Music
Press
Skegness 18th August 2007
On a recent visit to Skegness we noticed ‘The Class of 64’ were playing at the Embassy Theatre. As this is our kind of music we decided to go and see them, and boy, what a good decision it was.
As soon as the band enthusiastically bounded onto the stage they captivated the audience with their unique show, one of the best we have ever seen.
The opening number was Smokie’s ‘Lay Back in the Arms’ followed by ‘Here Comes my Baby’. The charismatic Chip Hawkes, instantly recognisable from the Tremeloes, fronted the band singing many of the numbers. With his versatile voice he made every song his own.
He introduced the rest of the band. Alan Lovell of the Swinging Blue Jeans, Mick Clarke of the Rubettes and drummer Pete Spencer from Smokie.
What a fantastic idea creating a band of this calibre. The selection of their songs was really impressive showing how amazingly talented these guys are. Hit after hit, including ‘Oh Carol’, ‘Me and My Life’, ‘Call Me Number One’, ‘I Shall Be Released’, plus many more.
Mick took over as lead singer on The Rubettes internationally known hits “Sugar Baby Love”, “I Can Do It” and “Baby I Know”. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear another exhilarating singer.
Alan, a very cheeky chappie, performed the highly successful “Hippy Hippy Shake”. His guitar playing was electrifying during the whole show.
After the interval, a string of more hits were well received. ‘Helule Helule’, ‘Don’t Play your Rock and Roll’, ‘Suddenly You Love Me’, ‘Living Next Door to Alice’, ‘My Little Lady’.
Pete, on drums, had kept the band tight all night. He then came forward to join the boys on the close harmonies of The Tremeloes hit “Silence Is Golden”. We could not believe what we were hearing, it sounded fantastic.
We were catapulted into a superb trip down memory lane, with unstoppable top ten hits.
The guys clearly were enjoying themselves as much as we were. They had a great sense of humour and rapport with the audience, who in turn showed their appreciation with rapturous applause. When Chip had sung their last number ‘Even The Bad Times Are Good’, the crowd weren’t going to let them go that easily. They starting cheering and stamping their feet and were delighted when the band came back to do an encore of a Rock ‘n’ Roll medley which had the audience jumping to their feet and dancing in the aisles.
What a brilliant evening, if you get a chance, go and see them, you will not be sorry.
We will certainly be looking out for more dates of ‘THE CLASS OF 64’. - ‘The Beat’ / ‘Reviewbeat’ by: John Dunn
Discography
Chip Hawkes ~ Me & My Life (New CD)
Chip Hawkes ~ She's Not My Child (new single)
Chip Hawkes ~ Hits Of The Tremeloes
Chip Hawkes ~ The Nashville Album
1965 - 1988 Tremeloes recordings
Photos
Bio
Chip Hawkes started professionally in the music business in 1962 when he went to Germany with a band called THE HORIZENS. The lead singer was Rod Evans who was DEEP PURPLES original singer. After playing the Hamburg clubs for a while, much like the BEATLES, he joined THE TREMELOES as lead singer/bass guitarist/song writer.
THE TREMELOES were very successful worldwide with a string of hits such as Here Comes My Baby, Silence Is Golden (No. 1 in the U.S.), Suddenly You Love Me and Even The Bad Times Are Good (all hits in the U.S.). THE TREMELOES became a household name in Europe and America notching up 18/20 top twenty chart entries (with many of the hits penned by Chip) and touring with: THE BEATLES, THE STONES, THE HOLLIES, THE KINKS, THE WHO, SPENCER DAVIS etc .
In 1974 the band split and Chip went to Nashville, Tennessee for 5 years writing and recording 2 albums for RCA. In 1979, for personal family reasons, he returned to England and was amazed to find THE TREMELOES still in huge demand. He reunited the band and fronted them for the next nine years playing all over the world.
Chip left THE TREMELOES in 1988 to put all his efforts into managing his son, Chesney. It turned out to be a good decision because Chesney had a worldwide number one hit in 1992 with The One and Only and a lead part in a film playing Roger Daltrys son.
Like many veteran rock & rollers, Chip missed performing on stage. Music was in his blood and in 1992 he was back on the road with The Chip Hawkes Band.
In 2003 Chip formed The Class Of 64 and found a new lease on life. The band included Mick Avory (The Kinks) & Eric Haydock (The Hollies), allowing Chip to perform classics such as Waterloo Sunset & The Air That I Breathe along with all The Tremeloes hits. Unfortunately, the band with this format ran its course after 4 years. Chip & the boys went their separate ways. Although Chip still uses the name The Class Of 64 for exclusive gigs.
Recently, Chip has found another lease on life. The demand for him as a solo artist has been huge in the UK & Europe as well as the US. He has toured with Gerry Marsden stateside in 2008 & in the UK in 2009 & 2010, with Brian Poole in the UK in 2010 & with Dominic Kirwan in 2008 in the UK. Chip will be touring again with Gerry Marsden in the UK next autumn. Chip is planning to return to the States to tour as well.
Chip Hawkes has earned the reputation for being one of the most charismatic and exciting solo artists on the Sixties and Seventies circuit.
UPDATE: Chip released a brand new CD titled "Me & My Life" in August 2009. It contains several great songs penned by Chip himself.
Links
