A FOUNDING member of Seventies glam rock band Showaddywaddy, guitarist Trevor Oakes, has died the group announced today.
Former lead singer Dave Bartram who is now manager, said the 79-year-old musician passed away peacefully on February 18 after “a long illness”.
The band specialised in Fifties and Sixties classics including their only UK No1 single Under the Moon of Love in 1976 and still tours but with only drummer Romeo Challenger from the original line-up.
It enjoyed 15 Top Twenty hits during their peak from 1974 to 1979.
Bartram, also the group’s manager, 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’ve 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.”
A source claimed to The Sun that Bartram died in a Leicester care home and that his funeral has already taken place.
No further details have been released about Oakes’ illness or cause of death.
The musician was born in Leicester and worked as press knife maker before becoming a professional musician.
Oakes quit the band when he was aged 62 in May 2009 after suffering ill health, according to his biography on its website.
He has two ex-footballer sons, Stefan Oakes who played for Leicester City in the Premier League, and Scott Oakes, whoi had a spell at Luton Town.
