Also known as: Idle Race, The
Origin: Birmingham, England
This group is considered by many to have been one of the better bands to emerge out of the 60s Birmingham music scene, while somehow never achieving any notable commercial success. They evolved from the group Mike Sheridan & The Nightriders in mid 1966 when members Dave Pritchard (vocals, guitar), Greg Masters (bass) and Roger Spencer (drums) joined forces with a young singer and songwriter named Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar). They originally called themselves the Idyll Race but soon changed their name to the less poetic Idle Race. After securing a record contract with Liberty in the summer of 1…