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The V.I.P.'s
The V.I.P.'s
Also known as	The Vipps, Art (1967)
Origin	Carlisle, England
Genres	R&B
Years active	1963 - 1967
Labels	Island, CBS, Star-Club
Associated acts	Spooky Tooth
Members
	Mike Harrison; Greg Ridley; Frank Kenyon; Jimmy Henshaw; Luther Grosvenor; Walter Johnstone; Mike Kellie; Keith Emerson
Notable instruments
	Gretsch guitars

For the 1963 film, see The V.I.P.s.

The V.I.P.'s were a British R&B musical ensemble formed in Carlisle, Cumberland, (North West England) in late 1963, out of an earlier outfit known as The Ramrods, who had formed in Carlisle in 1960. The V.I.P.'s split up in April 1967.

[edit] Career

The band members were: Mike Harrison (lead vocals) (ex Dino and the Danubes, The Dakotas, The Ramrods); Greg Ridley (bass guitar) (ex Dino and the Danubes, The Dakotas); Frank Kenyon (rhythm guitar) (1963-67) (born 12 October 1945, Carlisle) (ex The Teenages, The Ramrods); Jimmy Henshaw (lead guitar) (1963-67) (born James Henshaw, 20 October 1941, Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland) (ex The Ramrods); Keith Emerson (electric organ) (1966 - 1967); Luther Grosvenor (lead guitar) (1967); Walter Johnstone (drummer) (1963-67) (born 11 March 1943, Carlisle) (ex The Teenages, The Ramrods); and Mike Kellie (drummer) (1967).

They were one of the first groups signed to Island Records. With no tangible success, the band became later known as 'Art' (who released one album, Supernatural Fairy Tales) and then as Spooky Tooth.

One of the V.I.P.'s singles was produced by Derek Lawrence, whereas all the Island Records single releases were produced by Guy Stevens.