THINGS are getting ‘better and better’ for Cockney duo Chas and Dave as their hit tour gets set to roll into town.

Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock will take their On The Road tour to the Theatre Royal in Windsor on Tuesday, and things could not be better as they play tracks from their first studio album in 18 years.

The album, entitled That’s What Happens, was recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios, and Chas and Dave will be playing new tracks as well as their ‘rockney’ classics.

“It is our first studio album in 18 years and it is still Chas and Dave, but the producer suggested that we go back to our roots, so a lot of it is acoustic stuff,” said Chas speaking to The Guide.

“It is a bit of a mixture but in general we have gone back to acoustic.”

Chas is particularly pleased with their latest release, When Two Worlds Collide, which he says is already a Chas and Dave classic. But fans of the pair will not be disappointed as they will perform classic hits Rabbit, Gertcha and Margate among many others when they take to the stage.

“The whole evening is practically the Chas and Dave story,” Chas added.

“The first half takes them back around 40 years when we first got together, doing pubs and clubs and digging songs out of the air and just doing them, as well as playing some of our early songs. Our first top 20 song came in 1979 so we will play that, and take it through the 1980s to the present day.

“If I see my favourite artists, I like to hear the older hits, but when they do a bit more, and play newer songs, you don’t always expect it, and that is what we do.”

Chas added that at their gig in Warrington on October 18, a raucous crowd welcomed them which ‘lifted the roof off’.

“We walked out on stage there was more than 1,000 people, and you would have thought it was two heavyweight boxers who came out,” he said.

“We have always had a good reception but it gets better and better every year.”

When the tour finishes at the end of November, they will join rock legends Status Quo on their nationwide tour, for 12 dates. Chas said: “They have been friends of ours for years – it will be an honour for them to be able to perform with us!”

The performance at the Thames Street venue begins at 8pm, with tickets starting from £27.50.

For more information, visit www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk and to book tickets call the box office on 01753 853 888.

Andy Wilkins