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Len Hawkes
Born
Leonard Donald Stanley Hawkes

(1945-11-02) 2 November 1945 (age 79)
Other namesChip Hawkes
Spouse
Carol Dilworth
​
(m. 1969)​
Children3, including Chesney
Musical career
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Bass
  • vocals
Years active1960s–present
Member ofThe Tremeloes
Formerly ofThe Horizons, Class of '64

Leonard Donald Stanley "Chip" Hawkes (born 2 November 1945) is an English musician. He is best known for being a member of the Tremeloes and for being the father of Chesney Hawkes.

Early life

[edit]

Leonard Donald Stanley Hawkes[1] was born on 2 November 1945.[2] When he left school, he became a carpenter's apprentice, alongside which he would play local gigs; his nickname, Chip, was a consequence of him sometimes turning up to gigs still covered in wood shavings.[3]

He formed a band called The Horizons, that featured Rod Evans as their lead vocalist. Evans would go on to form and front the band Deep Purple in 1968. The Horizons toured Hamburg, Germany during the early to mid 1960s.[4]

Career

[edit]

In 1966, he joined The Tremeloes, previously Brian Poole and The Tremeloes before Brian Poole's and bassist Alan Howard's departure earlier that year, first as bassist, and then also as co-lead vocalist;[5] while he was a member, the band entered the UK Singles Chart with "Here Comes My Baby" (No. 4), "Silence Is Golden" (No. 1), "Even the Bad Times are Good" (No. 4), "Be Mine" (No. 39), "Suddenly You Love Me" (No. 6), "Helule Helule" (No. 14), "My Little Lady" (No. 6), "I Shall Be Released" (No. 29), "Hello World" (No. 14), "(Call Me) Number One" (No. 2), "By the Way" (No. 35), "Me and My Life" (No. 4), and "Hello Buddy" (No. 32).[6]

Hawkes left the band in 1974 after being injured in a car crash,[7] before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, and releasing The Nashville Life in 1977, which flopped.[5] He returned to England in 1979, reformed The Tremeloes,[4] and entered the UK Singles Chart with "Words" (No. 90);[6] he left in 1988 to manage Chesney's career.[8] In 1992, he began touring as a solo artist.[4]

In April 2004, at the request of the Animals, who were about to undertake their 40th anniversary tour, Hawkes was asked to form a band to tour with the Animals. Hawkes would then form a supergroup including Mick Avory (The Kinks), and Eric Haydock (The Hollies), who teamed up to perform as the Class of '64, also featuring guitarists, Telecaster Ted Tomlin and Graham Pollock.[9] The band toured around the world and recorded an album of past band hits and a new single called "She's Not My Child".[10]

In 2006, he, Brian Poole, and The Tremeloes reunited for the band's 40th anniversary tour.[11] In 2017, Chip and Chesney undertook a joint tour.[12]

Personal life

[edit]

Family

[edit]

While promoting "Hello World" on The Golden Shot on 9 March 1969,[13] he met the show's co-host Carol Dilworth, and married her later that year. Their relationship started poorly; Hawkes made an inane remark about Dilworth's mini-skirt, to which she responded by lecturing him on how popstars thought they could sleep with any women they wanted, and only agreed to a date several months later, following repeated phone calls to her from around the world, during the Tremeloes' hectic touring schedule.[14]

The pair have had three children, who are all in the music business:

Allegations

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In December 2015, it was reported that Hawkes and Tremeloes associate Richard Westwood would stand trial for the April 1968 indecent assault of a fifteen-year-old girl[18] at a hotel in Chester.[19] The trial caused Hawkes to have to cancel a tour of Australia with Brian Poole, and caused Chesney to be taunted at his concerts.[20] In July 2016, it was reported that both parties had been acquitted after their accuser failed to enter evidence.[21] In December 2015, while leaving Chester Crown Court, both he and Richard Westwood were assaulted by an intoxicated photographer, who had to be restrained by their barrister.[20]

Health

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In 2012, Hawkes was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer,[22] which caused him to shrink six inches after six vertebrae collapsed and require the use of a wheelchair,[20] and for which he underwent a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the Royal Marsden Hospital,[22] which caused his hair to fall out.[23] His cancer relapsed during his assault trial, during which time he also suffered from depression. In November 2021, Chesney announced that due to Chip struggling with his health, he would be deputising for him during the Tremeloes' nationwide tour.[24]

Discography

[edit]

The Tremeloes

(See The Tremeloes discography)

Solo

  • The Nashville Life (1977)[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Me And My Life (Oh Mia Bambina)". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Len "Chip" Hawkes Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Tremeloes comeback for Chip Hawkes and Brian Poole - Chip Hawkes Interview". South Wales Argus. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Chronicle, Evening (4 February 2004). "A host of top pop hitmakers". ChronicleLive. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Brian Poole & the Tremeloes Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Tremeloes". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  7. ^ Talevski, Nick (2010). Knockin' On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 37.
  8. ^ "Chesney's dad hits the road". Northwich Guardian. 28 November 2007. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Back to the Sixties with all-star band". Lancashire Telegraph. 25 January 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  10. ^ Mead, Derek (11 September 2020). "Remember when... The Tremeloes". Beat Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Twist and shout with the Tremeloes". South Wales Guardian. 31 August 2006. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Chesney and Chip Hawkes to play Bilston". www.expressandstar.com. 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Tremeloes Back" (PDF). Melody Maker: 4. 8 March 1969. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  14. ^ a b Henson, Joaquin M. "Brit pop legends are loyal husbands". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  15. ^ Freeman, Hadley; @HadleyFreeman (22 March 2022). "'I'm very happy with where I am': the one and only Chesney Hawkes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Letter: Fantastic theatre". SussexWorld. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Chesney Hawkes facts: 'One and Only' singer's age, wife, children and parents revealed". Smooth. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  18. ^ Barrett, Frances (2 December 2015). "Two former members of 1960s band The Tremeloes deny historic indecent assault". SurreyLive. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  19. ^ "60s band stars deny carrying out Chester sex assault". Chester and District Standard. 2 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  20. ^ a b c "Tremeloes stars acquitted of indecently assaulting 15-year-old girl". The Independent. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Ex-Tremeloes Leonard Hawkes and Richard Westwood acquitted of assault". BBC News. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  22. ^ a b Evans, Martin (5 April 2016). "Two members of 60s band in court accused of 50-year-old sex offences". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  23. ^ Talbot, Charlotte (16 October 2012). "Chesney Hawkes shaves brother's head for charity". SurreyLive. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  24. ^ Fort, Hugh (6 November 2021). "Chesney Hawkes filmed Buddy's Song scenes near gran's house". BerkshireLive. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  25. ^ "Chip Hawkes Nashville Album UK Vinyl LP". RareVinyl.com. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
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