‘Without him we would never have scaled the dizzy heights’
Guitarist Trevor Oakes of English pop group Showaddywaddy, 16th March 1976(Image: Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Trevor Oakes, founding member of Leicester glam rock icons Showaddywaddy, has died aged 79.
The musician passed away peacefully last month following a long illness, with the band confirming the news this weekend.
A central figure in one of Leicester’s most beloved success stories, Trevor was part of Showaddywaddy from their formation in 1973 right through to 2009, serving as both guitarist and one of the band’s main songwriters.
The group came into being following the merger of Leicester bands Choise and the Golden Hammers, with Trevor having been a member of Choise, performing alongside Dave Bartram, Al James and Romeo Challenger from the very start.
From those local beginnings, the band went on to become one of the most successful British acts of their era.
An early triumph on New Faces, the television talent show regarded as the era’s equivalent of Britain’s Got Talent, brought them to a national audience and set them on a path that would see them spend a total of 209 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, scoring 10 top ten singles, including their number one hit Under the Moon of Love.
Showaddywaddy, studio, group portrait, London, 1982, L-R (back) Rod Deas, Buddy Gask, Dave Bartram, Trevor Oakes (front) Romeo Challenger, Russ Field, Al James, Malcolm Allured.(Image: Michael Putland)
As well as his guitar work, Trevor was a key part of the band’s creative identity as a songwriter alongside Dave Bartram, helping to craft a sound rooted in the energy of 1950s and 1960s rock and roll, yet delivered with a freshness entirely their own.
The band became known for their energetic live performances and joyful revivals of classic material, with their success stretching well beyond Leicester and earning them a permanent place in the story of British pop.
Trevor stepped away from the band in 2009 at the age of 62 following a period of ill health, with his final performance taking place in December 2008.
That show also marked the last gig for original bass player Al James, bringing down the curtain on the classic Showaddywaddy lineup that so many Leicester fans had followed throughout their lives.
The band continues to tour today, though only one of the original members remains in the lineup.
Away from music, Trevor was a devoted family man and a passionate Leicester City supporter, and the connection between the Oakes family and Filbert Street ran deeper than just his own affections for the club.
Abbey Road recreated by Showaddywaddy in St Martins, Leicester.
They are (l-r) Danny Willson, Rod Deas, Romeo Challenger, Al James, Dave Bartram and Trevor Oakes.(Image: Leicester Mercury)
Both of his sons went on to become professional footballers with ties to Leicester City, with Scott making his breakthrough under manager David Pleat at Filbert Street before going on to make more than 170 appearances for Luton Town during the 1990s, also playing for Sheffield Wednesday and earning a call-up to the England Under-21 side.
His younger brother Stefan followed him into the professional game and also into the hearts of Leicester City supporters, making Premier League appearances for the club in the early 2000s after impressing then-manager Martin O’Neill and being voted the reserve team’s Player of the Year.
READ MORE: 20 Great pictures of Leicester’s Top Teds Showaddywaddy
The Leicester Mercury reported in May 1999 that Trevor had been on stage with Showaddywaddy in Denmark on the very night Stefan made his full Premiership debut against Newcastle at Filbert Street, missing his son’s big moment at the ground he loved.
It was a debut that had been far from guaranteed, with Stefan having earlier suffered a serious injury that threatened to derail his career entirely.
He said at the time: “I broke my leg in about 10 places and spent some time in hospital. But when I came out, I made up my mind to work as hard as I possibly could to get myself back to where I was before.”
Showaddywaddy at De Montfort Hall in 1975. From left, Malc Allured, Dave Bartram, Rod Deas, Trevor Oakes.(Image: Leicester Mercury)
Dave Bartram, who knew Trevor for 57 years and remains the band’s manager today, paid a heartfelt tribute to his former bandmate and lifelong friend.
Bartram said: “Trevor was a unique character and a dedicated professional, without whom the band would never have quite scaled the dizzy heights we seemed destined to achieve.
“He was also a caring and affectionate family man, with a mischievous sense of humour, which will be sadly missed by all those dear to him.
“I could write a book about the incredible memories we have shared over the past fifty-seven years, but most of all I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his unwavering friendship. Your true friend, Dave.”