Chad and Jeremy in town

Pardon this digression from sports. But as some of you know, I’m a big fan of ‘60s British pop music and I’ve just got to share this bit of good news.

Balladeers Chad and Jeremy flew in last Tuesday to perform in their first-ever Philippine tour. It’s been a long time coming for Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde who took seven singles to the US Billboard Top 30 from 1964 to 1966.

Concert promoter Danny Samonte started negotiations to bring the pair here last year.

"I contacted them for a Valentine’s Day show," said Samonte, also known as DZRJ disc jockey Steve O’Neal. "But they were on tour. I’ve always liked Chad and Jeremy because of their unique soft folk-rock style, very melodic. And ngayon pa naman, uso ang acoustic kaya winner sila."

It took over a year for Samonte to sign up the duo. Now on their 40th anniversary as recording artists, Chad and Jeremy are finally making their Manila debut.

"Our agents were quite restrictive and protective in the ‘60s and we never got to tour much after we moved to the US," explained Chad. "But it’s not too late. We’re in Manila to make up for lost time. We want to say thanks to all our Filipino fans for remembering our music."

Chad and Jeremy are singing 20 songs in a 90-minute show at the Hard Rock Café in Glorietta tomorrow, starting at 8 p.m., and the Aliw Theater in the CCP Complex on Saturday. It’ll be a dinner affair at Hard Rock with an open bar and eat-all-you-can-buffet. Aliw tickets are selling for P800, P1,500 and P2,500. For Hard Rock reservations, call 8934661 to 64. For Aliw tickets, check out the Ticket World outlets at Tower Records, National Bookstore, Ayala Malls and Robinson’s or call 8919999.

"We expect a sellout in both shows," said Samonte. "We’ve been deluged by callers asking for tickets. I knew all along Chad and Jeremy were popular here. But I didn’t realize they were so popular." Samonte said the tandem’s long string of Philippine hits includes classics like "Before and After" "Yesterday’s Gone" "A Summer Song" "Distant Shores" "What Do You Want With Me" "The Way You Look Tonight" "I’m In Love Again" and "September in the Rain."

Baby boomers grew up with Chad and Jeremy’s love songs. And the music has remained the same through four decades.

Accompanying the duo here are bassist Doug Garing and Chad’s daughter Elizabeth. Samonte said Chad’s daughter might pull a surprise and join her father in a duet singing John Lennon’s "Imagine" on stage.

It’s not often that Samonte gets goose bumps when he watches singers sing. He’s traveled the world to watch bands of all kinds, shapes and colors so there are few surprises left to jolt the grizzled record collector.

But during last Wednesday’s press conference at the Century Park Hotel atrium, Samonte confessed his hair stood up as Chad and Jeremy obliged reporters in an impromptu "mini-concert" of three songs. They sang "Distant Shores" "September in the Rain" and "A Summer Song" as their audience swooned and swayed to the beautiful music.

"I couldn’t believe it," gushed Samonte. "Hindi lang walang kupas ang kanilang boses, makapal pa. Their voice quality is still excellent and they’re entertaining showmen."

Samonte said the pair’s instrument requirements indicate that fans are in for a purely professional acoustic show without the big sound of drums, horns and synthesizers. The requirements are a grand piano, two acoustic guitars for Chad, two acoustic guitars for Jeremy, an electric bass guitar for Daring, a kickback bass amplifier, four wedge monitors, five input lines for guitars and an electric keyboard and amplifier with multiple inputs in the dressing room.

"With this, we avoid all the level problems we’ve experienced and the monitor can focus on the all-important vocal mix," said Chad.

In the stage set-up, Chad and Jeremy will play guitars either standing or sitting on stools. If Chad is on piano, Jeremy will stand with his guitar and Garing sitting on bass.

Samonte said the duo’s set list is a blend of the old and new. A surprise entry is the Beatles’ "I’ll Be Back."

Simon and Garfunkel’s "Homeward Bound" is also in the list. The timeless favorite could’ve been a hit for Chad and Jeremy but they opted to release another single instead in a decision they would later regret.

It was in 1965 when they recorded "Homeward Bound" and "Ballad of a Teenage Failure." Both songs were prime candidates for a single with "Early Morning Rain" on the flip side. In the end, the pair shelved "Homeward Bound."

"When we were recording in London," recalled Jeremy. "Paul (Simon) came to watch us and it was while we were doing ‘Homeward Bound’ that Tom Wilson of Columbia (Records) rang and Paul said, ‘bye, bye, boys, I’ll see you in the charts.’" Not long after, Simon and Garfunkel released "Homeward Bound’"as their follow-up single to "Sounds of Silence."

Chad and Jeremy paid dearly for ignoring "Homeward Bound" although they recorded it for an album and now make it a regular in their concerts.

Samonte said fans are guaranteed their money’s worth when they watch Chad and Jeremy. "They’ve transcended generations because their fans are a cross-section of baby boomers, yuppies and the youth," noted Samonte. "The secret of their longevity lies in their ability to sing songs that are relevant in any era. Love is the underlying theme of their music and you can’t go wrong with love."

Samonte brought in Pat Upton of Spiral Starecase, the Searchers and the Friends of Distinction in previous concerts this year. He predicted Chad and Jeremy will sweep Filipino fans off their feet.

Next year, Samonte said he plans to bring in Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent of the Zombies and an all-star cast featuring Gordon Waller of Peter and Gordon fame, Chris Montez and Merseybeat star Billy J. Kramer.

"The Searchers want to come back because they enjoyed themselves here," said Samonte. "Foreign concert performers are talking about our warm Filipino hospitality, our shopping and our sightseeing. To them, there’s no such thing as a travel advisory against the Philippines. The word is spreading far and wide. It’s great to visit the Philippines."

Samonte said he’ll tour Chad and Jeremy in Malacañang, take them shopping and bring them to the beautiful Punta Fuego beaches in Nasugbu before they leave on Sunday.

Catch Chad and Jeremy at the Hard Rock Cafe or the Aliw Theater or both. Bring your loved ones. You won’t regret it.