Cliff Bennett (born 4 June 1940) is one of the most formidable talents not to ascend to the top rank of British rock & roll during the mid-'60s; except for a pair of hits some two years apart, he missed a lot of the success that most onlookers would have pegged him for, though he fostered a lot of good careers in the people who passed through his band.
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| Cliff center with band in 1957 |
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| Cliff & an early Rebel Rousers |
He dutifully recorded singles, for Parlophone, including versions of "You Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Got My Mojo Working," and failed to make any impact. They were signed by Brian Epstein to a management contract in September of 1964, on the strength of the Beatles' urgings, and soon after, on their seventh 45 release, "One
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Way Love" b/w "Slow Down," they finally charted in England with a number-nine single; their next record, "I'll Take You Home" b/w "Do You Love Him," however, only got to number 42 and nothing for the next year sold at all, despite the fact that Bennett was now considered to be one of the few white Englishmen who had any useful inborn feel for American R&B or soul music.
Way Love" b/w "Slow Down," they finally charted in England with a number-nine single; their next record, "I'll Take You Home" b/w "Do You Love Him," however, only got to number 42 and nothing for the next year sold at all, despite the fact that Bennett was now considered to be one of the few white Englishmen who had any useful inborn feel for American R&B or soul music. 
By that time, the Rebel Rousers had begun picking up some of the better players from acts that were further from success than they were, including sax man Howie Casey from King Size Taylor & the Dominoes; and the group's ranks included several players who became successful later on: keyboard legend Nicky Hopkins, pianist/singer Roy Young, Searchers bassist Frank Allen, and bassist Chas Hodges and drummer Mick Burt, who became Chas & Dave in 1974 and worked together until Chas died..
Finally, in early 1966, they were booked as an opening act on the Beatles' last European tour. During those shows, Lennon and McCartney gave Bennett the first hearing of "Got to Get You Into My Life," a song that was going to be on their Revolver album later that year, but not on a single. Bennett and company saw their opportunity and took it, with Paul McCartney running the session. The result was a number-six single that was a double triumph for Bennett, his own original song "Baby Each Day" gracing the B-side. The single was followed by the well-realized album in the group's history.
Bennett subsequently fronted a group called Rebellion, releasing an album of that title on British CBS, and also joining guitar legend Mick Green in Shanghai, a '70s band that lasted for two LPs during the mid-'70s. In the 1970s Bennett retired from the music industry to become a shipping magnate; however since the mid 1980s he has constantly toured with a reformed Rebel Rousers right through to the present day.
Due to Covid-19 Cliff has had to reschedule his concerts for 2021 (Edited mainly from AllMusic)
Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers was one of the supporting acts that opened for the Beatles when they played at the Circus Krone-Bau, Munich on June 24, 1966. Here are 2 songs from that concert:
Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers was one of the supporting acts that opened for the Beatles when they played at the Circus Krone-Bau, Munich on June 24, 1966. Here are 2 songs from that concert:
1. "Ain't Love Good, Ain't Love Proud" 2. "No, You Can't Love 'Em All" BTW ... The Rebel Rousers are using the drums from the Rattles, another group playing at that show.