The Mindbenders
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The Mindbenders (originally called Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders) was a 1960s British Invasion beat group, hailing from Manchester.
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[edit] Career
Wayne Fontana founded the band with Bob Lang, Ric Rothwell, and Eric Stewart in 1963. The name of the group was inspired by the title of a 1963 film, starring the distinguished British actor Dirk Bogarde, called "The Mind Benders". They released a few unsuccessful singles before recording "Um Um Um Um Um Um" in 1964, which was a major hit in Britain and led to a tour with Brenda Lee. They also had a number one hit in the United States with "The Game of Love."
After a tour of America and some more unsuccessful singles, Fontana abruptly left the band in the middle of a concert in 1965. Guitarist Eric Stewart suddenly became the lead singer of the band, which immediately dropped "Wayne Fontana" from its name.
The Mindbenders' first single without Fontana was the hit "Groovy Kind of Love" (a Carole Bayer Sager / Toni Wine composition). The song reached number two in the U.S., and was successfully revived by Phil Collins in the 1980s. The album of the same name, however, was a failure, as were their other singles and later albums. Although they appeared in the Sidney Poitier movie To Sir, with Love, the band broke up in 1968.
For Wayne Fontana himself, still under contract to Fontana Records, he soldiered on alone. His most successful solo single release was "Pamela, Pamela", which reached Number 11 in the UK singles chart early in 1967. Conversely, it was also his last hit.
Eric Stewart went on to form Hotlegs and, much more significantly the band 10cc, with hit songwriter Graham Gouldman.
Bob Lang later joined another rock music outfit, called Racing Cars. They had one hit single, "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" which reached Number 14 in the UK chart in 1977, before seemingly disappearing forever, thus condemning them to the unwanted one hit wonder tag.
[edit] Band Personnel
- Wayne Fontana - Original Lead Vocalist - (born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, on 28 October 1945, in Manchester).
- Bob Lang - Bassist - (born on 10 January 1946, in Manchester).
- Eric Stewart - Guitarist / Later Lead Vocalist - (born on 20 January 1945, in Droylsden).
- Ric Rothwell - Drummer - (born Eric Rothwell, on 11 March 1944, in Manchester).
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1964 It's Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
- 1965 The Game of Love
- 1966 Erik, Rick, Wayne, Bob
- 1966 The Mindbenders
- 1966 A Groovy Kind of Love
- 1967 With Woman in Mind
[edit] Singles
[edit] Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
- "Hello Josephine" - 1963 - (UK) Number 46
- "Stop Look and Listen" - 1964 - Number 37
- "Um Um Um Um Um Um" - 1964 - Number 5
- "Game of Love" - 1965 - Number 2
- "Just a little bit too Late" - 1965 - Number 20
- "She needs Love" - 1965 - Number 32
[edit] Mindbenders
- "A Groovy Kind of Love" - 1966 - Number 2
- "Can't Live with you (Can't live without You)" - 1966 - Number 28
- "Ashes to Ashes" - 1966 - Number 14
- "The Letter" - 1967 - Number 42
[edit] Wayne Fontana
- "It Was Easier to Hurt Her" - 1965 Number 36
- "Come on Home" - 1966 - Number 16
- "Goodbye Bluebird" - 1966 - Number 49
- "Pamela Pamela" - 1966 - Number 11
[edit] References
- Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
- Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
