Downliners Sect are an English R&B and blues-based rock band, formed in the 1960s beat boom era. Stylistically, they were similar to blues-based bands, such as The Yardbirds, The Pretty Things and the Rolling Stones, playing basic R&B on their first album The Sect. Critic Richie Unterberger wrote: "The Sect didn't as much interpret the sound of Chess Records as attack it, with a finesse that made the Pretty Things seem positively suave in comparison."
History
In 1962, Mick O' Donnell, later known as Don Craine, started a band called the Downliners, who, despite touring France, were unsuccessful. The name of the band came from Jerry Lee Lewis B-side 'Down The Line'. After several lineup changes, the band folded, but in 1963, O'Donnell and drummer Johnny Sutton formed a new band out of the remnants of the previous act. Keith Evans, formerly a drummer, joined on bass guitar. Shortly thereafter the band would be named the Downliners Sect. At this time some of the members decided to change their names. Mick O'Donnell took the new name, Don Craine, and Keith Evans became Keith Grant. The band was iconic during its time in the early 1960s, partly owing to Don Craine's deerstalker cap which he wore to mock the aristocracy. The band has many fans who have achieved commercial success, including Van Morrison, Steve Marriott, and Rod Stewart, the latter two had even auditioned for a place in the band but were turned down because they both wanted to be frontmen, while Don Craine and Keith Grant did not wish to relinquish that role. They subsequently modified their musical style, and after an EP of 'sick' songs, they experimented with both country and rock. They later collaborated with Billy Childish's Thee Headcoats, and released two albums under the name Thee Headcoats Sect. They performed regularly at the Studio 51 club in Great Newport Street near Leicester Square tube station in London on a Friday night and Sunday afternoon, from which came the first EP featuring the songs "Beautiful Delilah" and "Little Egypt". The EP started off with the sound of the bells of Big Ben. The lead guitarist was Terry Clemson who played his Gibson 335. Studio 51 was also known as the Ken Colyer Club and the Rolling Stones made many performances at this club, but according to Rod Harrison, guitarist with Asgaerd and school friend of Terry Clemson, "you could say the Downliners Sect were almost residents."
Members
;Current members
Keith Grant – vocals/bass
Don Craine – vocals/guitar
Del Dwyer – vocals/guitar
John O'Leary – vocals/harp
Mark Freeman – drums
;Past members
Al Brooks – drums
Barry Cooper – keyboards
Rod De'Ath – drums
Matt Fisher – keyboards
Kevin Flanagan – drums
Terry Gibson – lead guitar
Pip Harvey – harmonica
Paul Holm – drums
Mel Lewis – lead guitar
Nat Maynard – keyboard
Ray Sone – harmonica
John Sutton – drums
Bob Taylor – lead guitar
Paul Tiller – harmonica
Zach Wilson – guitar
Paul Martinez – vocals/bass
Mike Chapman – vocals/guitar
Discography
Singles
Jun 1964 – "Baby What's Wrong" / "Be A Sect Maniac"
Sep 1964 – "Little Egypt " / "Sect Appeal"
Nov 1964 – "Find Out What's Happening" / "Insecticide"
??? 1965 – "Wreck of the Old '97" / "Leader of the Sect"
Jun 1965 – "I Got Mine" / "Waiting in Heaven Somewhere"
Oct 1965 – "Bad Storm Coming" / "Lonely And Blue"
Jan 1966 – "All Night Worker" / "He Was A Square"
Jun 1966 – "Glendora" / "I'll Find Out"
Sep 1966 – "The Cost of Living" / "Everything I've Got To Give"
"Brite Lites": Bright Lights Big City/I need you baby/Do the Dog/Roll Over Beethoven :Unreleased, finished sleeves exist. Tapes lost in 1964, released in March 2011.
"The Sect Sing Sick Songs" – I Want My Baby Back/Leader of the Sect/Midnight Hour/Now She's Dead
