Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders

British beat group active from 1963-1965. One of several acts that were successful in the mid-1960s British Invasion of the US charts, achieving a major chart hit with "The Game of Love."

[a=Wayne Fontana] founded the band in June 1963 with [a=Robert F. Lang], [a=Ric Rothwell], and [a=Eric Stewart]. The name of the group was inspired by the title of a 1963 UK feature film called The Mind Benders. Before that Fontana had a group called Wayne Fontana and the Jets. After a tour of America, Fontana left the band in the middle of a concert in 1965. [a=The Mindbenders] decided to carry on as a trio following Fontana's departure.