After Dinner Speakers: Showaddywaddy, Electric Light Orchestra 2, Abba Gold

When two promising Leicestershire groups, the Choice and the Golden Hammers, fused their talents in 1973, the result was an octet comprising Dave Bartram (b. 23 March 1952; vocals), Buddy Gask (vocals), Russ Field (guitar), Trevor Oakes (guitar), Al James (b. Geoffrey Betts; bass), Rod Deas (b. 13 February 1948, Scarborough, Yorkshire, England; bass), Malcolm Allured (b. 27 August 1945; drums) and Romeo Challenger (b. 19 May 1950, Antigua, West Indies; drums, ex-Black Widow). Showaddywaddy personified the easy-listening dilution of rock 'n' roll and rockabilly and their visual appeal and showmanship won them talent contests and, more importantly, a contract with Bell Records. Initially penning their own hits, they charted steadily, but after reaching number 2 in 1975 with Eddie Cochran's "Three Steps To Heaven", the cover version game was begun in earnest. Fifteen of their singles reached the UK Top 20 during the next four years, including the chart-topping "Under The Moon Of Love", but the seemingly foolproof hit formula ran dry in the following decade when the rock 'n' roll revival had passed. Ray Martinez replaced Field in 1985, and was in turn replaced by Danny Wilson 10 years later. Showaddywaddy are now regulars on the cabaret circuit, although a dispute over the ownership of the name in the mid-90s threatened to sour relationships between the original members. Allured, Gask and Martinez now play as the Teddys, while Bartram, Oakes, James, Deas, Challenger and Wilson carry on the Showaddywaddy name.