Guide to British Music of the 1960s
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Vocals/guitar - Eric Stewart, vocals - Wayne Fontana, Bass - Bob Lang, Drums - Ric Rothwell
Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders were formed in Manchester in 1963. Wayne Fontana had previously been with Wayne Fontana & the Jets. The first four singles were not successful them Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um reached number five in the UK charts. The follow-up, The Game of Love, went higher to number two. Two further singles reached the charts though not as high as the previous hits.
Wayne Fontana left the group in early 1966 and started to pursue a solo career. The others stayed together to continue as a three-piece. A Groovy Kind of Love, written by Carole Bayer-Sager and Toni Wine, took the trio back to number two in the UK. A July tour of the US was as support to James Brown. In the autumn of 1966 they embarked on a UK tour with Dusty Springfield, Dave Berry and the Alan Price Set. Their final tour in 1968 was as support to the Who, Joe Cocker and Arthur Brown.
Their LPs were not successful. With Woman in Mind was close to a concept album with all the songs about women. I Want Her, She Wants Me was a Rod Argent song that appeared on the Zombies' Odessey & Oracle although the Mindbenders single was the first recording to be issued. The final Mindbenders single was Uncle Joe, The Ice Cream Man which was written by Graham Gouldman.
Ric Rothwell departed in 1968 to go into the antiques business. He was replaced in drums by Paul Hancox. Bob Lang initially retired from the music business in 1968 but he emerged in the mid-1970s with the group Racing Cars. He was replaced on bass by Graham Gouldman who had previously been in the Mockingbirds as well as being a highly successful songwriter. Eric Stewart went onto session work before teaming up with Gouldman in Hotlegs, who had a hit with Neandertal Man, and later they went on to major success with 10CC.
- The Mockingbirds