
MIT EINEM RÄTSEL FING ALLES AN: GUESS-WHO-GRÜNDER CHAD ALLAN WIRD 80
Jens-Uwe BerndtTeilen
Sänger und Gitarrist Chad Allan, der mit den Silvertones schon 1958 seine erste Band am Start hatte, blieb bis Mitte der Sechziger ein rein kanadisches Phänomen. Seine Gruppen nannten sich Chad Allan and the Reflections und Chad Allan and the Expressions, hatten viele Auftritte, brachten Singles heraus, kamen über regionale Erfolge aber nicht hinaus. Als 1965 jedoch die Expressions-Single "Shakin' All Over" mit einem Rätsel an die Radiostationen verschickt, in dem es hieß "ratet, wer das ist" ("guess who?"), wurde die 45er ein Hit. Obwohl schnell klar war, um welche Band es sich handelte, blieb dieses "guess who?" hängen, weshalb sich die Gruppe kurzerhand umbenannte. Chad Allan bestimmte auf den ersten drei Alben mit seiner Stimme und seinem Gitarrensound den Stil der Band und steuerte auf der zweiten und dritten Veröffentlichung auch ein paar Kompositionen bei. Allerdings verließ er bereits 1966 seine Band. Nach The Guess Who brachte er ein paar Solo-Singles heraus, spielte mit The Metro-Gnomes ein Album ein, wurde Gründungsmitglied von Brave Belt, stieg aus und spielte Solo-Alben ein, um schließlich im Musical "Beowulf" aufzutreten. Später wandte er sich unter anderem Gospel und christlicher Musik zu. 2017 erlitt Chad Allan einen Schlaganfall. Am 29. März wird er 80 Jahre alt.
Singer and guitarist Chad Allan, who started his first band with the Silvertones back in 1958, remained a purely Canadian phenomenon until the mid-1960s. His groups called themselves Chad Allan and the Reflections and Chad Allan and the Expressions, they had many gigs, released few singles, but did not get beyond regional success. When the Expressions' 1965 single "Shakin' All Over" was sent out to radio stations with a riddle that said "guess who?", the single became a hit. Although it quickly was known which band it was, that "guess who?" stuck, which is why the group unceremoniously renamed itself. Chad Allan defined the band's style on the first three albums with his voice and guitar sound, and also contributed a few compositions on the second and third releases. However, he left his band already in 1966. After The Guess Who, he released a few solo singles, recorded an album with The Metro-Gnomes, became a founding member of Brave Belt, left and recorded solo albums, eventually appearing in the musical "Beowulf". He later turned to Gospel and Christian music. In 2017, Chad Allan suffered a stroke. He turns 80 on March 29.
Singer and guitarist Chad Allan, who started his first band with the Silvertones back in 1958, remained a purely Canadian phenomenon until the mid-1960s. His groups called themselves Chad Allan and the Reflections and Chad Allan and the Expressions, they had many gigs, released few singles, but did not get beyond regional success. When the Expressions' 1965 single "Shakin' All Over" was sent out to radio stations with a riddle that said "guess who?", the single became a hit. Although it quickly was known which band it was, that "guess who?" stuck, which is why the group unceremoniously renamed itself. Chad Allan defined the band's style on the first three albums with his voice and guitar sound, and also contributed a few compositions on the second and third releases. However, he left his band already in 1966. After The Guess Who, he released a few solo singles, recorded an album with The Metro-Gnomes, became a founding member of Brave Belt, left and recorded solo albums, eventually appearing in the musical "Beowulf". He later turned to Gospel and Christian music. In 2017, Chad Allan suffered a stroke. He turns 80 on March 29.