The Tremeloes
 When
UK chart-toppers Brian Poole And The Tremeloes parted company in
1966 few would have wagered that the backing group would outdo the
lead singer.
Remarkably, however, the re-launched Tremeloes went
on to eclipse not only Poole, but the original hit-making group.
At the time of their reconvening in 1966, the line-up comprised
Rick West, Alan Blakely, Dave Munden and Alan Howard.
In May of
1966 Howard was replaced by Mike Clark, however, a mere three
months later his spot was taken by Len 'Chip' Hawkes whose lead
vocals and boyish looks gave the group a stronger visual identity.
In order to keep up with the times, the group abandoned their
stage suits in favour of Carnaby
Street garb and fashionably longer hair. Their
second-generation debut was a song called Blessed, which
was not a hit.
 Seeking
more commercial material they next covered Good Day Sunshine
from The Beatles. In spite of radio play
it too failed to chart, but their third release, Here Comes My
Baby (a Cat Stevens composition)
smashed into the Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic.
An astute follow-up with Silence Is Golden, previously
the flip-side of The Four Seasons
single Rag Doll, proved a perfect vehicle for The Tremeloes
soft harmonic style and gave them their only Number One.
Having established themselves as a hit act, they notched up an
impressive run of hits during the late 60s including Even The
Bad Times Are Good , Suddenly You Love Me, Helule
Helule and My Little Lady.
At the end of the decade, the group seemed weary of their role
in the pop world and broke away from their usual Tin Pan Alley
songsmiths to write their own material. Their first attempt, (Call
Me) Number One, was an impressive achievement, arguably
superior to the material that they had recorded since 1967. When
it reached number two in the UK charts, the group convinced
themselves that a more ambitious approach would bring even greater
rewards.
 Overreacting
to their dream start as hit writers, they announced that they were
'going heavy' and in a suicidal move they alienated their pop
audience by dismissing their earlier record-buying fans as
'morons'.
Their brief progressive phase was encapsulated in the album Master,
which won no new fans but provided a final Top 20 single, Me
And My Life.
Thereafter, they turned increasingly to cabaret where their
strong live performances were always well appreciated.
In 1974 Chip Hawkes went to Nashville, USA, to pursue an
ultimately unsuccessful solo career.
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