The Troggs

Formed in Andover, Hampshire in 1966, the original group members were singer and guitarist Dave Wright, bass player Reg Ball, drummer Ronnie Bullis (Bond) and guitarist Howard Mansfield. Both Mansfield and Wright left the newly formed band however and they were replaced by Pete Staples and Chris Britton. Reg Ball moved from bass to lead vocals and changed his last name to Presley.

The Troggs hit the chart-trail the same year, when they were signed to a management deal with The Kinks' manager Larry Page, and a recording contract with Fontana Records.  In the very first year of their formation, the band enjoyed four Top Ten singles in Britain with Wild Thing - which later went on to top the American chart and sell a million copies - With A Girl Like You, which reached the top of the British charts, I Can't Control Myself and Any Way You Want It.

The following year they charted again with Give It To Me and their third million-seller Love Is All Around, which was written by lead-singer Reg Presley.  At the same time they enjoyed an enormous fan following in America where their tours met with amazing success.

Named after the mythical cave dwellers Troglodytes, the group's chart career ended abruptly in 1968 with their last hit single Little Girl. The original band split in 1969 with individual members making solo albums. The Troggs are also notoriously well-known for a bootleg tape of them swearing at each other during a recording session. At the time, they had no producer and vented their frustration on each other with considerable use of four-letter words. This recording is said to have inspired a scene in the film "This is Spinal Tap".  In subsequent years the band have reformed from time to time and enjoy a kind of cult status touring Europe and America.

See the Troggs perform With A Girl Like You: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=ijSxDesidiY

For the latest information on the Troggs see their official website at http://www.my-generation.org.uk/Troggs/

Check out Reg Presley interview