Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders

(photographs copyright, courtesy Eric Stewart)

Line Up

• Wayne Fontana - Vocals
• Eric Stewart - Lead Guitar
• Bob Lang - Bass
• Ric Rothwell - Drums 

Memories 

"There was a band in Manchester called Wayne Fontana and The Jets, who I used to go to watch at the local music clubs, The Oasis and The Three Coins, in Manchester town centre. I was down there one evening and Wayne came into the coffee bar of the Oasis and asked me if I would help him to do an audition with Fontana Records (Philips) because his guitarist and bass player hadn't turned up.

I said "sure" and we had a quick rehearsal in the dressing room of the Oasis. It was quite an easy gig to do because we were all more or less playing the same stage set anyway, just the keys of the songs were the only thing we had to change to suit Wayne 's voice. We did the audition and I wandered back to the coffee bar.

Suddenly, Wayne came hurtling around the bar door shouting, "I passed the audition, they want to sign me up, but with one proviso ... they want you to be in the group“. I was gobsmacked to say the least; to be offered a recording contract at 18 years old, with the possibility of making records in London and maybe getting a hit! Wow, I was on Cloud Nine for days while it all sank in.

I handed in my notice at the drawing office, and started to rehearse full time as a guitarist in a group with a recording contract. Heaven!

We then were asked to go to London and make our first LP record at the Philips Studios near Hyde Park Corner.

It was all so official, guys in white coats in the control room and tape room and we had to listen back to mixes in the studio itself on smaller monitor speakers until the A and R man, Jack Baverstock, was satisfied that we had got a good one on tape. Then they would let us into the "hallowed" control room to listen to the song on gloriously loud monitors (6 of them)!

This excited my future passion for building recording studios and for the equipment, but that's another story.

Can you believe that we recorded some 12 songs in 2 days. It normally takes 2 months or more nowadays to make one single!  

We were very, very excited about our first release, which was to be a cover version of Roadrunner, a Bo Didley song, backed by Hello Josephine, a Jerry Lee Lewis song, but the name The Jets was already being used by another group and we had to find a new one quickly. I had seen a giant film poster in Manchester advertising THE MINDBENDERS, a psycho, brainwashing thriller starring Dirk Bogarde, and I thought "Hmmmm, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders".

It sounded rather tasty; the rest of the band and Philips loved it too, so that's what we became as we released our first record.

We waited nervously for weeks until the record was released and held our breath each Friday when the new record charts were announced. After 5 weeks of release, we entered the charts at Number 46 with Hello Josephine. We sadly disappeared from the chart the next week, but the all important thing was that we could now legitimately call ourselves a Chart Group and our appearance fees doubled and then trebled within weeks. Another little extra bonus was that hundreds of girls fell in love with you through the records and at the concerts. It was Nirvana, we were being paid what seemed like huge sums of money for enjoying ourselves. How could anything top that?

Eric Stewart 

Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders formed in Early May 1963 in Manchester, Lancashire with a line-up of Fontana on lead vocals (b. Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, Sunday, October 28, 1945, Manchester, Lancashire, UK), Bob Lang on bass (b. Robert F. Lang, Thursday, January 10, 1946, Manchester, Lancashire, UK), Eric Stewart on lead guitar, vocals (b. Eric Michael Stewart, Saturday, January 20, 1945, Droylsden, Lancashire, UK) and Ric Rothwell on drums (b. Eric Richard? Rothwell, Saturday, March 11, 1944, Stockport, North East Cheshire, UK). 

Rothwell had been in Lee Shondell and the Premiers of Beat (1960 - 1963) with Lee Shondell on lead vocals (b. Kenneth Wroe), Frank Renshaw on lead & rhythm guitar (b. Tuesday, June 22, 1943, Wythenshawe, Manchester, Lancashire, UK) (ex-The Swallows, 1958 - 1960), Dave Mirrelson on bass (b. David Mirrelson) and Rothwell on drums.

Glyn Ellis (Fontana), had started out in the late 1950's as lead vocalist with a group of school mates in skiffle group The Velfins, which he had organised. Fontana took his name from the American drummer D. J. Fontana. 

Stewart had been to Openshaw Technical School in Openshaw, Manchester 11 from 1956. He left in 1961 and had started working for a local advertising agency. He had a job before that, but it only lasted one day in a small office producing calenders. 

Stewart joined his first band Johnny Peters and the Crestas with Johnny Peters on lead vocals (b. Barry James) (ex-Johnny Peters and the Jets), Stewart on lead guitar, Phil Keene on rhythm guitar, Les Hilton on bass (b. Lesley Hilton) and Tommy Turner on drums (b. Thomas Turner). In 1961, 16 year-old Stewart joined Jerry Lee and the Staggerlees. This bands lead vocalist Jerry Lee (b. Charles Barker) had gone to Stewart's house one evening, spoke to him and asked if he had a guitar. Stewart said he only had an acoustic one. Lee then asked him how many chords he could play and he said three. He then asked Stewart if he wanted to join a group and he said of course he did. Stewart then went to an audition and Lee lent him an electric guitar. Stewart liked what they were playing, which was American rock 'n' roll. As the original lead guitarist was leaving to get married, he got the job and the free electric guitar. Stewart played his first gig with them at The Birch Park Roller Skating Rink, the first time he had been on stage and was very nervous. Stewart later became the rhythm guitarist when the band was joined by lead guitarist Vic Farrell (Steele), along with his brother drummer Eric Farrell. The bassist was blond Rod Clare (b. Roderick Clare). 

