The Redcaps

Early-'60s English rock & roll is filled with the names of good bands that never made it, but few ever got as close as the Redcaps. Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1963, the group (whose name undoubtedly was derived from <a href="spotify:artist:5VAHm7V5mnsxvQrWw3KHmx">Gene Vincent</a>'s backing band <a href="spotify:artist:5EmQT0A3VxQU0EiX0qhrCo">the Blue Caps</a>) featured Mac Broadhurst, Alan Morley, twin brothers <a href="spotify:artist:739a9VeGbv0lMBRIkRInJT">Dave</a> (vocals) and Mick Walker (bass), and Mick Blythe (guitar). Signed to English <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Decca%22">Decca</a> in 1963, they made their debut with a superb cover of <a href="spotify:artist:53QzNeFpzAaXYnrDBbDrIp">the Isley Brothers</a>' "Shout," which failed only because of the competition from <a href="spotify:artist:2fP4hXUr0AbFmbO9IZsbcN">Lulu</a>'s rendition on the same label. The quintet cut two further singles that failed to register and disbanded. Their version of "Talking About You" featured <a href="spotify:artist:55bGuHb50r5c0PeqqMeNBV">Jimmy Page</a> on lead guitar and has been widely anthologized as a result. <a href="spotify:artist:739a9VeGbv0lMBRIkRInJT">Dave Walker</a> was a temporary replacement for <a href="spotify:artist:6ZLTlhejhndI4Rh53vYhrY">Ozzy Osbourne</a> in <a href="spotify:artist:5M52tdBnJaKSvOpJGz8mfZ">Black Sabbath</a> during 1977. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi