The Luvvers
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Defunct | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow , Scotland |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
The Luvvers were a rock ensemble from Scotland, primarily recognized for serving as the backing group for Lulu on her first charting single, "Shout" (1964). Their career was relatively brief and concluded with their split in March 1966.
Career
Initially named the Gleneagles and featuring Lulu as their lead singer, the band adopted the name the Luvvers coinciding with the release of "Shout," which climbed to number seven on the UK charts during the summer of 1964. Their sound was heavily influenced by R&B, and they regularly performed in Glasgow venues such as the Lindella, where Tony Gordon discovered them. The founding members were Alex Bell (vocals), Ross Neilson (lead guitar), James Dewar (rhythm guitar), Tommy Tierney (bass), David Mullin (drums), and Jimmy Smith (saxophone).
After relocating to London with Marian Massey as their manager, Jimmy Smith departed without a replacement. Following the recording of their debut album, Something To Shout About, drummer David Mullin was succeeded by Henry Wright from the Blues Council. The band toured extensively across the UK, Ireland, and continental Europe, supporting artists including the Honeycombs, Gene Vincent, and Gene Pitney. In 1966, they recorded "The House on the Hill" / "Most Unlovely" under Parlophone.
Due to touring demands, James Dewar exited after a concert in Edinburgh; Alex Bell assumed rhythm guitar duties while Ross Neilson was replaced by Dave Wendels from Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers. Signing with the Harold Davidson Agency, they played prestigious venues such as Paris's Olympia alongside the Animals, Marianne Faithfull, and the Moody Blues, as well as Munich's Big Apple Club with Gerry and the Pacemakers.
Although their initial singles showed promise, subsequent releases underperformed commercially. Notably, their rendition of "Here Comes the Night" preceded Them's successful version. In August 1965, "Leave a Little Love" reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart; its follow-up "Try To Understand" secured a spot within the top 25. However, their last singles, "Tell Me Like It Is" and "Call Me," did not achieve chart success.
The ensemble disbanded in March 1966 when Lulu embarked on her solo career. Prior to this, they toured Poland with the Hollies, becoming among the earliest Western bands to perform behind the Iron Curtain. After recording "The House on the Hill," Dave Wendels left to join Tom Jones and was replaced by Billy Bremner, who later gained recognition with Rockpile and the Pretenders. Henry Wright also departed amid declining engagements; the remaining members continued briefly before ultimately parting ways.
Despite their short-lived prominence, the Luvvers shared stages with leading acts such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Yardbirds, and P.J. Proby.
Following the breakup, Alex Bell continued performing under the Luvvers name before retiring to Spain to operate a diving enterprise with his son. Henry Wright returned to Glasgow after managing Southampton's Rufus Stone Soul Band for twenty years. Dave Wendels resides in Palm Springs, California; Ross Neilson works as a jeweller in London. David Mullin emigrated to Canada, Tommy Tierney settled in Oslo, and Billy Bremner moved to Sweden. James Dewar found success with the Robin Trower Band before passing away in 2002 due to Cadasil, a hereditary stroke condition.
Discography
With Lulu:
- Singles (Decca Records)
- 1964: "Shout" / "Forget Me Baby" – reached number 7 in the UK charts
- 1964: "Can't Hear You No More" / "I Am In Love"
- 1964: "Here Comes The Night" / "That's Really Some Good" – peaked at number 50 in the UK
- 1965: "Satisfied" / "Surprise, Surprise"
- 1965: "Leave A Little Love" / "He Don't Want Your Love" – attained number 8 on UK charts
- 1965: "Try To Understand" / "Not In The Whole World" – reached number 25 in the UK
- 1965: "Tell Me Like It Is" / "Stop Fooling Around"
- 1966: "Call Me" / "After You"
- EP
- 1964: "Heatwave" / "What's Easy For Two Is Hard For One" / "Nothing Left To Do But Cry"
- Album (Decca)
- Something To Shout About
As The Luvvers:
- Singles (Parlophone Records)
- 1966: "The House on the Hill" / "Most Unlovely"