The Downliners Sect

In early 1963 a band called The Downliners split up after a disastrous tour to France. Originally named after the Jerry Lee Lewis song "Down The Line" two founding members decided to form a new band by the name of The Downliners Sect.
Playing lots of gigs around London helped the band gain a reputation as one of the best rhythm & blues bands in town, next to bands like the Yardbirds or the Rolling Stones. Even Rod Stewart and Steve Marriott wanted to join the band but both got rejected as there wasn't any need for a line-up change.
In 1964 the Downliners Sect signed on to Columbia and released their first single "Baby, what's wrong". The same year the band released their first full length album called the "The Sect".
The Downliners Sect continued producing singles and gained popularity all over Europe, especially in Sweden, although their records failed to enter the charts.
1965 the band released their second album called "The Country Sect". Hence the name the album contained mostly country and western songs, which left the fans in confusion and led to poor sales.
With the 1966 album "The Rock Sect's In" the band returned to its roots but it became apparent that the rhythm & blues boom was coming to an end and so did the original Downliners Sect in late 1966.
Don Craine and Keith Grant found some new members to continue the band until 1968 when things finally seemed to be over.
In 1977 the two managed to put the band back together and ever since they've been playing more or less frequently until these days.