Showaddywaddy

One of the finest rock & roll revival bands of the 1970s, Showaddywaddy also proved to be one of the most successful and enduring. Originally styled as a British answer to American retro-masters Sha Na Na, Showaddywaddy found themselves scooped up into the glam rock basket; indeed, at a time when rival giants Mud, Wizzard, and the Rubettes were also mining the '50s for inspiration, Showaddywaddy swept ahead with barely a glance over their shoulder. The group's run of greatest hits sounds devastatingly pure, even authentic, while further evidence of their resilience can be garnered from the fact that Showaddywaddy are regularly gigging, a full 50 years after the bandmembers first heard the music which brought them such fame. Showaddywaddy formed in 1973 in Leicester, England, from the union of two local groups, the Choice and the Hammers. Both were regulars at the Fosse Way pub, frequently appearing on the same bill and often ending those evenings with a full-on jam session. Such impromptu gatherings were immediately successful -- indeed, while both bands continued to gig in their own right, it swiftly became apparent that the real magic was made when they came together as one mighty octet. Plus, at a time when Gary Glitter was making a virtue of having two drummers in his band, this new aggregation could also boast two bassists (Al James and Rod Dees), two guitarists (Russ Field and Trevor Oakes), and two singers (Dave Bartram and Buddy Gask). Drummers Malcolm Allured and former Black Widow percussionist Romeo Challenger completed the lineup; a full '50s-style wardrobe completed the experience. Dubbed Showaddywaddy, the group entered and won television's New Faces talent show in 1974. They were rewarded with a support slot on David Cassidy's latest British tour and a...