Jerry Lee and the Staggerlees had started out as three-piece group The Staggerlees with Les Heaton on lead? guitar, Brian Craven on rhythm guitar and Billy X on drums. They became Jerry Lee and the Staggerlees when Charlie 'Chas' Barker joined and he became Jerry Lee. 

Then after about a year in Early? 1962 the band became Lee Stewart and the Emperors Of Rhythm. This bands line-up was Lee Stewart (Jerry Lee) on lead vocals (b. Charles Barker), Vic Farrell (Steele) on lead guitar (Fender Jazzmaster), Eric Stewart on rhythm guitar, Rod Clair on bass and Eric Farrell on drums. For transport the band used Clair's father's Builders van. In April 1962 the band played at The Raven Club in Turncroft Lane, Offerton, Stockport, Lancashire.

At some point Lee Stewart left the band, so they became just The Emperors of Rhythm. He was replaced by lead vocalist Paul Stevens, who had been in Rochdale, Lancashire group Paul Stevens and the Javelins, who besides him had Pete Bantoft on lead guitar (b. Peter Bantoft, Droylsden, Lancashire, UK), Mo Critchlow on rhythm guitar (b. Maurice Critchlow, Failsworth, Oldham, Lancashire, UK), Frank Harrop on bass (b. Gatley, Lancashire, UK) and Johnny Kirkham on drums (b. John Kirkham). 

In June or July 1962 Clare left and Vic Farrell approached bassist Eric Haydock (b. Tuesday, February, 3, 1942, Burnley, Lancashire, UK) to replace him. The plan didn't work out because Eric Stewart and Eric Farrell, turned professional backing local singer Johnny Peters. Stewart had been in his group The Crestas. In Autumn 1962 lead vocalist Allan Clarke (b. Harold Allan Clarke, Sunday, April 5, 1942, Salford, Lancashire, UK), lead vocalist, lead guitarist Graham Nash (b. Graham William Nash, Monday, February 2, 1942, The Maternity Ward, The Kimberly Hotel, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK) and Vic Farrell, now using the name Vic Steele decided to team up with Haydock and drummer Don Rathbone (b. Donald Rathbone, October 1942, Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK) as Ricky and Dane Young and the Emperors of Rhythm (or The Dominators of Rhythm). Haydock was at the time in a group called The Flintstones along with Clarke, Nash and Rathbone, and after a few meetings between Steele, Clarke, Nash, and Rathbone at the local coffee / dance club The Oasis at 45 - 47 Lloyd Street, off Albert Square, Manchester 2, the new band was formed. The first practices took place in the evenings and on Sundays, over The Wimpey Bar in Oxford Road, Manchester. After three of four weeks they started gigging under the name of Ricky and Dane Young and the Emperors of Rhythm (or The Dominators of Rhythm), at the local dance halls, plus the youth and coffee dance clubs. Ricky Young was Clarke and Dane Young was Nash, who had used these names as duo back in the 50's. They soon got a regular Wednesday spot at The Oasis, and built up a small following. The type of music they were playing at the time was Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry and The Everly Brothers. This band became The Hollies in September? 1962.

As for The Emperors of Rhythm they continued without Farrell and Clare, who I think were replaced by lead guitarist Terry Morton (b. Terence Morton) (ex-Wayne Fontana and the Jets) and bassist Alan 'Bush' Fraser (b. Alan Harding). Later Stevens formed The Opposition with Les Hilton on lead guitar (b. Leslie Hilton), Rod Clare on bass and Bernie Burns on drums (b. Bernard Burns). 

As for Fontana he formed Wayne Fontana and the Jets in 1962 with 17 year-old Fontana on lead vocals, tambourine, Terry Morton on lead guitar, Stuart Sirett on rhythm guitar, Bob Lang on bass and Ian 'Skin' Lucas on drums. This semi-professional outfit played the Manchester club circuit, in December 1962 at the famous Oasis Club and in 1963 in places like The Savoy Ballroom in Oldham, Lancashire.

The Jets had started earlier as Johnny Peters and the Jets with Johnny Peters (Barry James) on lead vocals, Pete Bocking on lead guitar (b. Peter Bocking, Monday, November 2, 1942, Withington, Manchester 20, Lancashire, UK d. Saturday, October 31, 2009, Milnrow, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, UK), Derek Quinn on rhythm guitar (b. May 24, 1942, Manchester, Lancashire, UK), Joe Abraham on drums (b. Joseph Abraham). Johnny Peters and the Jets split in Late 1959 and in Early 1960 Bocking and Abraham joined forces with The Two Teens, a duo of Ricky Young (Allan Clarke) (b. Harold Allan Clarke, Sunday, April 5, 1942, Salford, Lancashire, UK) and Dane Young (Graham Nash) (b. Graham William Nash, Monday, February 2, 1942, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK) to front a new group The Fourtones (Ricky and Dane Young and the Fabulous Fourtones).

