DARTS • 1970’s HIT RECORDING ARTISTS

Formed in London in 1976, Darts quickly became one of the wildest and most entertaining bands ever to burst onto the British charts. Mixing classic 1950s rock ’n’ roll, doo-wop and R&B with outrageous humour, sharp suits and absolute mayhem on stage, they became famous for turning every performance into a full-blown party. From the first note to the last, a Darts show is pure fun — loud, energetic, slightly chaotic and packed with songs that everybody knows and sings along to.

The band stormed the charts in the late 1970s with a string of massive hits including Daddy Cool, The Boy From New York City, Come Back My Love, It’s Raining, Duke Of Earl, Don’t Let It Fade Away and Let’s Hang On. Their trademark sound blended huge vocal harmonies, saxophone-driven rock ’n’ roll and infectious feelgood nostalgia, while their larger-than-life personalities made them one of the most recognisable acts of the era. Three successive number two singles in 1978 alone confirmed Darts as one of Britain’s biggest and most distinctive bands.

What makes Darts especially remarkable is that several original members are still very much part of the madness today. Frontman Den Hegarty remains the ultimate ringmaster, still charging around the stage — and often off it — with exactly the same manic energy and crowd interaction that made him a television favourite and one of the great showmen of the period. Original vocalist Rita Ray is also still at the heart of the band, bringing the unmistakable voice and personality that helped define the classic Darts sound, alongside fellow founder Griff Fender and long-standing favourites including Horatio Hornblower on saxophone and Jimmy Compton on keyboards.

More than forty years after their chart success, Darts continue to prove that great-time music never goes out of fashion. Their live show is packed with audience participation, comedy, nostalgia and wall-to-wall hits, delivered by a band who genuinely look like they are having the time of their lives on stage. Whether you remember them from the charts, from television, or simply love classic party music from the 1950s and 60s, a Darts performance is guaranteed to leave audiences grinning, singing and wanting more.