Showaddywaddy Sparks Rock and Roll Revival with New Faces Performance in December 1973
In December 1973, British rock and roll band Showaddywaddy delivered a performance on the popular ITV talent show New Faces, forging a breakthrough that would launch one of the most enduring careers in the history of British pop music. The group’s appearance on the All Winners Final broadcast from the ATV studios in Birmingham offered an early glimpse of the energetic retro style that would soon dominate the UK charts.
Formed earlier that year in Leicester from the merger of two local groups, Showaddywaddy brought together a unique eight-piece lineup featuring dual vocalists, two drummers, two guitarists and two bass players. The band had been refining a dynamic live act built around classic rock and roll from the 1950s and early 1960s, complete with period-inspired outfits and choreography that captured the imagination of audiences across the Midlands.
New Faces at the time was a respected national platform for emerging talent, akin to a precursor of modern televised talent competitions. In the series one grand final aired on December 29, 1973, Showaddywaddy performed a medley of rock and roll classics that included Let There Be Drums, Shazam, Three Stars, Rave On and Bonnie Moronie. Judges praised their performance, with one panelist describing the group as fresh and exciting. Although they finished as runners up in the competition, their impact was clear.
Far from being a routine TV appearance, the New Faces performance played a pivotal role in shaping the band’s early trajectory. The exposure introduced Showaddywaddy to a national audience and catalyzed interest from record labels, leading to a recording contract with Bell Records in early 1974. Their first single, the self-penned Hey Rock and Roll, was released in April of that year and soared to number two on the UK Singles Chart, marking the first of more than twenty chart entries over the next decade.
The significance of this televised moment extends beyond chart statistics. At a time when British music was dominated by progressive rock and emerging glam influences, Showaddywaddy’s unabashed celebration of classic rock and roll carved out a distinct niche that resonated with listeners yearning for nostalgic energy and danceable rhythms. Their success helped sustain the rock and roll revival movement throughout the mid-1970s and cemented the band as specialists in reinterpretations of beloved songs from earlier eras.
Decades after that landmark performance, Showaddywaddy continues to tour and perform, demonstrating the lasting appeal of their music and the enduring legacy of that December night on New Faces. Their journey from regional clubs to national television stands as a defining chapter in the story of British popular music in the twentieth century.