Wayne Fontana and the Jet's first big break came on Saturday, May 4, 1963 performing a showcase gig at the famous Oasis Club at 45 - 47 Lloyd Street, off Albert Square, Manchester 2 for Fontana Records A & R man, producer Jack Baverstock, who was looking for a new Beatles. Only Fontana and Lang showed up, so local substitutes Eric Stewart and Rothwell were recruited at the last minute. Rothwell had a London School of Music Diploma. Despite a disastrous performance, Baverstock saw enough potential to sign the band. Fontana was a charismatic front man and they put up a brave show for Baverstock. They also changed their name to Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, choosing the new name from a current horror film The Mind Benders starring Dirk Bogarde.

In July 1963 Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders played for the first time at the famous Cavern Club at 10 Mathew Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, supporting Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. 

In August 1963 they played The Cavern Club again, a the lunchtime session and then an evening session, supporting The Merseybeats, along with The Escorts, The Bachelor Boys, The Defenders. 

On Saturday, April 18 to Sunday, May 17, 1964 The Mindbenders went on a major tour, supporting Roy Orbison, with special guest Freddie and the Dreamers, Tony Sheridan and The Bobby Patrick Six, Chris Stanford and the Cornets, The Three Quarters, Ezz Reco and the Launchers, The Federals. The tour started on Saturday, April 18, 1964 at The Adelphi Slough, Berkshire, and finished on Sunday, May 17, 1964 at The Prince of Wales, London. The promoters were Tito Burns & Peter Walsh. 

On Saturday, March 27, 1965 ''Game Of Love'' entered the USA charts, reaching number one, their only hit here. 

On Friday, April 2, 1965 ''The Game Of Love'' entered the British charts, reaching number two.

On Friday, April 9, 1965 the group appeared at The New Musical Express Poll Winners' Concert, with The Beatles, Tom Jones, The Kinks, The Moody Blues, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers. 

In February & March 1965 the group went on a major tour supporting Del Shannon and Herman's Hermits. Also on the tour was The Four Just Men, Jerry Stevens, Dodie West (who joined the tour at Dundee), The Soul Savages featuring Paul Dean and The Dollies. The Tour started on Saturday, February 27, 1965 at The City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire and the last date was Wednesday, March 10, 1965 at The Odeon, Salisbury, Wiltshire. After this concert the band had to pull out of the tour as Fontana was taken ill with nervous exhaustion. They were replaced by The Zephyrs.

On Tuesday, May 25, 1965 the band participated in the 'British Festival' at The Dome in Brighton, East Sussex. They came third with 99 points. 

In July & August 1965 the band toured the USA for the first time, supporting fellow Manchester band Herman's Hermits. 

On Sunday, October 2, 1965 the band represented Britain at the annual ''Grand Gala Du Disque'' at The Conresscentrum in Amsterdam, Holland.

On Wednesday, October 6, 1965 it was announced that Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders would split on Sunday, October 31, 1965, by mutual concern, a move promoted by Fontana Records, for whom both parties would continue to record.

Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders played their final gig together on Saturday, October 30, 1965 at The Pavilion, Buxton Gardens, Derbyshire. Fontana left in the middle of the concert. The band split the following day on Sunday, October 31, 1965.

Fontana formed Wayne Fontana and the Boys in Early November 1965 with Fontana on lead vocals, Frank Renshaw on lead guitar (ex-The Swallows from 1958, Lee Shondell and the Premiers Of Beats, 1960 - 1963, The Toggery Five, 1963 - Oct 1965), Stewart Sirett on bass, Bernie Burns on drums (b. Bernard Burns) and Mike Parks on organ (b. Michael Parks). This band later became Wayne Fontana and the Opposition in Early? 1966, with Fontana on lead vocals, Johnny Kelman on lead guitar (b. John Kelman, 1944, Huyton, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK) (ex-The Four Just Men, The Just Four Men, Wimple Winch), Sirett on bass and Burns on drums. 

Fontana was best man at Renshaw's Wedding on Monday, November 1, 1965. Two days later on Wednesday, November 3, 1965 Wayne Fontana and the Boys went on a nationwide tour with Manchester's Herman's Hermits and The Fortunes from Leicester. Special guest was Billy Fury and the Gamblers, plus Little Frankie and Manchester band The Country Gentleman. The tour started on Wednesday November 3, 1965 at The Gaumont, Wolverhampton, Warwickshire and continued for the rest of the month. The last date of the tour was on Monday, November 22, 1965 at The Odeon, Manchester, Lancashire.

Renshaw later joined Wimple Winch (1966 - 1967), The Young Brothers (1968 - 1969) and then Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders (1973 - 1974) as lead guitarist, lead vocalist and Herman's Hermits as rhythm guitarist (1975 - 1982).

The Mindbenders continued as a three-piece without Fontana, with a line-up of Stewart on lead vocals, lead guitar, Lang on bass and Rothwell on drums. 

In January & February 1966 the band went on a short tour of Scotland, starting on January 26, 1966 at The Perth Civic Hall in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland and finished on February 5, 1966 at The Town Hall in Tain, Scotland. 

On Thursday, January 13, 1966 ''A Groovy Kind Of Love'' entered the British charts, reaching number two. 

On Friday, February 4, 1966 The Mindbenders played at The Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, The Highlands, Scotland and on Sunday, February 13, 1966 They played at The Oasis Club, Manchester, Lancashire. 

On Friday, March 11, 1966 ''A Groovy Kind Of Love'' reached number three in The New Musical Express chart. 

