Chas & Dave together – for one last time

It seemed they would never again take to the stage together, but legendary Cockney double act Chas & Dave are back on the road – for one last time.

Their farewell tour is selling out venues across the country, attracting fans old and new with rock‘n’roll classics such as Gertcha, Rabbit, Ain’t No Pleasing You and Margate; songs that made them household names.

Chas & Dave enjoyed 35 years together, but following the death of Dave Peacock’s wife in 2009, the bassist decided to call time on touring – until now.

Chas says: “It’s going great. We’re half-way through the tour and the tickets are selling out. It shows you, once you’ve got into the swing of it, you can go on forever.“

With long-time drummer Mick Burt retiring a year ago, Chas’s son Nik has joined the pair for the tour – Nik is also the drummer with Chas’s other current act, Chas And His Band.

“It’s just the same. I’ve been playing the Chas & Dave songs with my band, as well as my new songs. Dave came in and he just slots in for bass player Darren [Juniper].“

Chas says he and Dave have not had much time for jamming together these past two years.

“I’ve been busy with my band,“ he says. “Dave is a master at restoring old gypsy wagons, there’s no-one who can touch him. He’s been busy doing that.“

Chas lives near Stevenage, where he has an allotment. He wrote a book Chas and His Rock ’N’ Roll Allotment, which is a mix of gardening tips and anecdotes. He says his plot is now “well manured and ready to go“ for spring.

You might think that, at the age of 67, he is looking to spend most of his time there, but Chas is as industrious as ever.

“The older I get, the more I want to play music. I’ve plenty to look forward to,“ he says.

“I do a lot of writing in the early hours. I go to bed about 4am and get up around noon. It’s important to get a good night’s sleep when you’re touring. It’s tiring being on the road but it’s more tiring when you don’t do it right. I always try to get eight hours sleep.“

Chas made his musical debut aged 12 at the Cross Keys pub in his home town of Edmonton. He turned professional at 16, played bass with acts including Jerry Lee Lewis, from whom he learned to play the piano. As a member of Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, Chas toured with The Beatles, before eventually teaming up with Dave, whom he met while hitch-hiking a lift home.

The duo’s plans to briefly reunite last year, to record another FA Cup Final song for Spurs were thwarted when Tottenham lost in the semi-finals.

So will they be releasing a Champions League song this season if their team gets to the final?

“I don’t think so,“ says Chas. “We don’t do sports songs anymore. But it’s good to see them doing well.“

Chas & Dave will be at the Beck Theatre, Hayes, on Thursday, April 7, 7.30pm, tel: 020 8561 8371, www.becktheatre.org.uk