Rebel Rousers Meet the Gods
Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers were a top British group when the Beatles were still beating around the back alleys of Hamburg — which means, of course, when being a “top British group” didn’t mean diddly-shit.
At some vague point in history, Bennett tied up with Brian Epstein and, that not panning out, ended up with a new band that might have just enough British excess, with just enough Amerikan soul, to end up being the new Jeff Beck group or something like it. Specifically, Toe Fat.
For one thing, Toe Fat is with Rare Earth, which is Motown’s progressive label, or something of the sort. Frankly, it’s becoming clear that Motown and company don’t really know shit about white rock, except in the dreariest of fiscal forms. But with Toe Fat, they may finally have a respectable, entertaining hard rock band . . . and they do know how to promote records out there on Woodward Avenue.
But Cliff Bennett’s story goes back to the beginnings of the Motown explosion in Amerika, back to when the biggest thing happening in all of Her Majesty’s empire was Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin and company.“I’ve been playing rock and roll and soul music for seven years,” Bennett said, “with a group called the Rebel Rousers.”