Showaddywaddy are a rock and roll group from Leicester, England. They specialise in revivals of hit songs from the 1950s and early 1960s, while also issuing original material. They have spent 209 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, and have had 10 Top Ten singles, one reaching number one.[1] The band were one of the leading acts in the rock and roll revival scene. Although they mainly covered American doo wop and rock and roll, they never charted in the US.
The eight piece band were known for their unusual feature of having two vocalists (Dave Bartram and Buddy Gask), two drummers (Romeo Challenger and Malcolm Allured), two guitarists (Russ Field and Trevor Oakes), and two bassists (Rod Deas and Al James). Although most have retired, a version featuring just Challenger performing and managed by Bartram still tour.
History
Formation
The band was formed in 1973 by the amalgamation of two groups, Choise (Dave Bartram, Trevor Oakes, Al James, and Romeo Challenger) and the Golden Hammers (Buddy Gask, Russ Field, Rod Deas, and Malcolm Allured), the latter often known simply as The Hammers. They both played at the Fosse Way pub in Leicester, and soon discovered shared musical tastes. After playing together in jamming sessions, they joined permanently, and Showaddywaddy were born.
The band's first gig as professional musicians was at the Dreamland Ballroom in Margate, Kent, on 1 September 1973,[2] although the first gigs under the Showaddywady name were in 1972. They chose the name Showaddywaddy from the word sung in the background of popular 1950s doo wop song "Little Darlin'" by The Diamonds.[3][4]
1970s–1980s
After a performance in a club, they were approached by an audience member from Birmingham, who asked them if they wanted to be on television; the show in question was "New Faces", which was to produce its first series, they ended up going on the show, making it to the finals, and came in second place, losing to Tom Waite, on 29 December 1973.[5][6] They had already signed with Bell Records prior to New Faces. Their first single, "Hey Rock and Roll" (written by the band), was released in April 1974. It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.[7]
The band are best known for wearing multi coloured Teddy boy drape jackets on stage. Bartram said that when they were on one episode of New Faces, producer Mickie Most was one of the panellists.[8] When the cameras had shut off, he asked the group to sign with him, but because they were already with Bell Records, they couldn't. A few weeks later, Most signed Mud to his label and got them to wear the exact same jackets as Showaddywaddy and a few days after tenure on New Faces had ended on 29 December 1973, Mud had released "Tiger Feet" on 4 January 1974, thus making them the first commercial rock revival band to be seen in the jackets.[8] Bartram theorised that because Mud was only four people and they often wore the same colour jackets, compared to the eight piece multi coloured jacket Showaddywaddy, Mud didn't have "the same effect".[9]
This 1974 photo of Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets shows Stevens in similar Teddy boy drapes to what Showaddywaddy wore.
They have made nearly 300 television appearances, including their own BBC TV special, Showaddywaddyshow, broadcast between Christmas and New Year in 1980. The band also appeared in the 1975 film Three for All, where they performed "The Party" from their 1974 debut album.[11][12][13] Starting with "Dancin' Party" (1977), the band produced their own records with more cover 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 Tommy Boyce.
After their first single, Showaddywaddy went on to have a further 22 UK hits[14] until late summer 1982. Their most recent chart single was "Who Put the Bomp", a number 37 hit in 1982,[7] which they also promoted in their final Top of the Pops performance. In total, they had ten top-ten singles, a solitary number one ("Under the Moon of Love" in 1976), and 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 sold 985,000 copies.[7]
Later period
Malcolm Allured left the group in 1984, followed by Russ Field in 1985, and Buddy Gask in 1987.[15][16][17] Field was replaced by Ray Martinez (who wrote "The Only Way Out" for Cliff Richard) in 1985, who was subsequently replaced by Danny Willson in 1995.[18][19]
Cherry Red Records began to release Showaddywaddy's extensive album back catalogue on CD from 2000 on their 7Ts imprint. The reissues featured rare bonus tracks, B-sides and non-album singles.
