"Down through the years, many of my friends and acquaintances have asked the question, 'what was it really like being in a showband in the early days of the showband era?'. No matter how many times I have answered I have found it extremely difficult to put into words just how utterly fantastic it really was. For seven young, eager, energetic, enthusiastic musicians with a love of music, the thrill of performing on stage, dressed in style, playing to thousands of dancers all over the country and later other countries, was simply incredible. It was a time of packed dance-halls, travelling in custom-built wagons, playing a programme of Top 20 hits by artistes such as Elvis, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Fats Domino, The Beatles, Little Richard...the list goes on. It was also a time of doing TV shows, radio, recording and filming. We got to see places and meet so many new friends, that every day brought something new and exciting. It was a magical experience for me, playing music that I loved, with friends that I still consider very special today and an era that I look back on with very fond memories and am proud to have been a part of."

by Charlie Cheevers 2005
(Blue Aces)