Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
Wayne Fontana
b. Glynn Geoffrey Ellis, 28 October 1945, Manchester: vocals
Bob Lang
b. 10 June 1946, Manchester: bass
Eric Stewart
b. 20 January 1945, Manchester: guitar
Ric Rothwell
b. 11 March 1944, Manchester: drums
 
1963 [WF age 17-18]
Glyn Ellis, like almost everyone of the beat era, began performing skiffle groups but by the beat boom of this year had moved on to rock. At some point, he adopted the stage name "Wayne Fontana," apparently after Elvis' drummer, D. J. Fontana.
Eager for a recording contract, Ellis arranged to have his band, the Jets, audition for Jack Baverstock of the new label, Fontana Records, at Manchester's Oasis Club. Unfortunately, only Ellis and drummer Rick Rothwell showed up for the audition, so they quickly recruited Bob Lang and Eric Stewart from another band who had just finished.
Jack Baverstock saw an opportunity to shape the band and signed them naming the the band the "Mindbenders" (after a horror movie). (See Romanowski and George-Warren 1995.)
Their early recordings were covers of American rock and rhythm-and-blues tunes.
9 December. "Hello! Josephine" / "Road Runner" [enters UK charts, reaches UK #46]
December. "For You, For You" / "Love Potion No. 9"
 
1964 [WF age 18-19]
March? "Little Darlin'" / "Come Dance with Me"
28 May. "Stop Look and Listen" / "Duke of Earl" [enters UK charts, reaches UK#37]
8 October. "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" [UK#5] / "First Taste of Love" [Enters UK charts.]
 
1965 [WF age 19-20]
By the band had substantial success, particularly with "The Game of Love," but the American Federation of Musicians thwarted a complete tour of the US through immigration procedures. By the end of the year, Fontana and the Mindbenders had parted ways.
4 February. "Game of Love" (Clint Ballard) [UK#2, US#1] / "Since You've Been Gone" (Bronson 1985:172) [Enters UK Charts.]
17 June. "It's Just a Little Bit Too Late" / "Long Time Comin'" [enters UK charts, reaches UK #20]
30 September. "She Needs Love" / "Like I Did" [enters UK charts, reaches #32]
 
Wayne Fontana's Website.
Manchester Schedule Northerners
  15-feb-12