Adam and Eve it: Chas ‘n’ Dave are back

FOLLOWING the recent BBC 4 documentary, interest in the duo that is Chas and Dave has increased.

And, bowing to the phenomenal demand by fans after what was supposed to be a farewell tour, they are undertaking an extensive UK tour.

Chas Hodges (the one on 
the piano) and Dave Peacock (the bass guitarist), got together as Chas and Dave in 1972 after over a decade earning their living as jobbing musicians.

Dave started in a band called The Rolling Stones (no, not that one) and many others, while Chas had been in The Outlaws (under the producer Joe Meek), Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers and the cult band Heads Hands and Feet.

It was while with the latter band that he decided that he was fed up with singing in an American accent and wanted to perform songs in his own, London, accent.

He contacted Dave and the duo was born. They had a string of hits showcasing their cockney-style and jaunty music, which was labelled Rockney.

Their debut hit was Strummin, which was about Dave learning to play the guitar (in fact, a lot of their songs are stories), but it was an advertisement for Courage beer that gave them their first big hit with Gertcha.

Other hits included Poor 
Old Mr Woogie, Rabbit 
and Ain’t No Pleasing You, which – to Chas’s pride – is a ballad sung in a cockney accent.

Despite the fact that their image is very London, they are popular all over the country as well as in Australia and America. Chas tells 
me that it’s their cockney image that has kept them popular.

“We love playing songs that people can join in with. Everybody should sing.

“There’s honesty about our music, we enjoy it and we entertain.

“People always leave with happy, smiling faces, and that’s how it should be.”

But, they have fallen foul 
of the dreaded BBC censor 
in the past. “Yeah,” Chas laughs.

“They objected to the ‘cow son’ (think of another US insult in Gertcha) and they asked me not to sing it. I did though.”

However, the BBC didn’t catch on with the use of the trade name Sainsbury’s in Rabbit. “Nah, they never objected to that for some reason.”

Chas then reminisces. “I remember that a mate of mine, Mark Lamarr, actually went in to Sainsbury’s and asked if they did sell rabbit. And they said that they did – it was in the cat food!”

Another aspect of some of their songs is the tongue-twisting lyrics in songs like Rabbit and Diddle Umma Day. Chas explains.

“With Rabbit, it was OK, but once we’d recorded it, the real test was doing it live.

“For a while, we used to have it written out, but we’ve been doing it so long that we’ve got it off pat now.”

Despite their success and popularity, they seem to have been ignored by music historians and reference book compilers.

“I don’t know why that is,” Chas says, perplexed. “We’ve always been respected by other musicians, as they have always seen what we’ve got.

“And we’ve always been popular, but we’re sometimes seen as a novelty act.

“But nowadays, we’re getting some respect – if anyone really thinks that we’re just a novelty act, 
then I don’t think they’ve got a soul.”

Following the retirement of their long-time drummer Mick Burt – who worked with Chas in the Rebel Rousers, they now have a new drummer behind them. “Yeah,” Chas says, “Mick retired about three years ago, my son’s on drums now. He’s called Nik.”

The TV documentary showed Dave indulging his spare-time passion 
for restoring gipsy caravans, but nothing was said about Chas.

“Well, I’m always writing songs, but I’ve also got an allotment – I’ve been growing my own veg since about 1972.”

The tour will of course feature all the hits and much more and both Chas and Dave are looking forward to it.

“We are so pleased that we’re still gigging at our age. I 
always say that I’m at least 50 (he is in fact 69 and Dave is 67). You’re as young as you feel.”

And when the duo isn’t working, Mr Hodges has the Chas Hodges Band with whom he’s just released an album.

“Yeah that’s right. It’s called Together We Make Music 
and it’s a tribute to all the people I’ve worked with: Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beatles et cetera.”

And his book about his career and that of Chas and Dave is about to be released again as a paperback.

Good-time music and 
a good laugh is guaranteed 
at their shows, but could 
this be the last time that 
we will see them on the 
road? “Who knows?” Chas replies.

“This could well be the last Chas and Dave tour, but there’s no hard and fast rules.”

And the duo have a simple attitude to their shows. “It’s all very well playing good music, but you have to have fun as well,” says Chas.

After so long in the business, Mr Hodges has enjoyed quite a few career highlights.

“Oh God, yes, loads of ’em. But if I had to pick some, 
I’d say that working with 
The Beatles and Jerry 
Lee Lewis has to be up 
there.

“And with Chas and Dave, 
the first time we did Glastonbury in 2005 takes some beating.”

Chas and Dave will 
be bringing their show 
to the the Leeds City 
Varieties on Wednesday 
May 1.

Tickets are available from the Box Office and all the usual agencies.

The cockney rebels...

The duo’s debut album One Fing ‘n’ Anuvver was released in 1975 earning critical acclaim from the likes of John Peel among others.

Two years later they were spotted by an advertising executive at a pub gig playing their composition Gertcha; he signed them up to make advertisements for Courage beer. Gertcha became their first Top Twenty chart entry.

Throughout the 90s they switched their attention to new projects. They worked with the late Johnny Speight – creator of Alf Garnett – and recorded a collection of songs to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VE day.