The Gants
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 in Greenwood, Mississippi, United States |
| Founder | Sid Herring, Johnny Freeman |
| Headquarters | Greenwood, Mississippi , United States |
| Products | Garage rock music, albums, singles |
The Gants were a garage rock ensemble from the United States, established in 1964 in Greenwood, Mississippi, situated in the Deep South region.
History
Initially named The Kingsmen (distinct from the group famous for "Louie Louie"), the band originated in 1963 with Sid Herring and Johnny Freeman performing rhythm and blues covers along with instrumentals influenced by The Ventures. Shortly thereafter, The Gants were formed, comprising Sid Herring (lead vocals and guitar), Johnny Sanders (guitar), Vince Montgomery (bass), and Don Wood (drums).
Following Freeman's departure due to family concerns regarding touring, Johnny Sanders joined the lineup, and the band adopted the name The Gants, inspired by a well-known shirt brand. In 1965, they released their first single along with their album titled Road Runner. Herring, who bore a resemblance to Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, began composing original songs. That same year, The Gants served as the opening act for The Animals during a Florida tour, gaining exposure despite limited touring opportunities because of members' educational commitments.
Their debut single featured Bo Diddley's "Road Runner" with Herring's "My Baby Don't Care" on the B-side; it was initially issued on the Statue label before Liberty Records re-released it. The track reached number 46 on the US charts and climbed to number 28 in Australia. Liberty also distributed their first album, Roadrunner. In 1966, they issued "Little Boy Sad," which stood out for its early use of a talk box effect. Their attempt to release a rendition of Them's "Gloria" was rejected by Liberty; this song later became successful for The Shadows of Knight.
Balancing recording sessions and brief tours alongside schooling responsibilities limited their promotional activities and chart achievements. From 1966 to 1967, they issued multiple singles and two albums—Gants Galore and Gants Again—though these did not achieve notable commercial success. The group experienced personnel shifts, including Johnny Sanders leaving and Johnny Freeman briefly returning before departing once more. By mid-1967, three members returned to Greenwood while Herring remained in Los Angeles working as a staff songwriter for Liberty Records.
Although mainstream success eluded them, The Gants cultivated a modest cult status within garage rock enthusiasts. Their track "I Wonder" was included on the 1980 compilation Pebbles, Volume 8. Sundazed Music released Roadrunner! The Best of The Gants in 2000, and "Little Boy Sad" appeared on Oxford American magazine's Southern Sampler CD.
In 2005, The Gants reunited featuring Herring, Wood, Sanders, Freeman (who had rejoined in 2001), and Ed Foresman on bass replacing the late Vince Montgomery (who passed away in January 2001). Don Wood died in 2011; Johnny Sanders passed away in 2012 after pursuing a medical career and founding the Sanders Clinic for Women in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Albums
- Road Runner (1965)
- Gants Again (1966)
- Gants Galore (1966)
Compilation albums
- I Wonder (1988)
- Roadrunner! The Best of The Gants (2000)
- Introducing The Gants (2005)
Singles
| Year | Single | US | AU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "Roadrunner" / "My Baby Don't Care" | 46 | 28 |
| "What's Happening" / "Careless" | - | - | |
| 1966 | "Crackin' Up" / "Dr. Feelgood" | - | - |
| "I Want Your Lovin'" / "Spoonful of Sugar" | - | - | |
| "(You Can't Blow) Smoke Rings" / "Little Boy Sad" | - | - | |
| 1967 | "Drifters Sunrise" / "Just a Good Show" | - | - |
| "Greener Days" / "I Wonder" | - | - | |
| 1969 | "Another Chance" / "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" | - | - |