showaddywaddy 50th anniversary tour review

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‘It’s just like yesterday’: Showaddywaddy drummer recalls 50 years on tour ahead of Perth, Fife and Angus gigs

Romeo Challenger is the last remaining member of the original 1973 Showaddywaddy line-up.

Rock’n’roll throwbacks Showaddywaddy became an overnight sensation 50 years ago – and they’re still attracting new fans today.

As he prepares to lead the bright suit-wearing hit-makers to Perth Concert Hall and Rothes Hall in Glenrothes next weekend as part of a mammoth tour celebrating half a century in music, veteran drummer Romeo Challenger says evidence of the band’s wide-reaching appeal is easy to spot.

“The weird thing is we look out into the audience at gigs and see teenagers mouthing the words to songs,” he smiles.

“A lot of them get it from their parents who’ve been playing stuff with their children around listening. They turn up with their parents and it’s kind of a family thing as well.

“The ages range from very young to very old. I’m 73 now myself and I’m loving playing just as much as I ever did.

“We started touring in 1973 and never stopped – it’s just been one long tour.”

Showaddywaddy’s sole remaining original member, Romeo admits he sometimes has to pinch himself when he reflects on his epic career.

“It doesn’t seem like 50 years,” he says.

“Sometimes when I think about it, it scares me, because I have to ask myself, ‘Where did the years go?’ To me, it’s just like yesterday – I remember most things vividly.”

Teddy Boys and New Faces

Formed in 1973 by the merging of two Leicester bands, the eight-piece enjoyed incredible chart success for most of their first decade, with their unusual two-drummer, two-guitarist and two-bassist line-up ensuring they stood out from the crowd, even at the height of glam rock.

Another distinctive feature was their simple but ultra-effective on-stage image, with each member sporting a different-coloured Teddy Boy suit.

“We used to play in Leicester in a pub called the Fosse Way, and we were doing a rock ‘n’ roll review,” the sticksman recalls.

“Malc, the other drummer in the band, said we should make it more visual – make it colourful and all the rest of it. He just suggested that we all wear different coloured suits and it seemed to work for us.

“The funny thing about it is that our suits are probably more famous than we are,” he laughs.

Antigua-born Challenger started out in a prog rock combo, Black Widow, before hooking up with the Dave Bartram-fronted revivalists, who earned their big break when they reached the final of TV talent show New Faces in late 1973.

Looking back now, he says fate played a big part in the success that followed.

“It was great playing hard rock, but it can be self-indulgent, so you’re not really playing for the audience, you’re playing for yourself,” adds Romeo.

“In the end I didn’t really enjoy playing all that stuff and just thought that maybe a shift would be better for me career-wise.

“Showaddywaddy were initially playing pubs and gigs all over the place, and a producer from ITV spoke to our manager because he wanted us to come on New Faces, which we declined.

“But we eventually relented and it was probably the best thing we ever did, because by going on millions of people saw us.”

Showaddywaddy hits just kept on coming

A record label bidding war followed, with Cat Stevens producer Mike Hurst subsequently steering their debut single Hey Rock’n’Roll to No2 in the charts in spring 1974.

A further nine Top 10 singles followed, but the pressure to keep having hits eventually told, as Romeo explains.

“We had two great songwriters in the band, guitarist Trevor Oakes and Dave Bartram,” he says.

“We wrote our first two singles and both went top five. But we had a number one with Under The Moon Of Love and that changed a lot of things as far as choices were concerned.

“Our record company decided they wanted another chart-topper and they overlooked our originals and went for old rock’n’roll songs.

“That was in keeping with the image, but we wanted to get our songs out as well. That never happened – all the good new songs that could have been singles ended up on albums, but they sold heavily as well, anyway.”

Secret to Showaddywaddy success

Asked about the secret of Showaddywaddy’s longevity, the drummer reckons the answer is simple.

“For any band to work, there has to be friendship,” he says.

“There are exceptions – you know, bands like The Kinks and Oasis, whose feuds are well-documented. Of course we’ve had disagreements, but like any family has, and in the end they stay together.”

Following a few personnel changes in recent years, Romeo says it’s a revitalised Showaddywaddy that’s ripping it up on tour.

“The current line-up is absolutely brilliant – everybody does what they’re supposed to do, and more,” he enthuses.

“Our sax player Dave was actually in the band 10 years ago before he left, and he’s rejoined. We brought in a singer-guitarist, Billy Shannon – he was a massive fan of Showaddywaddy as a child, and is still only about 27.

“Our lead guitarist Stan is very young as well and comes from a professional background. He used to do cruises and all the rest of it, while Tom is a great bass player and guitarist.

“Andy’s been with the band for 11 years. He took over the lead role from Dave Bartram and he’s absolutely brilliant.”

Romeo, who says a new SWW record “is a possibility”, is looking forward to the upcoming Courier Country dates, including Arbroath on August 26.

“My memories of playing anywhere in Scotland are great,” he adds.

“They’re fantastic fans, great people who are out there to enjoy themselves. Scotland is our second home, really, and the last time we played Perth it was brilliant.”

