The group was the brainchild of ex-Rocky Sharpe and the Razors' bass singer, Den Hegarty. In 1976 Den pulled together other former Rocky Sharpe vocalists Griff Fender and Rita Ray plus their sax player Horatio Hornblower, with former members of the John Dummer Blues Band. Bass guitarist, Thump Thomson (who had also played with Rocky Sharpe for a short while), John Dummer on drums and lead guitarist, George Currie had been a tight unit in the aforementioned blues outfit, recording four albums for Mercury, Philips and Vertigo. Blues pianist Hammy Howell and ex-Mickey Jupp Band singer Bob Fish completed the line-up.
DARTS were a nine-strong, energetic doo-wop group whose brand of visual excitement and tight harmonies earned them rave reviews wherever they played. They had a string of chart hits in the late seventies and early eighties and were one of the hardest working bands of that period.
I love Darts! I saw you guys live twice in Belfast, which was quite a feat as that was back in the days when not too many bands came to Northern Ireland! Love the records and still play them, in fact I was just grooving to some of your tracks a few days ago. You captured that old doowop/rock'n'roll sound unbelievably well.
one of my fondest memories was actually seeing the darts back in 1976/7 (middlesbrough Town Hall) Den climbed up the speakers and up the curtains throwing himself into the audience....everyone went completely mental....totally amazing gig.... Smiles essence x
Darts,
Were one of my fav late 70s groups! i rememebre seeing "lets rock" who there were on regaulry as a child!
brillaint stuff...i have all the 45rpms!
and albums
Shawn
