Chas Hodges death: Remembering the life and work of Chas & Dave singer

Hodges and Dave Peacock rose to fame as the English pop-rock band known for their witty lyrics about living in London

Musician Chas Hodges was best known as one half of the cockney rock duo Chas and Dave.

Hodges and Dave Peacock rose to fame in the English pop-rock band, known for their witty lyrics about living in London, in the 1970s. They had a string of hits, including "Rabbit", "Snooker Loopy" and "Ain't No Pleasing You".

Charles Nicholas “Chas” Hodges was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, in December 1943.

He was a singer, pianist and also played the guitar, bass and banjo. Before founding Chas & Dave with Peacock and drummer Mick Burt, he worked as a session musician and played for a wide range of artists.

The band's debut album "One Fing 'n' Anuvver" was released in 1975 to critical acclaim.

They featured on adverts for Courage beer and Heinz Baked Beans and also collaborated with Tottenham Hotspur FC on their FA cup final songs.

Hodges published a book called Chas & Dave: All About Us in 2008.

Peacock retired from the group in 2009 after his wife Sue died from lung cancer, but the band reunited two years later and continued to tour.

They performed at the Royal Variety Performance for the first time in 2013 and a sell-out headline show at the Royal Albert Hall the following year.

On 6 February 2017, it was announced that Hodges had been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus and he started immediate treatment. The band was forced to cancel a number of tour dates in August this year due to his illness.

Hodges said in a statement at the time: “In my life as a musician/entertainer I would say the most depressing thing to have to do is to have to cancel a gig or gigs.

“Fortunately, throughout my career of thousands of gigs with Dave or in other bands, these times have been very few and far between, and only extreme illness in the past (and I mean extreme) illness has prompted me/us to have to make this decision.

“So it is because of extreme illness on my part that the forthcoming gigs are going to have to be cancelled.”

He died on 22 September 2018, aged 74, from organ failure.

Press Association