Cleveland, Ohio Rockers the JAMES GANG, founded during 1966, never achieved major commercial success but gained the respect of peers and a loyal fan following due to the presence of two of Rock's most distinguished guitarists, JOE WALSH, later of THE EAGLES, and TOMMY BOLIN, subsequently to join DEEP PURPLE. The original band unit involved drummer and anchorman Jim Fox, previously of THE OUTSIDERS who had enjoyed a top five hit with 'Time Won't Let Me' in 1966, bassist Tom Kriss, guitarist Ronnie Silverman, keyboard player Phil Giallombardo and second guitarist Glen Schwartz, although this roster never officially recorded.

JAMES GANG's first recording line-up, for the March 1969 effort 'Yer' Album', comprised vocalist / guitarist JOE WALSH, bassist Tom Kriss and drummer Jim Fox. Walsh had supplanted earlier front man Glen Schwartz, who had departed to join PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC in April 1968. Walsh, a native of Wichita, Kansas, had learned his craft on the club circuit across the Cleveland area in a variety of acts, performing as bass player with THE NOMADS and THE G-CLEFS before switching to lead guitar in 1965 as a member of collegiate outfit THE MEASLES. 'Yer' Album', produced by Bill Szymczyk and reaching number 83 on the US charts, featured cover versions of the YARDBIRDS 'Lost Woman' and STEPHEN STILLS' 'Bluebird'. The album made an immediate impression, one of the band's fans being THE WHO's Pete Townsend who duly invited the band to support THE WHO in Europe.

Dale Peters had supplanted Kriss for the follow up, October 1970's 'James Gang Rides Again', which also had guest guitar parts from Rusty Young, as JAMES GANG broke into the American top twenty of the album charts. This opus, crafted at The Record Plant and again seeing Bill Szymczyk, behind the desk, included the AOR staple 'The Bomber', an epic in three parts involving an adaptation of Ravel's 'Bolero'. However, Ravel's estate objected to this inclusion because it was not a fully orchestrated piece and, due to some hasty editing, only a limited run of first pressings were to include the 'Bolero' segment as a result. On a more positive note the opening track 'Funk #49' gave the JAMES GANG a major radio hit.

'Thirds', issued in August 1971, also scored a high chart position. Walsh gave his swansong on the 'Live In Concert' album taken from 1971 shows at New York's famous Carnegie Hall. This outing, issued on Boxing Day December 1971, included a cover of ALBERT KING's 'You're Gonna Need Me'.

Walsh would of course go onto combine a successful solo career with his membership of THE EAGLES, the man's guitar becoming known to millions on the international hit 'Hotel California'. Undaunted, JAMES GANG were then to boost their numbers with the addition of vocalist Roy Kenner and Canadian guitarist Dominic Trioanao from the BUSH and BLACKMARKET. This revised version of the band recorded 'Passin' Thru' for release in July 1972. Additional studio musicians included guitarist Weldon Myrick and keyboard player David Briggs. Without Walsh, the band struggled and 'Passin' Thru' only scored number 72 on the US charts.

The self-produced 'Straight Shooter', cut at Quadrafonic Sound Studios in Nashville and seeing JAMES GANG experimenting with the brief introduction of violinist Sheldon Kurland, followed up quickly that same October.

For the September 1973 'Bang' album JAMES GANG were seemingly revitalized as the young and dynamic form of ex-ZEPHYR man TOMMY BOLIN, actually recommended by Walsh, entered the ranks. The young axe slinger had been inducted after a fifteen minute aiudition just a month previous. The album scored a lowly number 122 on the charts but soon word of mouth as to Bolin's prowess elevated the band back to their former status. 'Miami' capitalised on this progress in December 1974. 1975's 'Newborn' opus, hosting a take on ELVIS PRESLEY's 'Heartbreak Hotel', was a fiery enough reply to Bolin's high profile departure to the legendary DEEP PURPLE. Sadly the guitarist's entry into the big league proved too much and after a series of chaotic DEEP PURPLE tours and albums Bolin would strike out solo, only to become another all too familiar fatality of drug abuse.

The surviving JAMES GANG unit was now centred around sole surviving member Fox, the remainder of the band comprising of Peters and new faces vocalist Bubba Keith and guitarist Richard Shack. This line-up was soon to fragment though and for the February 1976 'Jesse Come Home' album both Shack and Keith were out of the frame making way for singer Bob Webb and keyboard player Phil Giallombardo. Keith would join Southern Rockers POINT BLANK.

1996 witnessed the reformation of the classic JAMES GANG line-up, Joe Walsh, Dale Peters and Jim Fox, for a performance at an election rally for Bill Clinton. Walsh also rejoined his JAMES GANG comrades for televised appearances on 'The Drew Carey Show' in 1998 and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in February 2001.

Highly regarded Swedish Stoners THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND would pay homage to the JAMES GANG on the Small Stone 70s era tribute 'Sucking In The 70s' donating a rendition of 'Walk Away'. 'Woman' was given a new treatment by ex-OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist JAKE E. LEE on his 2005 album of seventies cover versions.

In April 2006 it was announced that the Walsh/Peters/Fox line-up of the JAMES GANG was to tour the United States again. TESLA covered 'walk Away' on their 2007 double disc covers collection entitled 'Real To Reel'.