Biography
Finders Keepers never ranked among the most prominent acts on England's Midlands scene near Birmingham, yet the act set a benchmark for endurance, with some incarnation still active four decades later. The lineup also supplied the initial spark that brought the hard rock band Trapeze into existence. Roots trace to 1965, when singer Roy "Dripper" Kent, lead guitarist Alan Clee, and bassist Jake Elcock—three central figures from the Dudley-based group the Strangers—joined forces with rhythm guitarist Ralph Oakley, formerly of the Montanas, and drummer Dave Williams. Kent's commanding vocal presence and Clee's skilled guitar work quickly earned the quintet a substantial local audience around Birmingham plus steady work in Germany, leading directly to a Pye Records deal. Scott Walker produced their single "Light," generating added notice at the time, while further releases included "Friday Kind of Monday" and "Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)." Although several of these sides achieved strong sales, at least one charted only in the lower reaches of the Top 50. Shifts in personnel surfaced during the second year, with Elcock departing in 1967 to join the Montanas and Phil Overfield, previously of the Staffords, taking the bass chair.
Ian Lees entered as an additional singer late in 1967 after Kent left to form Light Fantastic, and Mel Galley assumed lead guitar duties even as Alan Clee remained in the group. Further turnover occurred throughout 1968 when bassist Glenn Hughes and drummer Dave Holland arrived, followed by guitarist and keyboard player Terry Rowley along with vocalist and trumpeter John Jones, both of whom had come from the Montanas. By the end of that year the members recognized that the Finders Keepers identity and style had grown outdated and more hindrance than asset, prompting a reorganization under the name Trapeze and a markedly harder musical direction. Years after Trapeze was established, several of the earlier Finders Keepers participants reconvened, revived the original name, and resumed performing on oldies and pop circuits that continued well into the twenty-first century.
Ian Lees entered as an additional singer late in 1967 after Kent left to form Light Fantastic, and Mel Galley assumed lead guitar duties even as Alan Clee remained in the group. Further turnover occurred throughout 1968 when bassist Glenn Hughes and drummer Dave Holland arrived, followed by guitarist and keyboard player Terry Rowley along with vocalist and trumpeter John Jones, both of whom had come from the Montanas. By the end of that year the members recognized that the Finders Keepers identity and style had grown outdated and more hindrance than asset, prompting a reorganization under the name Trapeze and a markedly harder musical direction. Years after Trapeze was established, several of the earlier Finders Keepers participants reconvened, revived the original name, and resumed performing on oldies and pop circuits that continued well into the twenty-first century.
Singles