Darts: The Shocking Truth!

Darts are a 9-piece doo-wop revival group from Brighton, England, UK formed in 1976 that had chart success during the late '70s - early '80s. The London-based band had a number of top 20 entries, including 3 consecutive UK # 2 hits, with revivals of early US rock 'n' roll, R&B and original songs that sold a combined total of 1.25 million copies. Founded by Den Hegarty with Griff Fender (Ian Collier), Rita Ray (Lydia Sowa) & Horatio Hornblower (Nigel Trubridge), all former members of the group Rocky Sharpe and the Razors, which became Rocky Sharpe and the Replays. They were later joined by Iain 'Thump' Thomson, George Currie & John Dummer, all ex-members of the John Dummer's Blues Band, before the line-up was completed by William 'Hammy' Howell and singer Bob Fish, ex-Mickey Jupp. The group built up a big following playing clubs & universities before their breakthrough came when they appeared on Charlie Gillett's show on BBC Radio London during October 1976, which got them a recording contract with Magnet Records, where they worked with record producer Tommy Boyce who'd produced The Monkees. Covering '50s rock 'n' roll numbers, they had their 1st hit in November 1977 (UK # 6), with a medley of Daddy Cool, originally the b side of the single 'Silhouettes', a US hit for The Rays (1955) and Little Richard's hit The Girl Can't Help It (1957). More cover versions the following year were Come Back My Love, originally recorded by US R&B band The Wrens during 1955 and The Boy from New York City, a US hit for The Ad Libs during 1965. Their next single was original song It's Raining, written by group member Ian Collier, which became their 3rd successive UK # 2 in September 1978. Den Hegarty then left the band to look after his terminally ill dad, being replaced by the US singer, Kenny Andrews. Darts' final hit of the year was Don't Let It Fade Away, written by George Currie. Get It, written by Nigel Trubridge, followed during early 1979 then they covered Gene Chandler's US hit Duke of Earl (1962), produced by former Wizzard frontman Roy Wood, their last UK Top 10 hit, Darts' only other sizeable hit coming the following year with a cover of The Four Seasons 'Let's Hang On!'. Their line-up changed during 1980, with Currie, Fish & Dummer leaving the group. Duncan Kerr (guitar) and Keith Gotheridge (drums), both formerly with Plummet Airlines joined, as did ex-Mud guitarist Rob Davis briefly, before moving into songwriting & production work.