Duo hope No.1 fan will make an appearance

11:12am Friday 4th July 2008

COCKNEY stars Chas n' Dave are hoping Pete Doherty could make an appearance at their Swindon knees -up.

While the pair are rabbiting away on the stage at the Wyvern, there are rumours fan Pete might pop up the road from his home near Marlborough to catch the show.

The legendary duo said they were Snooker Loopy about returning to Swindon, where they performed during their heyday in the 1980s.

Between planning for the gig, writing the double act's biography and recording a new solo album, pianist Chas Hodges said: "Pete has been a fan for quite a long time, since Pete and Carl asked us to support the Libertines' (Doherty's former band) tour.

"Pete comes to our gigs quite often so there is a chance he might pop down if he's around.

"Six months ago Pete supported us in a club in Chatham and we have a big show with him on Saturday afternoon.

"Pete's a good lad and he's sorting himself out.

"I think he has brought us a new generation of fans who might not have listened to our music. He's always been a big supporter.

"I think our appeal is pretty broad anyway.

"We played a gig the other week and there was a six-year-old boy there who was already a fan.

"On our earliest gigs we came over to Swindon. We came to love the Wyvern. It has always been a good theatre for us.

"That was one of our good early memories, when we first started getting hits in the 80s."

As well as their old-time fans, Chas and guitarist Dave Peacock have built up a cult following with the support of young rockers like Pete Doherty behind them and the pair are definitely planning on pleasing the audience at their Swindon show.

"The first half of the show is very informal, whatever comes into our heads," said Chas.

"We invite people to ask questions. Then we squeeze all the hits into the second half."

Despite the stars now being well over 45, they have no plans to give up performing the music they love.

"It's the music that matters," said Chas.

Dave gave up writing a few years ago, but is just finishing off his new album, Chas Hodges, and also working on the Chas And Dave Story.

"I guess there might come a time when Dave retires and I just focus on my solo work but for the moment we are still enjoying ourselves," said Chas.

"We started off friends and have always been friends.

"Even after all these years we still get on as well as we used to."

Chas and Dave will perform their greatest hits including Rabbit, Ain't No Pleasing You, Gertcha, Sideboard Song Stars Over 45 and many more at the Wyvern Theatre on July 31.

Tickets are available from the Wyvern box office for £17.50 or £15 concessions by calling 01793 524481.