On Saturday, April 30, 1996 ''A Groovy Kind Of Love'' entered the US Billboard charts, reaching number two, their only hit here. On May 27, 1966 it reached number two and the following week reached number one in Cash Box. 

On May 5, 1966 ''Can't Live With You, Can't Live Without You'' entered the British charts, reaching number twenty eight. 

On Friday, June 10, 1966 the band appeared on BBC 1's 'Hey Presto - It's Rolf.' 

In July 1966 The Mindbenders went on their last, one month tour of the USA. On Saturday, July 2, 1966 the tour started in Pittsfield City, Berkshire County, Mississippi, USA or on Monday, July 4, 1966 in Atlanta City, Fulton & DeKalb County, Georgia, USA. 

In August 1966 The Mindbenders joined the Fontana Label's 'Radio England's Swingin' 66' UK Tour, with The Small Faces, Chrispian St Peters, Neil Christian and the Crusaders, Genevieve. The first date of the tour was on August 12, 1966 at The Odeon Cinema in Lewisham, South East London and the last date on Thursday, August 25, 1966 at The Odeon, Southampton, Hampshire.

On Thursday, August 25, 1966 ''Ashes To Ashes'' entered the British charts, reaching number fourteen. 

In September 1966 The Mindbenders joined Dusty Springfield's British Tour (September - October 1966), with Dusty Springfield and the Echoes, The Alan Price Set, Los Bravos, David and Jonathan, The Settlers, Boz and his Group and Episode Six. On Tuesday, September 27, 1966 the tour started at The Astoria, Finsbury Park, North West London and the last date of the tour was on Saturday, October 8, 1966 at The Odeon, Leicester, Leicestershire. The promoters of the tour were Harold Davison and Tito Burns and the compare was Jeffrey Lenner.

On Friday, January 13, 1967 the band appeared on The Joe Loss Show. 

On Tuesday, January 17, 1967 the band appeared on Pop North. 

On Saturday, March 18, 1967 the band appeared on Saturday Club. 

On Friday, March 24, 1967 the band appeared on The Joe Loss Show. 

On Sunday, August 6, 1967 an advertisement appeared in The New Musical Express stating: The Mindbenders require top class drummer, vocalist. Apply with photograph to Ric Dixon, Kennedy Street Enterprises Ltd, Kennedy House, 14 Piccadilly, Manchester 1. 

So in August 1967 Rothwell is replaced by 16 year-old drummer, vocalist Paul Hancox (b. Wednesday, October 25, 1950, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK). Rothwell joined Tristar Airbus with ex-Wimple Winch bassist Barrie Ashall (b. Manchester, Lancashire, UK) and ex-Wayne Fontana and the Opposition lead guitarist Johnny Kelman.

On Friday, September 8, 1967 The Mindbenders released their sixth single ''The Letters'' / ''My New Day And Age'' (Eric Stewart) on Fontana TF 869. The A-side was a cover of a US hit by The Box Tops and was produced by Graham Gouldman and was arranged by John Paul Jones (b. John Baldwin, Thursday, January 3, 1946, Sidcup, Kent, UK).

On Wednesday, September 20, 1967 ''The Letters'' entered the British charts, reaching number forty two, The Mindbenders last hit. 

On Wednesday, October 4, 1967 the band appeared on Parade of Pops. 

On Saturday, November 4, 1967 The Mindbenders appeared on a Belgian TV Show with Cat Stevens. 

On Tuesday, November 7, 1967 The Mindbenders began a six-day tour of Sweden. 

On Wednesday, March 6, 1968 the band appeared on Parade of Pops. 

In March 1968 Bob Lang quit The Mindbenders and was replaced by bassist Graham Gouldman (b. Graham Keith Gouldman, Friday, May 10, 1946, Broughton, Salford, Lancashire, UK). The band was also joined in March 1968 by organist Jimmy O'Neil (b. James O'Neil, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK) (ex-The Uglies, 1965 - 1968), who may have replaced Lang? 

On Thursday, March 28, 1968 the band appeared on Pop North. 

At some point the band was joined by another another guitarist Geoff Foote (b. Geoffrey Foote, Tuesday, November 26, 1946, Manchester, Lancashire, UK) (ex-The Chasers). 

On Saturday, April 27, 1968 the band appeared on Pete's People. 

Before the band split Gouldman left the group and was replaced by a chap called Charlie X. 

On Saturday, August 17, 1968 the band appeared on Saturday Club. 

On Monday, September 23 - Friday, September 27, 1968 the band appeared on David Symonds Show. 

In November 1968 The Mindbenders played their last tour, supporting The Who with The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Yes and The Small Faces. The first date of the tour was on Saturday, November 8, 1968 at The Granada, Walthamstow, East London and the last date was on Wednesday, November 20, 1968 at The Liverpool Empire, Liverpool, Lancashire.

The Mindbenders split on Friday, November 22, 1968. Foot later joined Herman's Hermits in 1974.

