In 1968 the band signed with manager Mark Barger, who was handling the career of a fellow Ohio band, the Lemon Pipers, who had just scored a big hit with ' Green Tambourine'. They liked their sound as a threesome and decided to remain that way. The band, desperately in need of the money, took to the stage as a trio. At the last minute, Silverman informed the others that he would not be joining them at the show. On Sunday June 9, 1968, the group played a concert in Detroit at the Grande Ballroom opening for Cream. He was replaced by a returning Ronnie Silverman, who had been discharged from the military. Jeric and Walsh worked together on guitar parts but, in the spring of 1968, Jeric ended up leaving as well. Walsh was accepted and the band continued as a five piece for a short time until Giallombardo, who was still in high school at the time, left. Just days later, shortly after the new year of 1968, a friend of Schwartz's, Joe Walsh (from a band called The Measles), knocked on Fox's door and asked to be given a tryout as Glenn's replacement. No recordings were ever released by these early lineups of the band.Īround Christmastime of 1967, Schwartz, who was found to be AWOL from the army and was breaking up with his wife, decided to leave the band and move to California, where he ended up forming the band Pacific Gas & Electric. Bill Jeric was then brought in to play alongside Schwartz. Ronnie Silverman soon departed as well to enter the military. However, Michalski was not as enthused by Glenn's playing as Fox and left the band immediately.

After hearing Schwartz play, and hearing that two of his influences were the Spencer Davis Group and Jeff Beck, Fox was impressed and invited Schwartz to join the James Gang. Fox initially declined the offer but changed his mind when he heard that local guitar legend Glenn Schwartz, who was fresh out of the army, was to be in attendance. He was soon replaced by Dennis Chandler, who was then succeeded by John 'Mouse' Michalski who, with the Count Five, had just enjoyed a national hit with 'Psychotic Reaction'.Ī short time later, Fox was invited to audition for a nine-piece rhythm and blues band that was being assembled. The James Gang's earliest lineup consisted of Fox (drums), Kriss (bass), Silverman (guitar), Giallombardo (vocals, keyboards), and after auditioning some 25 candidates for lead guitar, the band decided to go with Greg Grandillo, who later played with another popular Cleveland band, Rainbow Canyon. After leaving them again to return to school, Fox, heavily influenced by the sound of British Invasion bands such as the Beatles, the Who and the Yardbirds, began to think about forming his own band and teamed up with schoolmate Ronnie Silverman (guitar), bassist Tom Kriss and keyboardist Phil Giallombardo in 1966. After they had a national hit the following year with ' Time Won't Let Me', Fox returned temporarily to play with them after their drummer was drafted. Drummer Jim Fox first played with the Cleveland-area band the Outsiders but left them in 1965 to attend college.

James gang thirds