Early in 2008, the band finished recording their album The Sun Album (I Betcha Gonna Like It), released on Voiceprint Records on 21 April 2008.[20][21] A special limited edition (500 copies only) was available, signed by the whole band, and comprised a CD, a DVD, special packaging and extended sleeve notes. In September 2011, Bartram released his long-lost solo recordings from 1982 to 1985 on Invisible Hands Music; the original tapes, consisting of seventeen songs, had been in his loft for 25 years, and was entitled Lost and Found.[22][23][24][25]
Al James retired from the band in 2008, playing his last gig with the band at the Cheese & Grain in Frome, Somerset, on 20 December 2008.[26] In early 2009, Trevor Oakes decided to take a break from the band due to ill health. He left the band and officially retired on 1 May 2009, meaning his last gig was also at the Cheese & Grain.[27] Danny Willson also left the band during 2009 to join Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash, and his last gig was in Denmark on 8 August that year.
Lead singer Dave Bartram left Showaddywaddy on 3 December 2011 after 38 years fronting the band, and his last gig was at the Kings Hall Theatre in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.[28][29] Bartram continues as the band's manager, a role he has undertaken since 1984. The Ilkley gig also marked saxophonist David Graham's last gig, who had been touring with the band since August 2009 - Graham rejoined however in 2020.[30] When Graham left the band, they hired Dean Loach to join on keyboards and guitar, officially dropping the real saxophone instrument for the first time, with the sax effect being played on Loach's keys instead.
Recently
Showaddywaddy, 2013. Left to right: Dean Loach, Rod Deas, Romeo Challenger, Andy Pelos, Rob Hewins, Paul Dixon.
In 2013, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary and undertook a UK-wide tour between 11 January and 1 June. On 17 June 2013, the band released a new collection of its entire studio recordings to celebrate their anniversary. The anthology featured the band's entire 20th century catalogue of recorded material, including all of their original studio albums in mini-vinyl replica wallets, non-album A and B sides, together with a selection of alternative mixes and unreleased rarities unearthed from the vaults, in a 139-track, 10-CD box set. A 36-page booklet included a 7,000-word liner note from Showaddywaddy expert Steve Thorpe, and an introduction from former band member Dave Bartram. June 2013 also saw the release of their only live album to date. It contained 16 of their most famous tracks. This album was only available at live gigs with a pressing of only 1,000 copies.
Buddy Gask died on 7 June 2011 after suffering with ill health for a number of years.[31]
Bartram did his first solo post-Showaddywaddy appearance on 1 November 2013, at Upstairs At The Western, a venue above The Western pub in Leicester, where he was interviewed by a compere and took questions from the audience in an "evening with"–type format. He also performed three acoustic numbers on the night, "Smiling Eyes", "Three Steps To Heaven" and "Hey Rock And Roll" – the performance of "Smiling Eyes" was the song's first live performance, having been originally released some 38 years earlier on the 1975 Step Two album.
In June 2014, Showaddywaddy completed the "Once In A Lifetime" arena tour, with Bay City Rollers (starring Les McKeown), David Essex, and The Osmonds.[32] The same month saw the reissue of Showaddywaddy's 2008 The Sun Album (I Betcha Gonna Like It), which contained two new tracks.
Rod Deas retired from the band early in 2019, playing his last gig with Showaddywaddy at The Qube in Corby on Friday 25 January. Dave Bartram returned to the stage to give Rod a farewell speech before the second set. Guitarist Ray Hatfield (who joined January 2017 when Paul Dixon left), keyboardist Dean Loach, and bassist Billy Norman (who joined the band in January 2018) all left Showaddywaddy in the summer of 2020. This occurred during the Covid lockdown, and the band had stopped performing since March. Norman was replaced by Tom Bull, and Loach was replaced by Chris Savage of Mud II in August, but he left a month later after only ten gigs;[36] Graham rejoined the band on saxophone, guitar, and bass, reintroducing the actual saxophone since he initially in 2011. Former guitarist Danny Willson returned to play with the band in September 2021 on a temporary arrangement.
On 1 December 2021, Billy Shannon and Sam Holland were added into the group.[37][38] Shannon left the band on 1 November 2024. His last gig was at a Pontins in Pakefield. Former guitarist Danny Wilson played a one-off with the band the following day, in Kettering, and it was later announced by the band that Wilson would continue to perform with the band until early 2025, when Shannon's replacement, Ed Handoll, will be ready to tour full time.