Discography

Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders: 

UK 45s

• Friday, June 21, 1963 Hello Josephine (Jerry Lee Lewis)/Road Runner (Bo Diddley) Fontana TF 404 
• October 1963 For You, For You/Love Potion Number Nine'' Fontana TF 418 
• January 1964 Little Darlin'/Come Dance With Me Fontana TF 436 
• Friday, May 1, 1964 Stop, Look And Listen/Duke Of Earl Fontana TF 451
• Friday, September 18, 1964 Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um (Curtis Mayfield)/First Taste Of Love Fontana TF 497
• Friday, January 22, 1965 The Game Of Love (Clint Ballard)/Since You've Been Gone Fontana TF 535 
• Friday, June 4, 1965 It's Just A Little Bit Too Late (Clint Ballard)/Long Time Coming (Eric Stewart) Fontana TF 579 
• August 1965 She Needs Love/Like I Did Fontana TF 611

UK EPs

• June 1964 Road Runner (Tracks: Young Blood, Road Runner, Duke of Earl, Talkin' About You) Fontana TE 17421 
• November 1964 Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um (Tracks: Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, First Taste Of Love, Stop, Look And Listen, Too Much Monkey Business) Fontana TE 17435 
• February 1965 Game Of Love (Tracks: Game Of Love, Since You've Been Gone, She' Got The Power, One More Time) Fontana TE 17449 
• January 1966 Walking On Air (Tracks: Remind My Baby Of Me, Walking On Air, She Needs Love, I'm Qualified) Fontana TE 17453 

The Mindbenders:

UK 45s

• Friday, December 10, 1965 A Groovy Kind Of Love (Toni Wein)/Love Is Good (Eric Stewart) Fontana TF 664 
• Friday, April 22, 1966 Can't Live With You, Can't Live Without You (Toni Wein)/One Fine Day (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) Fontana TF 697 
• Friday, August 19, 1966 Ashes To Ashes (Toni Wein) /You Don't Know About Love (Eric Stewart) Fontana TF 731 
• December 1966 I Want Her, She Wants Me (Rod Argent)/The Morning After (Eric Stewart) Fontana TF 780 
• Friday, March 17, 1967 We'll Talk About It Tomorrow (Toni Wein)/Far Across Town Fontana TF 806 Stewart sang lead on the A-side
• November 1967 School Girl (Graham Gouldman) /Looking Back Fontana TF 877 It was produced by Gouldman
• Friday, February 23, 1968 Blessed Are The Lonely/Yellow Brick Road Fontana TF 910 The A-side was a cover of Robert Knight's US hit and was produced by Steve Rowland 
• Friday, August 9, 1968 Uncle Joe, The Ice Cream Man (Graham Gouldman)/Man Who Loved Trees (Eric Stewart) Fontana TF 961 

UK Albums 

• Friday, June 10, 1966 The Mindbenders Fontana STL 5324 
• April 1967 With Women In Mind Fontana TL 5403 

Some Lee Stewart and the Emperors Of Rhythm concerts: 

• Friday, April 13, 1962: The Memorial Hall (The Victory), Chester Way, Northwich, Cheshire, UK, as The Emperors Of Rhythm, 7.45pm - 12pm
• Sunday, April 30, 1962: The Raven Club, Turncroft Lane, Offerton, Stockport, Lancashire, UK

Some Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders concerts: 

