CHAS Hodges took piano lessons from his hero Jerry Lee Lewis, joined the Beatles for a night while The Libertines and Lily Allen have cited him as a major influence.

And now he’s heading to Colne for the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival over the August bank holiday weekend.

But long before Chas found Top of The Pops fame with East End Rockney knees-up duo Chas and Dave, the Cockney pianist was rubbing shoulders with the rock and roll greats.

“I was lucky enough to see the The Killer (Jerry Lee Lewis’ nickname) play in 1958 while I was still a kid in a skiffle group called The Outlaws,” says Hodges, the very same outfit that would be recruited as Jerry Lee’s backing band several years later.

“We went on the road together in 1963 and I’d spend each night standing beside him watching his hands move on the keys, taking mental notes.

“Jerry had this reputation of a rock and roll wild man, but he was a gentleman. There was no drugs or booze, just this incredible showman who changed the face of music. I just saw kindness from Jerry to the people who worked for him. Jerry was my hero, and he played the piano in the style I loved, so to tour with him was a dream come true for me.

“So I always tell people that Jerry Lee Lewis taught me piano, he just didn’t know it.”

With Chas at the piano and Dave Peacock on the bass guitar, the duo took the charts by storm in the 1980s with hits such as Rabbit and Ain’t No Pleasing You.

As well as playing for both Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent on their UK tours, Chas was also a member of Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers, who supported the Beatles on their final European tour.

“I was at Eric Clapton’s wedding when I joined The Beatles,” he laughs.

“Me and the missus got invited and there was a marquee set up in the grounds with a stage, amps and drum kit in case anyone felt like getting up and having a jam.

“Anyway, this little kid starting bashing the drums and called over to me saying, ‘C’mon Chas, sing Gertcha for us.’ So up I go with the mike, and started singing some rock and roll stuff. I looked up and there was Ringo Starr sitting there smiling at me.

“The next thing I knew Paul McCartney was plugging in his bass and George Harrison was slipping a guitar strap over his head.

“And there’s me in the middle of some Chuck Berry number thinking, ‘Hang on a minute, I’m the fourth flippin Beatle ‘ere.”

There’s certainly been plenty of high points to pick from in a musical career spanning half a century.

“If I had to choose one moment it would probably be Glastonbury in 2005,” added Chas.

“Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and all those acts who’d been around for ages have used Glastonbury as a platform to reinvent themselves in front of a younger audience, and Chas and Dave stormed the place.

“Suddenly it was cool to be in Chas and Dave and we had people like Pete Doherty and Carl Barat from the Libertines telling everyone what a huge influence we’d been on them. I’m really looking forward to coming up to Colne, though, playing music with my band.”

  • Chas Hodges and his band play the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival at Colne on Monday, August 26. For details, contact the Muni box ofice on 01282 661234.