In September 2022, around £2,000 worth of merchandise fell out off their tour van, and were taken by an unknown amount of persons.[39] Challenger's wife eventually found some of the stock for sale on EBay, which were traced back to a Salvation Army shop in Beeston, Nottinghamshire.[39] The shops owner claimed they were dropped off at a clothes bank.[39] The shop returned all the remaining clothes for free. Challenger and his wife, Dawn, donated to the same Salvation Army shop as a way of thanking them.[39]
Showaddywaddy have continued to tour, and still do around 100 dates a year in the UK and Europe. The band currently consists of one remaining original member, Romeo Challenger, along with saxophonist/guitarist David Graham who rejoined the band in 2020 (having previously toured with the band 2009 to 2011) vocalist Andy Pelos, bass player Tom Bull, guitarist and drummer Sam Holland, and vocalist and guitarist Ed Handoll. [40]
In November 2024, to celebrate 50 years since its release, the song "Hey Mister Christmas" (originally released 15 November 1974[41]) was re–issued. The song entered the UK Vinyl singles charts a week later, peaking at number one, their first number one single since "Under the Moon of Love" in 1976.[42]
Ray Hatfield — guitar / vocals (February 2017–March 2020)[53]
Billy Norman — bass guitar / backing vocals (January 2018–March 2020)[54]
Chris Savage — keyboards (August–September 2020)[36]
Billy Shannon — guitar / vocals (December 2021–November 2024)[37]
Members biography
some members play more than one instrument, so each member is listed under their prime instrument.
Original members names are written in italics.
Lead vocalists
Dave Bartram(born David Frederick Bartram, 23 March 1952, Leicester[55]) (member from September 1973–December 2011[28]) – The youngest original member of SWW, Bartram was nineteen years old when he joined one of the bands predecessors, Choise.[28] From 1967 to 1969, he had sang in Buttercup Jelly. Bartram was the core lead singer for Showaddywaddy, sometimes giving the lead vocals to Gask. Bartram retired in 2011 for many reasons including vocal strains, problems with breathing (including asthma), extreme muscle ache after a gig, and the lack of joy for performing.[56][29] Bartram has managed the band since 1984, and if the group are playing near where he lives, he will sometimes come on stage during the second half of a show and introduce the band and say a few words.[56][57]
Buddy Gask (born William George Gask, 18 December 1945, Leicester – 7 June 2011, Spain[17]) (member from September 1973–September 1987) – The lead singer for SWW predecessor The Golden Hammers, William "Buddy" Gask was mostly a backing singer, but sometimes sang lead vocals, including two top ten hit's: "Hey Rock and Roll" (UK 2) and "Heartbeat" (UK 7).[17][58] Gask described himself as an "extremist" who always spoke his mind, which led to many arguments behind the scenes; Gask's relationship with the band strained and he left the band in September 1987.[17] He later moved to Spain, and died in 2011 aged 65. He died of cancer, but also had Alzheimer's disease.[31]
Andy Pelos(born 25 June 1969) (member from January 2012 onwards[44]) – Pelos has worked behind the scenes in many theatre productions, Andy Pelos was a singer in Allured's The Fabulous Teddy's. In 2011, just before retiring, Bartram rang Pelos and asked him to take his place in 2012. Malcolm gave his blessing for him to leave T.F.T to join Showaddywaddy, and has been the lead singer since.[44] He also plays guitar on stage. Gigs had to be postponed in September 2021, when Pelos tested positive for Covid-19.[59]
Billy Shannon(born 28 July 1996, Rushall) (member from December 2021–November 2024[37][60][61]) – The youngest member to ever join Showaddywaddy, he was from Rushall, and later lived in Telford.[62] He started uploading videos of him singing 50s/60s rock and roll songs on YouTube in 2011.[63] Billy Shannon is a stage name which he got after merging the names of singers Billy Fury and Del Shannon, which his uncle made up when Billy was four.[62] He joined the group alongside Sam Holland in December 2021, and left the band in November 2024.[37] In January 2025, he started work as a Dr. Hook tribute act.
