One and only Chesney Hawkes chats to Flicky Harrison about growing up in a rock 'n' roll household

THE young Chesney Hawkes grew up surrounded by the rock ‘n’ roll stars of the 1960s, and then starting out on his own found himself adopted by the brat pack of the 1980s.

As the son of actress Carol Dilworth and lead singer with The Tremeloes, Len ‘Chip’ Hawkes, he thought nothing of stumbling over Dave Dee or Gerry Marsden on his way to school in the morning.

“I guess it was very different from my peers. There were guitars in every corner and there were crazy, wild rock ‘n’ roll parties, but I still got up for school. I would sit, staring, watching and learning. None of my family were ever going to be accountants,’’ said the singer.

His sister Keely Hawkes was the lead singer in the 1990s band Transister and is still a songwriter; his brother Jodie is a drummer.

When he struck out on his own the big stars of the 1980s and the 1990s such as Nik Kershaw (who wrote Chesney’s number one hit The One And Only) and the Go West boys all took to Chesney.

“Jason Donovan took me under his wing and I became a little brother to many of them.

“I met Midge Ure on Top of the Pops. I remember we were playing on the same bill one night when I had forgotten my guitar, so Midge gave me his cream Strat.

“I was singing One And Only and got a bit rock ‘n’ roll and threw it in the air. I had forgotten it wasn’t mine and I had dropped them in the past. Years later I told Midge and he called me a little b******!’’ said Chesney, who will be headlining at Minety Festival this summer.

Along with his music, Chesney is also famous for being accident prone but it never deters him from having a go.

He took part in Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, he broke a bone in his leg during Dancing On Ice and needed a hip operation after appearing in The Games. He also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Master Chef.

“My wife got excited that I would take over the cooking reins but it was more fine dining. It was fun and I got to the semi finals.

“Let’s Dance was hopeless as I have two left feet, but the skating was okay until I broke my leg.

“John Bishop wrote a TV drama, Panto, based on me, a fictional me, which I starred in. I supposedly broke both arms and legs, was in a wheelchair and fell into the pit,’’ said Chesney, who also turns his singing talents to musical theatre.

He starred in Can’t Smile Without You, a show based on the songs of Barry Manilow, produced by Bill Kenwright.

“It was a huge challenge, acting and singing 30 songs while also playing the piano. Barry is such an accomplished pianist.

“I met him and hung out with him and also watched his videos because the character had to be Barry-like. I grew to love him as an artist,’’ said Chesney, who admits that he is writing a musical himself, but is keeping it under wraps for now.

He is working on a new album, is half way through his autobiography, which he says is a work in progress and more of a memoir, and is touring this summer including coming to Wiltshire.

“I love festivals, I love the family ones that are warm and full of people from the local community like Minety,’’ he said. “It will be good fun and an amazing vibe.’’

Minety Festival runs from Friday, June 29 to Sunday July 1 and joining Chesney over the weekend will be The Neville Staple Band, The Hallows, The Dirty Smooth and Swindon’s own Rock Choir and Built For Comfort. For tickets or more details visit http://minetyfestival.co.uk/ - Flicky Harrison