The Glitter Band 

are a glam rock band from England, who initially worked as Gary

Glitter's backing band under that name from 1973, when they then began releasing records of
their own. They were unofficially known as the Glittermen on the first four hit singles by Gary
Glitter from 1972 to 1973.[1]
The Glitter Band had seven UK Top 20 hit singles in the mid-1970s, and three hit albums.
When Gary Glitter's first single "Rock and Roll Parts 1 and 2" became a number 2 hit in the UK,
his manager Mike Leander realised that he would need a backing band and contacted John
Rossall who was then the musical director of the Boston Showband.[3] With a few changes in
personnel, the Boston Showband became the Glittermen, and later The Glitter Band in
1973[4] who were: John Rossall (trombone and musical director), Gerry Shephard (lead guitar and
vocals), Pete Phipps (drums and keyboards), Tony Leonard (drums), John Springate (bass and
vocals) and Harvey Ellison (saxophone).[5][6] They backed Glitter in live performances, although in
the studio Mike Leander played all the instruments, apart from the brass section provided by
Rossall and Ellison.[5]
In 1973, Rossall approached Leander with the suggestion that the band record some
material without Glitter. Leander agreed, but rejected the first recordings. The band then went
back into the studio and recorded the Rossall/Shephard composition "Angel Face", which met
with Leander's approval, but not without some changes.[3][5] The band, now working as a separate
entity with Tony Leonard having replaced Pete Gill, as well as continuing to back Glitter, played a
few well-received live shows before their first single came out, mixing some new songs with
cover versions of 1950s and 1960s songs. In March 1974, "Angel Face" was released on Bell
Records, reaching number four in the UK Singles Chart, and outselling Glitter's "Remember Me
This Way". Further hits followed between 1974 and 1976, along with the release of four albums.
Rossall left the band on 31 December 1974. Gerry Shephard, John Springate and Pete
Phipps taking over leadership, with Springate taking lead vocal duties on hits such as the ballad
"Goodbye My Love", "The Tears I Cried", and "People Like You".[7] Sales dropped in 1976, with
the advent of punk rock. The band switched to CBS Records and later Epic Records, and
changed their name to The G Band to disassociate themselves from Glitter, but failed to find
another hit single. The name reverted to The Glitter Band in March 1977 for the release of "Look
What You've Been Missing", co-written by John Rossall and Gerry Shephard.

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