Guitarists
Russ Field(born James Lewis Russell Field, 1 September 1949, Berwick-upon-Tweed) (member from September 1973–July 1985[16]) – The guitarist for The Golden Hammers, Field was the main guitarist for the original SWW. Unlike most members, he rarely switched instruments or performed choreographed dances on stage, but did sometimes play bass on stage. He left the band in July 1985 after a gig in Hillsborough Park, Sheffield on 20 July 1985.[16] He no longer enjoyed touring and had a disagreement with the band regarding fees from a tour in Ireland in 1984.[16] He made a guest appearance with The Fabulous Teddys with Allured and Gask in 2001, and from 1989 to 2017 ran a guest house in Berwick.[16] Field also ran a guest house with his wife in Beadnell, Northumberland, and still plays guitar in a local covers band, Before The Mast.[16]
Ray Martinez (member from August 1985–Spring 1995[18]) – The first non-original member to join SWW, he replaced Russ Field. He was a member of prog rock band Spring from 1971 to 1972.[64] He wrote "The Only Way Out", a top ten for Cliff Richard in 1982. Martinez left Showaddywaddy in 1995, and later The Fabulous Teddys.[18] He now lives in Monmouth where he teaches guitar.
Danny Willson (member from 1995–August 2009/ September–November 2021 / November 2024 onwards[19][65][66]) – Playing guitar since age eight, Willson joined Showaddywaddy in 1995 after Ray Martinez left. In March 2008,[67] Willson joined Martin Turner'sWishbone Ash, performing with the group when performances didn't clash with Showaddywaddy. In 2009, he decided to join M.T.W.A. full time, and parted ways with SWW in August 2009, playing his last gig in Holstebro, Denmark on 8 August.[19] The band were upset to see him go, but were happy that he was now joining a group who played music that influenced him more to originally play guitar as a child.[19] Willson has returned to the group for a few gigs as a fill-in member in more recent years; he played a few gigs between September–November 2021, and has been an additional member for a few performances since November 2024.
Paul Dixon (member from December 2008–January 2017[50]) – Although joining full time in December 2008 when original member Al James retired, he started playing concerts in August 2008, when Willson became a father and took a short paternity leave.[50] A former member of The Fabulous Teddys, he and Willson knew each other as his brother Rick was also in the Teddys.[50] Dixon was fired from the band in January 2017[50] due to disagreements between him and the band. His last gig was at Whitley Bay Playhouse on 28 January.[50]
Rob Hewins(born 1958, Coventry) (member from January 2012–November 2021[51]) – A drummer since age 12, Hewins was a member of Ultravox for one week. He was the drummer for Alvin Stardust for six years, and then joined Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash for five years starting in 2005, and his tenure briefly collided with Willson.[51] He left in 2010, and twelve months later joined SWW after Bartram retired. On stage, he changed to guitar. Hewins left Showaddywaddy in November 2021, after playing his last gig at Bridlington Spa on 26 November.[51]
Ray Hatfield(born 1960) (February 2017–March 2020[53]) – Also a former member of Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash, Hatfield was a guitarist from 2005 to 2015, Hatfield joined in February 2017.[53] Hatfield left the band along with Dean Loach and Billy Norman in March 2020. Their last gig was on 18 March 2020 at Butlins, Skegness (Showaddywaddy's last gig before Covid-19 lockdown[54]).
Sam Holland (member from December 2021 onwards[38]) – Holland played for many bands on cruise ships, until being invited to SWW in December 2021.[38] He also plays drums and the timpani when Romeo Challenger is in centre stage.
Ed Handoll — vocals / guitar (member since December 2024[46]) – A musician and theatre actor who has worked in the west end, Handoll joined the group in December 2024, replacing Billy Shannon.[46] Because of commitments to another band, Handoll did not join full time until January 2025, during which different guitarists (Geoff Saunders, Adam Ellis, and Danny Willson) stood in for him.[49]
Bassists
Rod Deas(born 13 February 1948, Scarborough) (member from September 1973–January 2019[47]) – Originally a bassist for The Golden Hammers, he was the main bass player for SWW from 1973 until 2019. He also performed choreographed dances with Gask, James, and Allured. Deas retired from January 2019, playing his last gig with the band at The Qube in Corby on 25 January.[47]
Al James(born Geoffrey Edwin Ransome Betts, 13 January 1946, Leicester – 16 November 2018[68]) (member from September 1973–December 2008[26]) – Choise's bass player, Geoff Betts aka Al James, was a backing singer with Gask, but also played bass when Rod Deas was dancing around the stage. James retired from the band in December 2008, playing his last gig Cheese & Grain in Frome, Somerset, on 20 December 2008.[26] James later suffered several bouts of cancer, which weakened his body.[33] In October 2018, he fell down the stairs in his Market Harborough home; he lived by himself so it took hours for anyone to help him.[34][69] He died from complications from the fall at Kettering General Hospital on 16 November 2018, aged 72.[69][35]
Billy Norman (member from January 2018–March 2020[54]) – Norman joined as a fill in member in January 2018 when Deas' attendance was starting to dwindle.[54] Norman left the band along with Dean Loach and Ray Hatfield in March 2020. Their last gig was on 18 March 2020 at Butlins, Skegness (Showaddywaddy's last gig before Covid-19 lockdown[54]).
