Showaddywaddy

Releasing their first self-titled LP on Bell in 1974, this rock ‘n’ roll revival octet from Leicester spent 209 weeks in the UK Top 40 with 23 hit singles and ten hit albums. They had seven successive Top Five entries at the peak of their career with rousing revivals of old 1950s rock ‘n’ roll songs.

Formed from the ashes of two local groups – The Golden Hammers and Choise – and named from the chanted phrase in the backing vocals of the Maurice Williams composition Little Darlin’ (1957) – a million-seller for The Diamonds – Showaddywaddy made Sha Na Na look authentic by comparison. Initially playing the cabaret circuit, the group appeared on the TV talent show New Faces and were signed to Bell.

During 1974 they had hits in Britain and Europe with Hey Rock ‘n’ Roll (#2), Rock n Roll Lady (#15) and Hey Mr Christmas (#13). Written by the group’s eight members, they were produced by Mike Hurst.

During 1975 the self-penned Sweet Music (#14) and Heavenly (#34) were less successful than covers of Eddie Cochran‘s Three Steps To Heaven (#2) and Buddy Holly‘s Heartbeat (#7).

Later revivals, however, were drawn from the more diluted regions of late fifties and early sixties rock. Versions of Curtis Lee’s Under The Moon Of Love (their only #1), the Kalin Twins‘ When and Marv Johnson’s You Got What It Takes were Hurst’s final productions, and from Dancin’ Party onwards, the group’s records were self-produced.

Showaddywaddy’s commercial success peaked between 1976 and 1978 when the band had seven successive Top Ten hits, concluding with cover versions of two 1961 songs, the Jarmels’ A Little Bit of Soap and Curtis Lee’s Pretty Little Angel Eyes.

Later records – like their versions of Chuck Berry‘s Sweet Little Rock’n’Roller (1979) and Bobby Darin‘s Multiplication (1981) – were only minor hits, and in 1982 the group moved to RCA.

The eighth album (and the last to feature the original line-up), Living Legends, was released by RCA without fanfare on 17 July 1983. The Duke (Malcolm Allured) left the group in 1984, followed by Russ Field in 1985 and vocalist Buddy Gask in 1987.

Lead singer Dave Bartram left Showaddywaddy on 3 December 2011 after 38 years of fronting the band. He continues to manage the band.

Bill ‘Buddy’ Gask passed away in 2011 after suffering from ill health for a number of years. Bassist Al James died in hospital on 17 November 2018, three weeks after suffering a fall at his Market Harborough home.

Bill ‘Buddy’ Gask
Vocals, bass, guitar
Dave Bartram
Vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica
Trevor Oakes
Guitar, harmonica
Romeo Challenger
Drums
Rod Deas
Guitar, bass
Malcolm ‘The Duke’ Allured
Drums
Russell Field
Guitar, keyboards, bass, banjo
Al James
Bass, guitar

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