• Friday, July 26, 1963: The Cavern Club, 10 Mathew Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK, , supported Rory Storm and the Hurricanes evening session, first gig at this famous club
• Wednesday, August 21, 1963: The Cavern Club, 10 Mathew Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK, lunchtime session
• Wednesday, August 21, 1963: The Cavern Club, 10 Mathew Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK, evening session, supporting The Merseybeats, along with The Escorts, The Bachelor Boys, The Defenders
• Friday, October 4, 1963: The California Ballroom, Dunstable Downs, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, with Brian Perry and the Deltas, Eddy and the Elcolettes
• Monday, October 21, 1963: The Top Twenty Club, The Town Hall, Bridgwater, Somerset, UK
• Saturday, December 7, 1963: The California Ballroom, Dunstable Downs, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, with Nelson Keynes and the Fleereckers, The Detours
• Saturday, April 18 - Sunday, May 17, 1964: The Roy Orbison Tour, with Freddie and the Dreamers as special guests, plus Tony Sheridan and The Bobby Patrick Six, Chris Stanford and the Cornets, The Three Quarters, Ezz Reco and the Launchers, The Federals. The Promoters were Tito Burns & Peter Walsh and the compere was Glen Mason
• Saturday, April 18, 1964: The Adelphi Theatre, Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire, UK, first date of tour 
• Sunday, April 19, 1964: The Granada, 186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, East London, UK 
• Monday, April 20, 1964: The Granada, Harrow, Middlesex, UK 
• Tuesday, April 21, 1964: The Gaumont, Commercial Road, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
• Wednesday, April 22, 1964: The Granada, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK 
• Friday, April 24, 1964: The Colston Hall, Bristol, Somerset, UK 
• Saturday, April 25, 1964: The Granada Cinema, 281 Barking Road, East Ham, East London, UK
• Sunday, April 26, 1964: The De Montfort Hall, Granville Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, UK 
• Monday, April 27, 1964: The Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, Surrey, UK 
• Tuesday, April 28, 1964: The Gaumont, Piccadilly, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK 
• Wednesday, April 29, 1964: The Gaumont, St Helen's Street, Ipswich, Norfolk, UK 
• Thursday, April 30, 1964: The Gaumont, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK 
• Friday, May 1, 1964: The Odeon, High Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK 
• Saturday, May 2, 1964: The Granada Cinema, Mitcham Road, Tooting, South West London, UK
• Sunday, May 3, 1964: The Coventry Theatre, Hales Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, UK 
• Monday, May 4, 1964: The Granada Cinema, St Peters Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK 
• Tuesday, May 5, 1964: The Gaumont, Foregate Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, UK 
• Wednesday, May 6, 1964: The Odeon, 139 New Street, Birmingham 2, Warwickshire, UK 
• Thursday, May 7, 1964: The Gaumont, Hallgate, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK 
• Friday, May 8, 1964: The City Hall, Barker's Pool, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK 
• Saturday, May 9, 1964: The Odeon, Bolton, Lancashire, UK 
• Sunday, May 10, 1964: The Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK 
• Monday, May 11, 1964: The Odeon, Oxford Street, Manchester, Lancashire, UK 
• Tuesday, May 12, 1964: The Odeon, The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK 
• Thursday, May 14, 1964: The Odeon, Renfield Street, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK 
• Friday, May 15, 1964: The Odeon, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, UK 
• Saturday, May 16, 1964: The City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumbria, UK 
• Sunday, May 17, 1964: The Prince of Wales, Coventry Street, near Leicester Square, Soho, West London, UK, last date of tour 
• Wednesday, May 27, 1964: The Cavern Club, 10 Matthew Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK, lunchtime session 
• Monday, June 15, 1964: The Top Twenty Club, The Town Hall, Bridgwater, Somerset, UK
• Sunday, July 12, 1964: The Futurist, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, with Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Tony Sheridan with The Bobby Patrick Six, The Caravells, The Chimes, Dave Curtis and the Tremors. The comp?re was Dick Francis
• Thursday, October 15, 1964: The Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK, supported by G. T. Phillips and the Stormville Shackers
• Monday, November 2, 1964: The Top Twenty Club, The Town Hall, Bridgwater, Somerset, UK
• Saturday, November 14 - December 14, 1964: Brenda Lee, Manfred Mann, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Heinz, Marty Wilde, Bern Elliott and the Fenmen, The Flee-Rekkers, John Barry Seven Promoter - George Cooper John Barry Seven backed Brenda Lee. The other acts appeared at various venues
• Saturday, November 14, 1964: The Astoria, Junction of Isledon Road and Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, North West London, UK 
• Monday, November 16, 1964: The Odeon, Winchcombe Street, Chelmsford, Gloucestershire, UK
• Tuesday, November 17, 1964: The Odeon, Epsom Road, Guildford, Surrey, UK 
• Friday, November 20, 1964: The Plaza, Handsworth, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK
• Friday, November 20, 1964: The California Ballroom, Dunstable Downs, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, UK, gig cancelled
• Saturday, November 21, 1964: The Palace, Wolverton, North Buckinghamshire, UK 
• Saturday, November 21, 1964: The California Ballroom, Dunstable Downs, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, UK 
• Sunday, November 22, 1964: The Granada Cinema, Mitcham Road, Tooting, South West London, UK
• Monday, November 23, 1964: The Granada Cinema, Maidstone, Kent, UK 
• Wednesday, November 25, 1964: The ABC, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK 
• Saturday, November 28, 1964: The Gliderdome, Boston, Lincolnshire, UK 
• Monday, November 30, 1964: The Town Hall, Congreve Street, Birmingham, Wrwickshire, UK 
• Tuesday, December 1, 1964: The City Hall, Barker's Poll, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK 
• Friday, December 4, 1964: The Colston Hall, Bristol, Somerset, UK 
• Saturday, December 5, 1964: The Theatre Royal, Norwich, Norfolk, UK 
• Sunday, December 6, 1964: The ABC, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK 
• Monday, December 7, 1964: The Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, South West London, UK 
• Tuesday, December 8, 1964: The Granada Cinema, St Peters Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK 
