Brit pop legends are loyal husbands

MANILA, Philippines - British Invasion legends Gerry Marsden and Len “Chip” Hawkes revealed something of themselves not too many fans know about during their recent concert tour here. They’re forever faithful to their wives. 

Gerry, 68, has been married 47 years to Pauline and they’re blessed with two children Yvette, 44, and Victoria, 33, with a grandson Thomas, 13. Chip, 64, married Golden Shot TV host Carol Dilworth in 1969 and they’ve since been together, even living in Nashville for five years before resettling in London in a storybook musical journey. The Hawkes have three children Chesney, 39, Jodie, 37, and Keely, 36, with seven grandchildren, the oldest a 10-year-old boy.

Both tied the knot at the height of their pop careers — which makes the unions even more significant because groupies practically laid themselves on the ground for the stars in the ‘60s. Gerry was then the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Brian Epstein band Gerry and the Pacemakers whose first three singles went to No. 1 in the UK charts in 1963. Chip was the lead vocalist and bass guitarist for the Tremeloes whose Silence Is Golden occupied the top spot in the UK ladder for three weeks in 1967.

Gerry points to his autograph in a British Invasion book

Gerry said getting Pauline to say yes took a lot of doing because the Beatles’ George Harrison was his chief rival for her heart. “George was sweet, gentle and quiet,” said Pauline who joined Gerry in the shows in Cebu and Manila. “Gerry was rough, gruff and loud. But he made me laugh.” Gerry said he wrote Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying for Pauline and the ballad won her over. They’ve known each other since they were in their teens living in Liverpool.

In introducing Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying in Cebu, Gerry paid tribute to his wife, who was in the audience, then in typical British humor, quipped, “sometimes, I wish I never wrote that bloody song.” Gerry said he wrote it to express his love for Pauline when he couldn’t sleep one night after they quarreled. The song went to No. 6 in the UK charts and Gerry sang it in the Pacemakers’ debut on the US TV hit Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

“My most memorable performance had to be on the Sullivan show,” said Gerry. “I think there were about 200 people in the studio but my legs started shaking when they told me 60 million people would watch us on TV before we were introduced.”

Gerry said the reason why he had never before performed in the Philippines was because Epstein prohibited it. “It had to do with the Beatles visit to Manila in 1966,” said Gerry. “At the time, we had no say on where we would perform. It was unfortunate because we performed in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and everywhere in the Asia and Pacific region. Now, we realize what we’ve missed because the Filipino people are really beautiful, nice, warm and they love their music.”

This author and wife Menchu with Gerry

Gerry said the Pacemakers’ original drummer, his brother Freddie, died of cancer about three years ago but has no knowledge of the whereabouts of the others in the ‘60s band, bassist Chad Chadwick and pianist Les Maguire. 

“We had some wonderful memories from the ‘60s,” said Gerry. “My favorite song will always be Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying but my favorites to perform are Ferry Cross the Mersey and You’ll Never Walk Alone which everyone loves to sing along to and has a special meaning in my heart. Making the movie Ferry Cross the Mersey was also unforgettable. Today, Pauline and I still live in Liverpool, right by the peninsula.”

Gerry, who was on the elementary school boxing team at Florence Institute, was cited as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 2003 and last year, received an honorary fellowship from the John Moores University in Liverpool.

Chip’s love affair with Carol had a shaky start. She was a popular TV host in London and the Tremeloes were once guests on her show. He was immediately smitten by Carol and walked up to her, off the air, trying to catch her attention. 

“I made an inane remark about her mini-skirt and she went crazy,” said Chip. “She told me just because I was a pop star, I thought I could get any girl to come to bed with me. I tried desperately to convince her my intentions were good. While on tour, I phoned her long distance every day for three months from Sweden, the US, Germany, wherever. It took several months before she finally agreed to go out with me.” Their oldest son Chesney, married to an American whose mother is Cuban, took The One and Only to No. 1 in the UK charts in 1991 and performs in a band with his brother Jodie, a drummer.

“My favorite Tremeloes song is Call Me No. 1 but what I love to perform are Here Comes My Baby and Silence Is Golden,” said Chip. “My most unforgettable memory was a Buenos Aires concert in 1967 when over 70,000 fans showed up at the football stadium. We were brought to the stadium in a helicopter.”

Gerry and Ramon Jacinto rip it up on stage

Chip said he regrets not having visited the Philippines in the prime of the Tremeloes’ career. “For some reason, only 75 percent of our music got to the Philippines in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” he noted. “Our label CBS wasn’t well-represented in the Philippines and we suffered because of it. We never really got airplay. I’ve always known the Philippines to be an exotic tropical island with friendly and nice people. I’m so happy I finally got to visit.”

Both Gerry and Chip shared their favorite Beatle moments. “John Lennon was my best friend growing up and today, I still mourn his passing,” said Gerry. “I remember the Beatles and our Pacemakers performed together once as the Beatmakers doing rock ‘n roll songs. They were good times.” 

Chip said in 1965, the Beatles performed live before about 200 people from media and the Tremeloes were the front act. “There was talk going around that the Beatles weren’t good on stage, that they would just get by because the screaming was too loud and nobody could really hear their music,” said Chip. “So the Beatles decided to do a private gig for media just so they could be evaluated on stage. That was when I realized how good they were. They’re my absolute No. 1 favorite band. But a band that I really admire, too, is Fleetwood Mac. I remember watching Fleetwood Mac perform with Stevie Nicks and they were incredible.”

In a tribute to the Beatles, Chip recorded Eleanor Rigby on his solo project The Nashville Album with a southern theme and a banjo playing. Gerry, on other hand, sang I Saw Her Standing There and Got To Get You Into My Life in his latest live album to honor the Beatles.

In Cebu, Chip sang Bad Moon Rising, Even The Bad Times Are Good, Yellow River (which he composed), Do You Love Me, Here Comes My Baby, Silence Is Golden and Twist and Shout. Chip said aside from touring with Gerry on the Solid ’60s Tour in the UK, he also performs with his son Chesney and Brian Poole in a show called The History of the Tremeloes. Chip sometimes rejoins original Tremeloes Dave Munden and Rick West in reunion gigs.

Gerry brought the house down at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino ballroom in Lahug with his humor, showmanship and bouncy numbers. He began with How Do You Do It then did Great Balls of Fire, The Way You Look Tonight, It’s Gonna Be Alright, Girl On A Swing, I’m The One, Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying, Slow Down, I Saw Her Standing There (performed by guitarist Steve Thompson), Walk Hand In Hand With Me, Lucille, The Rose, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, I’ll Be There, It’s Only Make Believe, I Like It, Ferry Cross The Mersey, You’ll Never Walk Alone and Rip It Up.

Gerry and Chip may be getting on in years but like vintage wine, they just get better. It’s amazing how the pop stars of the ‘60s, now in their 60s, can still rock and roll.