Genres Rock, pop Name Chas Hodges Occupation(s) Musician Role Musician | Years active 1960–present Children Kate Garner Labels Retreat, EMI, Rockney | |
Birth name Charles Nicholas Hodges Born 28 December 1943 (age 80)
Edmonton, Greater London, England ( 1943-12-28 ) Instruments Vocals, piano, guitar, bass, banjo Music groups Chas & Dave, The Outlaws, Heads Hands & Feet, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (1965 – 1968) Movies Telstar: The Joe Meek Story Albums The Best of Chas 'n' Dave, Rockney Similar People Dave Peacock, Albert Lee, Mick Underwood, John Gustafson, B J Cole | ||
Chas hodges his band ain t no pleasing you
Charles Nicholas "Chas" Hodges (born 28 December 1943) is an English musician and singer, probably best known for being one half, and lead vocalist, of the English musical duo Chas & Dave.
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Before founding Chas & Dave, Hodges had worked with the producer Joe Meek, as a session musician, backing Jerry Lee Lewis & Gene Vincent, and has also played with Mike Berry and 'The Outlaws' along with Ritchie Blackmore, and Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, which had Mick Burt on drums. He then joined Albert Lee's band Heads Hands & Feet before playing with Dave Peacock and Albert in Black Claw. He also played piano for a short-lived band called The Rockers, which featured Roy Wood, Phil Lynott and John Coghlan. Hodges claims that he learnt piano by watching Jerry Lee Lewis whilst backing him.
Hodges is still famous and popular today among supporters of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club owing to singles he has released as half of the duo Chas & Dave (with Dave Peacock). These include "Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur", "Hot Shot Tottenham", "When the Year Ends in One", "Spurs Medley" and "Ossie's Dream" also known as "Spurs are on their way to Wembley". In 2009, following the death of his wife Sue, Peacock announced his retirement from performing with Chas & Dave. However, in 2010 the band announced a tour in 2011.
They also played their "Christmas Jamboree" at the IndigO2 on 23 and 24 December 2011 and 8 December 2012. Since then, they have had a "Back By Demand" tour of the UK between 28 February and 16 May 2013. In 2012, Hodges recorded a charity single with Chas & His Band alongside the 2012 Premier League Darts players called "Got My Tickets for the Darts" which was written by Hodges. The video featured Hodges, his band, the 2012 Premier League Darts players and walk-on girl Jacqui Adams. It was released on 18 May, the night after the play-offs at the O2 arena in London, where it was premiered. Proceeds from the single were donated to the Haven House Children's Hospice.
In 2008, Hodges published a book called Chas & Dave: All About Us, which took him a quarter of a century to write.
In 2010, he guested on an album by Vince Eager (Western Star Records) called 788 Years of Rock n Roll, which also featured Albert Lee and Marty Wilde. The following year Hodges returned to the label to record a solo album titled Together We Made Music.
In 2014, Hodges also guested on Simon Fowler's new band Merrymouth's album, Wenlock Hill, contributing piano on the song "Salt Breeze", along with John McCusker who played violin.
In 2015 Chas started his Rock n Roll Allotment column in the Daily Express and also filmed pilot show for his new Television show Chas's Rock and Roll allotment in association with Gary Goodmaze and Paul Shed.
On 6 February, 2017 it was announced that Hodges had been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. A statement on social media said the illness had been caught "at an early stage". Luckily this has been spotted at an early stage and he'll be undergoing treatment immediately. So the pair hoped to be "back out on the road" soon.
Chas hodges wilton s music hall
As sideman
With Oliver Nelson