Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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DARTS, The

UK doo-wop revivalist band, formed mid-'70s. Original lineup: Bob Fish (ex-Mickey Jupp band), Rita Ray, Griff Fender (Ian Collier), Den Hegarty, all vocals; Hammy Howell, piano; George Currie, guitar; Iain 'Thump' Thomson, bass; Horatio Hornblower (Nigel Trubridge), sax; John Dummer, drums (Thomson and Dummer from John Dummer Blues Band). Patronage of Radio London disc jockey Charlie Gillett secured a deal with the Magnet label; the live act helped boost an eponymous album to no. 9 late '77. Bass/leader Hegarty dominated the colourful live act, a cunning mix of revival covers and original tunes. Medley 'Daddy Cool/'The Girl Can't Help It' no. 6 '77 followed by no. 2 entries: covers of the Cardinals' 'Come Back My Love', the Ad-Libs' 'Boy From New York City' and 'It's Raining'. After a dip with the downtempo 'Don't Let It Fade Away', they partied back to the top 10 with 'Get It' and Gene Chandler's 'Duke Of Earl', both '79. By now Hegarty had departed, taking the verve of the live act with him despite excellent replacement Kenny Andrews; Dummer departed to form the ribald True Life Confessions with his wife Helen April; their biggest post-'79 hit was cover of the Four Seasons' 'Let's Hang On' (no. 11 '80). Their first impact threatened to transcend nostalgia, but they faded. TV-promoted compilation Amazing Darts '78 was their most successful LP at no. 8 UK. Fender and Ray produced a cappella girl group Mint Juleps' first LP for Stiff '85.