Found.

Al James isolated from the band in 2008, discharge his last gig with the faction at the Cheese & Grain bind Frome, Somerset, on 20 December 2008. In early 2009, Trevor Oakes certain to take a break from probity band due to ill health. Filth left the band and officially retire on 1 May 2009, meaning last gig was also at goodness Cheese & Grain. Trevor Oakes decline the father of footballers Scott Oakes and Stefan Oakes. Challenger is representation father of Benjamin Challenger who trialled for Leicester City before playing sport for Leicester Riders, and then upset into athletics, gaining medals in position high jump at the 1998 famous 2002 Commonwealth Games. Danny Willson too left the band during 2009 make ill join Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash, gift his last gig was in Danmark on 8 August that year.

Lead singer Dave Bartram left Showaddywaddy exertion 3 December 2011 after 38 age fronting the band, and his resolute gig was at the Kings Foyer Theatre in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Bartram continues as the band's manager, unadulterated role he has undertaken since 1984. The Ilkley gig also marked instrumentalist David Graham's last gig, who confidential been touring with the band on account of August 2009 - Graham rejoined nevertheless in 2020.

Recently

In 2013, the knot celebrated its 40th anniversary and undertook a UK-wide tour between 11 Jan and 1 June. On 17 June 2013, the band released a new-found collection of its entire studio recordings to celebrate their anniversary. The farrago featured the band's entire 20th 100 catalogue of recorded material, including deteriorate of their original studio albums corner mini-vinyl replica wallets, non-album A stream B sides, together with a ballot of alternative mixes and unreleased rarities unearthed from the vaults, in spruce 139-track, 10-CD box set. A 36-page booklet included a 7,000-word liner session from Showaddywaddy expert Steve Thorpe, stomach an introduction from former band fellow Dave Bartram. June 2013 also dictum the release of their only animate album to date. It contained 16 of their most famous tracks. That album was only available at survive gigs with a pressing of single 1,000 copies.

Buddy Gask retired prevent Spain in 2005, and died envisage 2011 after suffering with ill prosperity for a number of years.^[5]

Bartram exact his first solo post-Showaddywaddy appearance sequence 1 November 2013, at Upstairs Look The Western, a venue above Leadership Western pub in Leicester, where significant was interviewed by a compere queue took questions from the audience overfull an "evening with"–type format. He additionally performed three acoustic numbers on goodness night, "Smiling Eyes", "Three Steps Envisage Heaven" and "Hey Rock And Roll" – the performance of "Smiling Eyes" was the song's first live bringing off, having been originally released some 38 years earlier on the 1975 Step Two album.

Al James died rein 16 November 2018 after falling carve the stairs in his Market Harborough home.

Rod Deas retired from illustriousness band early in 2019, playing culminate last gig with Showaddywaddy at Primacy Qube in Corby on Friday 25 January. Dave Bartram returned to position stage to give Rod a cong‚ speech before the second set. Instrumentalist Ray Hatfield (who joined January 2017 when Paul Dixon left), keyboardist Vicar Loach, and bassist Billy Norman (who joined the band in January 2018) all left Showaddywaddy in the summertime of 2020. Former guitarist Danny Willson returned to play with the snap in September 2021 on a existing arrangement.

On 1 December 2021, Truncheon Shannon and Sam Holland were more into the group.^[6][7] Shannon left interpretation band on 1 November 2024. Reward last gig was at a Pontins in Pakefield. Former guitarist Danny Bugologist played a one-off with the troupe the following day, in Kettering, meticulous it was later announced by rectitude band that Wilson would continue motivate perform with the band until indeed 2025, when Shannon's replacement, Ed Handoll, will be ready to tour abundant time.

Showaddywaddy have continued to outing, and still do around 100 dates a year in the UK charge Europe. The band currently consists cut into one remaining original member, Romeo Opponent compeer, along with saxophonist/guitarist David Graham who rejoined the band in 2020 (having previously toured with the band 2009 to 2011) vocalist Andy Pelos, basso player Tom Bull, guitarist and pedlar Sam Holland, and vocalist and player Ed Handoll. ^[8] In June 2014, Showaddywaddy completed the "Once In Well-ordered Lifetime" arena tour, with Bay Gen Rollers, David Essex, and The Osmonds. The same month saw the reprint of Showaddywaddy's 2008 The Sun Recording (I Betcha Gonna Like It), which contained two new tracks.

In Nov 2024, to celebrate 50 years on account of its release, the song "Hey Man Christmas" (originally released 15 November 1974^[9]) was re–issued. The song entered representation UK Vinyl singles charts a period later, peaking at number one, their first number one single since "Under the Moon of Love" in 1976.^[10]

Band members

• Original members listed in bold

Current

Former

• Malcolm Allured(born 27 August 1945, Leicester) — drums / vocals (1973–1984^[16])
• Dave Bartram(born 23 Walk 1952, Leicester) — vocals / bass (1973–December 2011^[17])
• Rod Deas(born 13 February 1948, Scarborough) — bass (1973–January 2019^[18])
• Russ Field(born James Lewis Russell Field, 1 Sep 1949, Berwick-upon-Tweed) — guitar (1973–July 1985^[19])
• Buddy Gask(born William George Gask, 18 Dec 1945, Leicester – 7 June 2011, Spain) — vocals (1973–September 1987^[20])
• Al James(born Geoffrey Betts, 13 January 1946, City – 16 November 2018^[21]) — part / vocals (1973–December 2008^[22])
• Trevor Oakes(born Trevor Leslie Oakes, 9 September 1946, Leicester) — guitar (1973–May 2009^[23])
• Ray Martinez — guitar (August 1985–1995^[24])
• Danny Willson — bass (1995–August 2009/ September–November 2021 / Nov –December 2024^[25][26][27])
• Paul Dixon — guitars Cd vocals (December 2008–January 2017^[28])
• Rob Hewins (born 1958, Coventry) – guitar / drums (January 2012–November 2021^[29])
• Dean Loach — keyboards / guitar / backing vocals (January 2012–March 2020^[30])
• Ray Hatfield (born 1960) — guitar / vocals (February 2017–March 2020^[31])
• Billy Norman — bass guitar / endorsement vocals (January 2018–March 2020^[32])
• Chris Savage — keyboards (August–September 2020^[33])
• Billy Shannon (born 28 July 1996) — guitar / vocals (December 2021–November 2024^[6][34][35])
• Geoff Saunders — bass (November 2024^[27])
• Adam Ellis — guitar (December 2024^[27])

Timeline

Lineups

Bold = New member in rectitude lineup

Italics = Original member

Discography

Main article: Showaddywaddy discography

• Showaddywaddy (1974)
• Step Two (1975)
• Trocadero (1976)
• Red Star (1977)
• Crepes & Drapes (1979)
• Bright Lights (1980)
• Good Times (1981)
• Living Legends (1983)
• Jump, Boogie & Jive (1991)
• The One & Only – Greatest & Latest (1996)
• Hey Rock 'n' Roll (2002)
• I Love Boulder 'n' Roll (2006)
• The Sun Album (I Betcha Gonna Like It) (2008)
• Next Chapter (2016)

References

External links