CHIP HAWKES

CHIP HAWKES
Chip Hawkes started his professional music career in 1962 with “The Horizons”. The band featured Chip on bass & Rod Evans on vocals (who later became the original singer for “Deep Purple”). Like many other young musicians such as The Beatles, The Searchers, Cliff Bennett, etc., The Horizons learned their craft in Germany (Hamburg, etc.).
Chip joined “Brian Poole & The Tremeloes” in late 1965 and this format went on for about 1 year. Brian embarked on a solo career which eventually led to them splitting. Chip & Alan Blakely found the song “Here Comes My Baby” written by Cat Stevens which proved to be their first global hit and first US success. “Brian Poole & The Tremeloes” hits were restricted predominantly in the UK, Sweden & Denmark.
Over the next 6 to 7 years, “The Tremeloes” produced worldwide hits such as “Silence Is Golden” (which reached 1 all over the world including the US). Many of the hits were penned by Chip.
In 1974 Chip left the band and was signed by RCA to record in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1979 Chip reformed “The Tremeloes”. “The Tremeloes” continued touring all over Europe until 1988 when Chip left the band to concentrate on the musical career of his eldest son, Chesney, who had a massive global hit with “The One & Only” written by Nik Kershaw.
Chip decided he was not cut out to be a manager at all and after about 2 years of not doing live gigs he formed his own group “The Chip Hawkes Band” and toured with them very successfully all over Europe in the 90’s.
In 2003 Chip formed “The Class Of ‘64” (below). 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 & the current “Class Of ‘64” perform for exclusive gigs.
Chip, as a solo artist, has toured with Gerry Marsden stateside and with Dominic Kirwan in the UK. Another UK Tour with Gerry is coming this fall. A UK tour with Brian Poole is forming for spring of 2010. Chip is planning to return to the States to tour as well.
CHIP HAWKES' CLASS OF '64
That was then....
The classic songs recorded by “The Kinks”, “The Hollies” and “The Tremeloes” are still recognised today as tapestries of classic rock and roll music. When you think of all their combined hits including:
You Really Got Me - The Air That I Breathe - Silence is Golden, without a doubt “The Kinks”, “The Hollies” and “The Tremeloes” carved their mark on the face of rock and roll.
Three of the original members united to perform an anthologistic concert highlighting their amazing careers to date.
They started their journey in April ’04 as special guests on the 40th anniversary tour of “The Animals” when Chip Hawkes was asked to put a band together as an opening act for the shows. Mick Avory, the drummer of the original Kinks, Eric Haydock, the original bass player and founder member of the Hollies and Chip Hawkes, the dynamic voice and songwriter of The Tremeloes embarked on an amazing voyage of rock and roll. To complete the line up, “Telecaster” Ted Tomlin & Graham Pollock joined the group. Since Chip, Mick, & Eric first met in 1964, the soon-to-be hit band was named “The Class of ’64”.
The band performed an extraordinary set of some of the greatest 60’s music that Avory, Haydock and Hawkes personally created, and have come off stage to genuine standing ovations at every show.
The original band has split as of the end of May 2007. The break up began in January 2007 when Eric had to leave the band due to “legal reasons”. At that time, Graham decided to leave ’64 & join Herman’s Hermits. Chip worked to replace these musicians to be able to play the gigs already scheduled. The last gig with Mick & Ted as official band members was May 27, 2007 at Lostock Hall in Preston.
This is NOW!
Chip has moved forward with “The Class of ’64” & some very talented new members: Alan Lovell (Swinging Blue Jeans), Pete Spencer (Ex-Smokie) & Micky Clarke (Rubettes).
All the best to CHIP HAWKES & his CLASS OF ’64!
CHIP & OLAF BERGER ~ THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR ~ May 9, 2009
CHIP & CHESNEY HAWKES ~ FATHER & SON ~ June 29, 2008
CHIP HAWKES ~ SHE'S NOT MY CHILD ~ March 2008
CHIP HAWKES' CLASS OF '64 ~ August 26, 2007
CHIP HAWKES' CLASS OF '64 ~ September 30, 2007

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