Tom Bull (member since August 2020[45]) – Bull joined on bass during lockdown in August 2020, five months after Billy Norman left. His first gig was at Norton Grange Coastal Village on the Isle of Wight on 20 September 2020.[45]
Saxophonists
Trevor Oakes(born Trevor Leslie Oakes, 9 September 1946, Leicester) (member from September 1973–May 2009[27]) – The guitarist for Choise, Oakes was the saxophonist for the band, although did not play the sax on "Under the Moon of Love" (that was Jeff Daly[70]). He also played guitar and danced. Oakes missed out on many gigs in 2009 due to health problems, and officially retired on 1 May 2009; he played his last gig at the Cheese & Grain in Frome, Somerset, on 20 December 2008, which was also original member Al James' last gig before retiring.[27] He started playing solo gigs a few years later. He has dementia. Trevor Oakes is the father of footballers Scott Oakes and Stefan Oakes.[27]
David Graham (member from July 2009–August 2011 / September 2020 onwards[30]) – Replacing Oakes as the sax player, former music teacher David Graham debuted on the stage one month before joining full time; he played the sax live for "Under the Moon of Love" on 9 July 2009 at the Assembly Rooms in Tamworth, which was also Willson's last gig.[19][30] Graham joined full time one month later, making his first real performance at Retrofest in Glasgow on 29 August 2009. He left in December 2011 at the same time as Dave Bartram as he felt too much pressure working both Showaddywaddy and as a solo artist in his own agency (the agency in question, DG Music,[71] was bought by another local company in December 2024). Nine years later, Graham rejoined the band.
Keyboardists
Dean Loach (member from January 2012–March 2020[52]) – Loach was the first full time keyboardist to join the band in January 2012, when the group ditched the saxophone following Graham's departure. Loach played the saxophone notes on the keys, and also played rhythm guitar. Loach left the band along with Billy Norman and Ray Hatfield in March 2020. Their last gig was on 18 March 2020 at Butlins, Skegness (Showaddywaddy's last gig before Covid-19 lockdown[54]).
Chris Savage (member from August–September 2020[36]) – The keyboardist for Mud II since 2004, Savage joined SWW for one month in 2020, just as they were starting to perform again due to lockdown. He joined in August 2020, and left in the September, playing a total of ten gigs, his last being at Great Yarmouth on 14 September.[36]
Drummers
Romeo Challenger(born 19 May 1950, St John's, Antigua, West Indies) (member from September 1973 onwards[43]) – The drummer for Choise, Challenger has been the drummer and timpani player for Showaddywaddy since the group began. He remains in the band to this day, the only constant member and the sole original member since 2019.[47][43] Challenger is the father of Benjamin Challenger who trialled for Leicester City before playing basketball for Leicester Riders, and then moved into athletics, gaining medals in the high jump at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games.[72][73][74][75][76]
Malcolm Allured(born 27 August 1945, Leicester) (member from September 1973–mid 1984[15]) – The oldest original member of Showaddywaddy, Allured, nicknamed The Duke, mostly performed choreographed dances on stage, but also played double drumming with Challenger. He left the band in 1984, the first original member to depart. He and Gask formed The Fabulous Teddys in the 1990s; Gask retired and has passed away, but Malcolm continues to tour the UK with his group.[15] Allured owned a nightclub called MFN at Shipley Gate, Derbyshire, and still plays live in local bands.
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