COMIC Dave Lee's new band The Babe Magnets are planning to rock on despite the death of their drummer.

Lead guitarist Mick Rook, bass player Paul Petts and singer Roy Delo have vowed to keep playing.

Paul, 64, from Canterbury, said: "Dave would have wanted it. He always insisted the show must go on."

Dave, who died last month with pancreatic cancer aged 64, had decided to go back to his roots and recreate his first band The Swinging Secrets.

Singer Roy, 65, from Birchington, said: "Dave wanted to get back to his first love of music. I think he wanted to prove he was still a good drummer."

The tubby funnyman had dug out his original drum kit and had it reconditioned.

Rehearsals had been going well until Dave was diagnosed with cancer in October.

Mick, 63, from Herne Bay, said: "We discovered it was pretty hard work. We were all shattered after the first rehearsals but it was beginning to come together."

When Dave was forced to bow out, plans for the band were put on hold.

Roy said: "The band had a meeting and decided to carry on with a new drummer because that is what Dave would have wanted.

"We will be sticking to music from the 1960s and 70s. Dave wanted to get back to the days of good dance music when bands were entertaining.

"It was Dave's idea to get the band back together. I think he wanted to be taken seriously as a musician. For him he was going full circle, back to his early days as an entertainer."

The band's first gig was at Canterbury's former County Hotel, now The Abode. The original line-up also included lead guitarist Jimmy Norman, who now lives in Scotland and who returned to Canterbury for Dave's funeral last Monday; girl singer Cynthia Brooks, who now lives in Ashford; and Roy's cousin Derek on vocals.

Whitstable guitarist Phil Hadler was also one of the original Swinging Secrets and joined Mick, Paul and Roy at Canterbury's Guildhall on Tuesday for Dave's posthumous Freedom of the City ceremony.

He said: "Dave asked if I'd like to rejoin the band but I decided to give it a miss."

The lads are keeping the name The Babe Magnets despite all being in their 60s. Roy said: "It was Dave's idea. He thought it was a hoot. So we will keep the name."

Also at the Guildhall ceremony were Dave's friends Joe Pasquale and Richard Digance.

Joe said: "I first met Dave 30 years ago. I was a Greencoat at Warners' holiday camp, Lowestoft, and Dave was the cabaret. My job was to operate the follow-spot for him. We ended up great friends."

Richard first met Dave when the pair were booked to support Chas 'n' Dave at the Hackney Empire. He said: "We shared a dressing room and became great mates. I carried on touring with Chas 'n' Dave and when I got my own Saturday night TV show I invited Dave to join me. We ended up touring together and had some great times – although none of the stories are suitable for a family newspaper.

"At his last celebrity golf day we could tell something was wrong. The sparkle had gone out of his eyes although, in true Dave tradition, he insisted on taking part.

"Dave always gave 100 per cent. I just hope his Happy Holidays charity carries on."

The week before, Richard had been part of a concert for Dave's charity in Folkestone. Also on the bill was Chas Hodges of Chas 'n' Dave. Richard said: "We had come full circle."