Chas Hodges(1943-2018)
- Music Department
- Actor
- Writer
Chas Hodges is an English musician and singer who was the lead vocalist of the musical duo Chas & Dave.
Chas Hodges became a professional musician by the age of 16, playing bass guitar with various local bands until he joined Billy Gray and the Stormers in 1960. After Billy Gray and the Stormers broke up, Hodges worked with the producer Joe Meek who put Hodges and his former band together as backing band for Mike Berry, forming the Outlaws. They were later joined by Ritchie Blackmore. They also worked as session musicians, backing Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley and Gene Vincent. Hodges claimed that he learned the piano by watching Jerry Lee Lewis whilst backing him. During this time, Hodges became known as 'Sleepy' after his habit of falling asleep during the recording process. The Outlaws broke up, and he was invited to join Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers as a bass player in 1965.
Hodges had known Dave Peacock for a number of years; they met in 1963 and found they had similar taste in music. After the Rebel Rousers, Hodges joined Peacock, Harvey Hinsley and Micky Burt in Black Claw (three of the band would later be in Chas & Dave). In 1970, Albert Lee asked him to join a new band Heads Hands and Feet, who supported Blackmore's subsequent band Deep Purple on tour. He played bass with Purple for one show on 8 March 1971, at Music Hall Aberdeen, substituting for the regular bassist, Roger Glover who was ill. They attempted to form a new breakaway band The New Heads Hands & Feet, Lee however left to play for The Crickets, and they finished as a band.
In 2009 Hodges released an eponymous solo album on Talking Elephant Records In 2010, he guested on an album by Vince Eager called 788 Years of Rock n Roll, 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".
Chas Hodges became a professional musician by the age of 16, playing bass guitar with various local bands until he joined Billy Gray and the Stormers in 1960. After Billy Gray and the Stormers broke up, Hodges worked with the producer Joe Meek who put Hodges and his former band together as backing band for Mike Berry, forming the Outlaws. They were later joined by Ritchie Blackmore. They also worked as session musicians, backing Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley and Gene Vincent. Hodges claimed that he learned the piano by watching Jerry Lee Lewis whilst backing him. During this time, Hodges became known as 'Sleepy' after his habit of falling asleep during the recording process. The Outlaws broke up, and he was invited to join Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers as a bass player in 1965.
Hodges had known Dave Peacock for a number of years; they met in 1963 and found they had similar taste in music. After the Rebel Rousers, Hodges joined Peacock, Harvey Hinsley and Micky Burt in Black Claw (three of the band would later be in Chas & Dave). In 1970, Albert Lee asked him to join a new band Heads Hands and Feet, who supported Blackmore's subsequent band Deep Purple on tour. He played bass with Purple for one show on 8 March 1971, at Music Hall Aberdeen, substituting for the regular bassist, Roger Glover who was ill. They attempted to form a new breakaway band The New Heads Hands & Feet, Lee however left to play for The Crickets, and they finished as a band.
In 2009 Hodges released an eponymous solo album on Talking Elephant Records In 2010, he guested on an album by Vince Eager called 788 Years of Rock n Roll, 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".
