Help, I've Lost My UK Backing Group Quiz

Answer: The Shadows

Cliff Richard and The Shadows were formed in 1958 and had their first hit when "Move It" peaked at number two on the UK singles chart in 1958. Cliff Richard has had the longest UK chart career, having had number one hits (with and without The Shadows) in five different decades from the '50s to the '90s. He had 14 number one hits in the last century between 1959 and 1999 (with and without The Shadows).

The Shadows are the top British instrumental group by far and have had UK chart hits from the '60s to the '80s which included five number one hits. Two of the original Shadows, ex- members, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan, also had a UK number one instrumental hit with "Diamonds" in 1963.

Answer: The Pirates

Johnny Kidd and The Pirates were formed in 1959 and had their first hit when "Please Don't Touch" peaked at number 25 on the UK singles chart in 1959.

Their biggest hit was "Shakin' All Over" written by Kidd (Frederick Heath and his manager Gus Robinson). It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart in 1960. After some minor hits over the next few years, they had a UK number four hit with "I'll Never Get Over You" in 1963. Johnny Kidd was killed in a car crash returning from a cancelled performance on the 7 October 1966 aged 30.

Answer: The Bruvvers

Joe Brown's first chart hit was "Darktown Strutters Ball" which peaked at number 34 on the UK singles chart in 1960. He had two more minor hits in 1961 and 1962. Then with session musicians (named The Bruvvers by TV producer Jack Good) he had his biggest hit "A Picture Of You" which peaked at number two in 1962. After this he needed a touring backing group and The Bruvvers became a reality.

He had two more Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart in 1962 and 1963 and a number of minor hits until his last, "Hey Mama" which peaked at number 33 in 1973. He became a great friend of George Harrison's and sang "I'll See You In My Dreams" at the end of the "Concert For George" in 2002.

Answer: The Jazzmen

Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen were formed in 1958 and had their first hit when "Samantha" peaked at number 13 on the UK singles chart in 1961. They had four Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart between 1961 and 1963.

Their biggest UK hit was "Midnight In Moscow" which peaked at number two in 1961, it also peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. They had a number of minor hits in the '60s which ended with their version of The Beatles' "When I'm Sixty Four" which peaked at number 43 in 1967.

Answer: The Pacemakers

Gerry and The Pacemakers were formed in 1959 as Gerry Marsden and The Mars Bars but were forced to change their name by the Mars company. As they rivalled The Beatles in Liverpool and Germany it was apt that they followed The Beatles into the hands of manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin.

Their first hit was "How Do Yo Do It" which was number one for three weeks in 1963. It had been written by Mitch Murray for Adam Faith and already recorded by The Beatles. Their next two singles both went to number one and Gerry and The Pacemakers became the first act to have their first three releases go to number one on the UK singles chart.

Answer: The Dakotas

Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas were a manufactured group put together by Brian Epstein. Kramer was a member of the Liverpool group The Coasters but the rest of the group were not keen to sign up with Brian Epstein. A Manchester group The Dakotas, backing a singer named Pete MacLaine, were signed up not only to back Kramer but to a separate recording contract.

Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas had five UK Top Ten hits between 1963 and 1965. They included the two number one hits "Bad To Me" (1963) and "From A Window" (1965), which are both credited to Lennon/McCartney. The Dakotas had an instrumental hit "The Cruel Sea" which peaked at number 18 in 1963.

Answer: The Dreamers

Freddie and The Dreamers turned professional in 1962. They had their first hit on the UK singles chart in 1963 with a cover version of James Ray's "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody" which peaked at number three.

Between 1963 and 1964 they had four Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart plus a number of minor hits which ended in 1965. They did achieve a number one hit in the USA, when "I'm Telling You Now" was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.

Answer: The Tremeloes

Brian Poole and The Tremeloes were formed as The Tremeloes in 1957. In 1962 they auditioned for Decca records UK along with a group from Liverpool, The Beatles. Decca signed them up but insisted they become Brian Poole and The Tremeloes; The Beatles did not pass the audition.

After four Top Ten hits between 1963 and 1964 including the number one hit "Do You Love Me", Brian Poole left to pursue a solo career but never troubled the UK singles chart again. The Tremeloes went from strength to strength and had seven Top Ten hits between 1967 to 1970, including the number one hit "Silence Is Golden" in 1967.

Answer: The Mindbenders

Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders were formed in 1963. Fontana named himself after Elvis Presley's drummer and The Mindbenders were named after a current Dirk Bogarde movie "The Mind Benders". Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders had a number five hit with "UM UM UM UM UM UM" in 1964 and a number two hit with "Game Of Love" in 1965 (number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100). Fontana left the group in the middle of a concert in 1965 and had one Top 20 hit with "Pamela Pamela" in 1966.

The Mindbenders carried on and had one UK Top Ten hit when "A Groovy Kind Of Love" peaked at number two in 1966. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year. Mindbenders member Eric Stewart would later become a leading member of 10cc.

Answer: The Rebel Rousers

Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers were formed in 1957. They released a number of singles without success. Then Brian Epstein signed them up and they had their first UK hit when "One Way Love" peaked at number nine in 1964.

Their next single was a minor hit but then they recorded a version of The Beatles' song "Got To Get You Into My Life" from their "Revolver" album, it peaked at number six in 1966 and was produced by Paul McCartney. That was their last visit to the UK singles chart.