Geoffrey Betts chose the nick name Al James, and he was a backing singer and part time bassist.
[citation needed] He served as the band's second bassist with Rod Deas, as well as a backing singer along with Buddy Gask.
[5] He occasionally sang lead vocals, including on “King Of The Jive” (1974),[citation needed] “Rocker Boots” (1975), “Record Machine” (1976), “Superstar” (1977), “Feelin’” (1977), “Teen Canteen” (1980) and “Do It Again” (1982), and also on a cover of “Say Mama” (1976) and "Hound Dog".
James played bass and was a studio engineer on a few of his albums including Dynamite Daze, Millionaires and Teddy Bears, and Bursting Bubbles.
In 1981, James, Buddy Gask, and Malcolm Allured were all in a band called Burglar's Dog.
[4] In late October 2018, he fell from the top of the stairs in his Market Harborough home, sustaining serious injuries.
Showaddywaddy members Dave Bartram, Trevor Oakes, and Romeo Challenger helped carried his coffin, which was brought into the church while the song "Hotel California" by Eagles was playing.