50th Anniversary Tour tickets are available via showaddywaddy.net

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Showaddywaddy 50th Anniversary Tour

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Showaddywaddy - 50th Anniversary Tour

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Leicester Rock and Roll band Showaddywaddy to kick off 50th anniversary tour in Edinburgh

• Thursday 16 February 2023 at 8:00pm

Showaddywaddy are set to kickstart their 50th anniversary tour with more tickets announced to be on sale soon. 

The Leicester band will be performing their iconic hits such as Blue Moon to fans all over the UK. Here's everything you need to know about their upcoming tour:

When is Showaddywaddy's 50th anniversary and where is it?

The 70s Rock band will commence their nationwide tour on Friday at Edinburgh's Playhouse and go on to perform 89 shows until the last leg of the tour ends at The Picturedrome in Holmfirth on December 7.

What happened to the lead singer of Showaddywaddy?

Dave Bartram was a founder member of the band Showaddywaddy, whose 1976 chart-topper Under The Moon Of Love peaked at number one for three weeks.

After 38 years of being the front man, Mr Bartram stepped down in 2011, performing his last gig in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Regardless of no longer fronting the band, Mr Bartram still manages the band's affairs and makes the occasional stage appearance.

What happened to Showaddywaddy?

Although their hits no longer top the charts the band have said they never stopped performing.

The Showaddywaddy stars continued to tour ever since their formation in 1973, and it's believed they still do around 100 dates a year in the UK and Europe. However, this is now without two of their members.

Bill "Buddy Gask"  spent 14 years with the group and sang lead vocals on the band's first hit single Hey Rock 'n' Roll in 1974 - he passed away in 2011.

Bassist Al James, real name Geoffrey Betts was the latest member to pass, having died in hospital in 2016, three weeks after falling at his Market Harborough home.

Al James was a member of the band for 35 years, and retired in 2008.

Why are they called Showaddywaddy?

Before being Showaddywaddy, they were two bands that played at local gigs together in a Leicester pub.

In 1973 Known as Choise and the Golden Hammers at the time, they met at the Fosse Way Pub and once they heard each other’s sound, they joined forces to form an eight-piece band.

They chose a name from the backing vocals of a song they had written called 'Hey Rock 'n' Roll,' and Showaddywaddy were born.

Where can I purchase tickets?

Tickets are still on sale, with more due to become available and can be purchased from Showaddywaddy’s official website .

Showaddywaddy 50th Anniversary Concert Tour

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Showaddywaddy50th Anniversary Tour

About this show.

Famous for their catchy pop versions of old ?50s US rock ?n roll songs as much as their flamboyant Teddy Boy look, dance routines and numerous television appearances, Showaddywaddy will take to the Pitlochry stage for the first time in what promises to be a finger clicking, side-stepping, rock ?n roll evening. From a catalogue of hits from over 30 years (their first single, Hey Rock ?n Roll was released in 1974), they perform timeless pop favourites such as Under The Moon of Love, Heartbeat and Blue Moon.

Show Details

Weymouth Pavilion Theatre in Weymouth, Dorset

• Showaddywaddy – 50th Anniversary Concert Tour

Showaddywaddy - 50th Anniversary Concert Tour

Saturday 10 august, 7:30pm - theatre, important information, performances.

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Showaddywaddy – 50th Anniversary Concert Tour

Formed in Leicester in 1973 from an amalgamation of several local bands, Showaddywaddy have gone on to sell more than 20 million records and tour all four corners of the globe.

Their 50th Anniversary shows will be dynamic and uplifting, featuring all their greatest hits, many of which reached number one in the pop charts across Europe. ‘Under The Moon of Love’, ‘Three Steps to Heaven’, ‘Hey Rock & Roll’, ‘When’, ‘Blue Moon’, ‘Pretty Little Angel Eyes’ and many, many more.

So come and join the ‘Dancin’ Party’… ‘You’ve Got What It Takes’!

Event details

You may also like..., michael jordan’s magic & marvels, bmi dance showcase 2024, comedy nights, the great insect games, blackwood miners’ institute.

High Street Blackwood NP12 1BB

01495 227206 [email protected]

Registered Charity: 1000905

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Showaddywaddy

Weymouth Pavilion

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All tickets £27

This tour marks the 50th Anniversary of Showaddywaddy. ‘The Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World’ is a bold statement but Showaddywaddy has lived up to that title for the last 5 decades!

Formed in 1973 in Leicester from several local bands, they have sold more than 20 million records and have toured all corners of the World extensively. Their 50th Anniversary Concert will be a dynamic and uplifting show featuring their greatest hits, many of which reached number one in the pop charts of Europe. ‘Under The Moon of Love’, ‘Three Steps to Heaven’, ‘Hey Rock & Roll’, ‘When’, ‘Blue Moon’, ‘Pretty Little Angel Eyes’ and many, many more.

So come and join the ‘Dancin’ Party’… ‘You’ve Got What It Takes’!

Pre-show meals are available for this show. Served in the Piano Bar from 5pm. Booking is highly recommended. Call the Box Office on 01305 783225 to reserve your table.

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