Finders Keepers (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in Wolverhampton, England |
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Wolverhampton , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley, Dave Holland, Ian "Sludge" Lees, Alan Clee, Phil Overfield, David Williams, Roy "Dripper" Kent, Ralph Oakley, Jake Elcock |
| Products | Singles (including "Sadie, The Cleaning Lady") |
| Owner | None |
Number of employees | 5 (final lineup) |
Finders Keepers was a musical group originating from Wolverhampton, England, active during the years 1965 to 1969. The band notably included future members of Trapeze: Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley, and Dave Holland. Glenn Hughes later achieved recognition through his work with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, Mel Galley became known for his contributions to Whitesnake, and Dave Holland gained fame with Judas Priest.
Throughout their career, Finders Keepers issued multiple singles, one of which was a 1968 rendition of "Sadie, The Cleaning Lady". The original ensemble featured Roy "Dripper" Kent on vocals, Alan Clee handling lead guitar duties, Ralph Oakley on rhythm guitar, Jake Elcock playing bass, and David Williams on drums. After Oakley left in 1966, the band continued as a quartet until lineup shifts in 1967 introduced Ian "Sludge" Lees as vocalist, Mel Galley and Alan Clee on lead guitars, Phil Overfield on bass, and David Williams remaining on drums.
In 1968, Glenn Hughes took over bass responsibilities from Phil Overfield, while Dave Holland replaced David Williams behind the drum kit. This final configuration—Lees, Galley, Clee, Hughes, and Holland—persisted until the group disbanded in 1969. Subsequent to the breakup, Galley, Hughes, and Holland went on to establish Trapeze.
Affiliated with record labels such as Fontana and CBS, Finders Keepers were part of the dynamic British pop scene of the late 1960s. The later achievements of its members with prominent rock bands highlight Finders Keepers’ significance as a formative platform for notable British rock musicians.