• Wednesday, December 9, 1964: The Granada, Kettering, Northamptonshire, UK 
• Sunday, December 10, 1964: The Granada, 186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, East London, UK 
• Monday, December 11, 1964: The Adelphi Theatre, Bath Road, Slough, Buckinghamshire, UK
• Tuesday, December 12, 1964: The Opera House, Church Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK 
• Thursday, January 14, 1965: The Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK, supported by Dave Dee and the Bostons
• Monday, January 18, 1965: The Top Twenty Club, The Town Hall, Bridgwater, Somerset, UK
• Friday, January 22, 1965: The California Ballroom, Dunstable Downs, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, supported by The Twilights, The Avengers
• Saturday, February 27 - Wednesday March 10, 1965: The Del Shannon and Herman's Hermits Tour, also on the tour was The Four Just Men, Jerry Stevens, Dodie West (who joined the tour at Dundee), The Soul Savages featuring Paul Dean and The Dollies 
• Saturday, February 27, 1965: The City Hall, Barker's Pool, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK, first date of the tour 
• Sunday, February 28, 1965: The Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK 
• Monday, March 1, 1965: The Town Hall, Congreve Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK 
• Tuesday, March 2, 1965: The Gaumont, Snow Hill, Wolverhampton, Warwickshire, UK 
• Wednesday, March 3, 1965: The Odeon, Oxford Street, Manchester, Lancashire, UK
• Friday, March 5, 1965: The Capital, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK
• Saturday, March 6, 1965: The Caird Hall, City Square, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, UK
• Sunday, March 7, 1965 at The City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumbria, UK
• Tuesday, March 9, 1965: The ABC Cinema, Abington Square, Northampton, Northamptonshire, UK 
• Wednesday, March 10, 1965: The Odeon, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK, after this date the band had to pull out of the tour as Fontana was taken ill with nervous exhaustion. They were replaced by The Zephyrs
• Thursday, April 8, 1965: The Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK, with The Ten Feet Five
•  
• Tuesday, May 25, 1965: ''The British Festival,'' The Dome, Brighton, East Sussex, UK. Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders came third with 99 points
• Sunday, October 2, 1965: ''Grand Gala Du Disque,'' The Conresscentrum, Amsterdam, Holland
• Some Wayne Fontana and the Boys concerts: 
• Wednesday, November 3 - Monday, November 22, 1965: Herman's Hermits, Wayne Fontana, The Fortunes Tour, with special guest Billy Fury and the Gamblers (except Peterborough, Cleethorpes & Chester), Little Frankie, The Country Gentleman
• Wednesday November 3, 1965: The Gaumont, Snow Hill, Wolverhampton, Warwickshire, UK, first date of the tour
• Thursday, November 4, 1965: The Odeon, The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK 
• Friday, November 5, 1965: The ABC Cinema, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, UK 
• Saturday, November 6, 1965: The ABC Cinema, Chester, Cheshire, UK
• Sunday, November 7, 1965: The Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
• Tuesday, November 9, 1965: The Granada Cinema, St Peters Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK 
• Wednesday, November 10, 1965: The Gaumont, Foregate Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, UK 
• Thursday, November 11, 1965: The Odeon, 15 New Canal, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK 
• Friday, November 12, 1965: The Colston Hall, Bristol, Somerset, UK 
• Saturday, November 13, 1965: The Embassy Theatre, The Broadway, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK 
• Sunday, November 14, 1965: The Coventry Theatre, Hales Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, UK 
• Monday, November 15, 1965: The Granada, Maidstone, Kent, UK
• Wednesday, November 17, 1965: The Gaumont, St Helen's Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK 
• Thursday, November 18, 1965: The Granada, West Gate, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, UK 
• Friday, November 19, 1965: The City Hall, Barker's Pool, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK
• Saturday, November 20, 1965: The Granada, 186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, East London, UK 
• Sunday, November 21, 1965: The Winter Gardens, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK 
• Monday, November 22, 1965: The Odeon, Oxford Street, Manchester, Lancashire, UK, last date of the tour 
• Some Wayne Fontana and the Opposition concerts: 
• Tuesday, February 22, 1966: The Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, UK
• Saturday, April 30, 1966: The Top Twenty Club, Corner of Ashton New Road, Market Street, Droylsden, Lancashire, UK, supported by Lea Wade and the Wild Ones 
• Sunday, May 29, 1966: The Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, UK, supported by The Red Hawks
• Thursday, June 23, 1966: The Refectory, Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK, with The Score, The Who, The Alan Price Set
• Saturday, Ocotber 15, 1966: The California Ballroom, Dunstable Downs, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, plus supporting groups
• Some of The Mindbenders concerts:
• Friday, January 21, 1966: The Wigan Casino, Wigan, Lancashire, UK 
• Saturday, January 22, 1966: The Dreamland, Margate, Kent, UK 
• Sunday, January 23, 1966: The Belle Vue, Gorton, Manchester, Lancashire, UK 
• Friday, January 26 - Saturday, February 5, 1966: Short Tour Of Scotland
• Wednesday, January 28, 1966: The Perth Civic Hall, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, UK, first date of the tour
• Thursday, January 29, 1966: The Stop Storey Club, Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, UK 
• Friday, January 30, 1966: The Bobby Jones Ballroom, Ayr, Ayrshire, UK 
• Wednesday, February, 2, 1966: The Locarno, Montrose, Angus, Scotland, UK 
• Thursday, February 3, 1966: The Red Shoes, Elgin, Moray, Scotland, UK 
• Friday, February 4, 1966: The Ballerina, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland, UK
• Saturday, February 5, 1966: The Town Hall, Tain, The Highlands, Scotland, UK, last date of the tour 
• Sunday, February 13, 1966: The Oasis Club, 45 - 47 Lloyd Street, off Albert Square, Manchester 2, Lancashire, UK
• Friday, February 18, 1966: The Top Twenty Club, Corner of Ashton New Road, Market Street, Droylsden, Lancashire, UK, with The Walker Brothers with backing group Johnny B. Great and the Quotations
• Saturday, February 19, 1966: The Rhodes Centre, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, UK
• Sunday, February 28, 1966: The Top Twenty Club, The Town Hall, Bridgwater, Somerset, UK
• Friday, March 25, 1966: The Town Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, UK
• Friday, April 1, 1966: The King's School, Cumberland Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK 
• Saturday, April 2, 1966: The Kings Hall, Church Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK 
• July 1966: The Mindbenders one month, last tour of the USA 
• Saturday, July 2, 1966: Unknown venue, Pittsfield City, Berkshire County, Mississippi, USA, first date of the tour or 
• Monday, July 4, 1966: Unknown venue, Atlanta City, Fulton & DeKalb County, Georgia, USA 
• Saturday, July 8, 1966: The Fillmore West Auditorium at 10 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California, USA 
• Sunday July 9, 1966: The Fillmore West Auditorium at 10 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California, USA 
• August 1966: The Fontana Label's 'Radio England's Swingin' 66' UK Package Tour, with The Small Faces, Chrispian St Peters, Neil Christian and the Crusaders, Genevieve, Dave Berry and the Cruisers, The Koobas 
• Friday, August 12, 1966: The Odeon, Loampit Vale, Lewisham, South East London, first date of tour 
• Saturday, August 13, 1966: The Finsbury Park Astoria, Junction of Isledon Road & Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, North West London, UK 
• Monday, August 15, 1966: The Odeon, 139 New Street, Birmingham 2, Warwickshire, UK 
• Tuesday, August 16, 1966: The Gaumont, Barker's Pool, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK 
• Wednesday, August 17, 1966: The Odeon, The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK 
• Thursday, August 18, 1966: The Odeon, Renfield Street, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK 
• Friday, August 19, 1966: The Odeon, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumbria, UK 
• Saturday, August 20, 1966: The Odeon, 14 Paradise Street, Liverpool 1, Lancashire, UK 
• Monday, August 22, 1966: The Odeon, 45 - 47 Lloyd Street, off Albert Square, Manchester 2, Lancashire, UK 
• Monday, August 22, 1966: The Tiles Club, 79 - 89 Oxford Street, Soho, West London, UK, with Wynder K. Frogg, not part of tour
• Tuesday, August 23, 1966: The Capital, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, South Wales, UK 
• Wednesday, August 24, 1966: The Odeon, Sidwell Street, Exeter, Devon, UK 
• Thursday, August 25, 1966: The Odeon, West Quay Road, Southampton, Hampshire, UK, last date of the tour 
• Tuesday, September 27 - Saturday, October 8, 1966 The Dusty Springfield's British Tour: Dusty Springfield and the Echoes with The Alan Price Set, Los Bravos, David and Jonathan, The Settlers, Boz and his Group and Episode Six. The promoters of the tour were Harold Davison and Tito Burns and the compare was Jeffrey Lenner 
• Tuesday, September 27, 1966: The Astoria, Finsbury Park, North West London, the start of the tour
• Wednesday, September 28, 1966: The Winter Garden, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK
• Thursday, September 29, 1966: The Odeon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK 
• Friday, September 30, 1966: The Odeon, New Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK 
• Saturday, October 1, 1966: The Capital, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, South Wales, UK 
• Sunday, October 2, 1966: The Colston Hall, Bristol, Somerset, UK 
• Monday, October 3, 1966: The Odeon, 45 - 47 Lloyd Street, off Albert Square, Manchester 2, Lancashire, UK 
• Tuesday, October 4, 1966: The Odeon, New Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK 
• Wednesday, October 5, 1966: The Odeon, London Road, Liverpool 3, Lancashire, UK 
• Thursday, October 6, 1966: The Gaumont, Piccadilly, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK 
• Friday, October 7, 1966: The Gaumont, Barker's Pool, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK 
• Saturday, October 8, 1966: The Odeon, Leicester, Leicestershire, UK, last date of the tour
• Thursday, November 24, 1966: The Clifton Hall, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK
• Saturday, April 15, 1967: The New Century Hall, Stockport, Cheshire, UK, with Haydock's Rockhouse
• Saturday, May 6, 1967: The Royal Agricultural College, Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK, with The Yardbirds 
• Saturday, October 21, 1967: The Pavilion, Southend, Essex, UK 
• Tuesday, November 7 - Monday, November 13, 1967: The Mindbenders 6-Day Swedish Tour 
• Saturday, November 8, 1968 - Wednesday, November 20, 1968: Nine Date British Theatre Tour, supported The Who, with The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Yes, Free and The Small Faces. 
• Saturday, November 8, 1968: The Granada, Walthamstow, East London, UK, with The Who, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Yes, first date of tour 
• Sunday, November 9, 1968: The Adelphi Theatre, Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire, UK
• Monday, November 10, 1968: The Colston Hall, Bristol, Somerset, UK 
• Friday, November 15, 1968: The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, Chalk Farm, North West London, UK 
• Saturday, November 16, 1968: The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, Chalk Farm, North West London, UK
• Sunday, November 17, 1968: The Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham, Warwickshire, UK 
• Monday, November 18, 1968: The City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumbria, UK, with The Who, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Yes 
• Tuesday, November 19, 1968: The Paisley Ice Rink, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK, with The Who, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Yes 
• Wednesday, November 20, 1968: The Empire, Lime Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK, with The Who, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Yes, last date of tour, last ever gig

Some gigs came from Spencer Leigh's wonderful book The Cavern. As for Vic Farrell, found some info for him on one particular Hollies site. Some stuff came from The Beatles Live! by Mark Lewisohn and The Beatles Encyclopaedia by Bill Harry. 

John H. Warburg - 29/3/14 

Memories

I remember Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders very well. Glyn Ellis the lead singer, lived down the road from where I lived in Gorton. His house was on Mount Road in Gorton, which led to Stockport Road in one direction and Hyde Road in the other. He and the Mindbenders were regulars on Jimmy Savile's Top Ten Club in Belle Vue and were very good! I am pretty certain that Glynn attended Spurley Hey School on Mount Road and was in my sister's class. All in all a great group. Pity Wayne Fontana didn't stay with The Mindbenders.

Leslie Kenneth Marsden