Glittermen

Mike Leander the producer and co-writer of Gary Glitter's early tracks, realised that they would need a band for live performances after "Rock and Roll Part 2", a mainly instrumental B-side, became an unexpected hit. The 'Glittermen', as they were originally called, were drafted in from the Boston Show Band, a mainly covers band, formed in 1966 by John Rossall, on the agreement that Leander would help them to release their own records. Gary Glitter had in fact performed with the Boston Show Band when he was known as Paul Raven during some of their club residencies over in Germany and John Rossall had in the early 1960s been a member of the Mike Leander Showband that toured the UK.[1] They continued to perform as The Boston in Germany in between their work with Glitter into early 1973 before finally becoming known as 'The Glitter Band'. The original line-up of the 'Glittermen' / Glitterband consisted of: John Rossall, Ray Moxley, Harvey Ellison, Gerry Shephard and John White although there would be various changes and additions to this line-up during their success period. Only John Rossall and Harvey Ellison actually played on the first two Gary Glitter albums. Leander played most of the instruments along with Glitter singing.