They started under the names The Ramblers and The Statesiders (from February 1959), before taking a more permanent name derived from that of their leader Peter Fleerackers (tenor sax) (born Peter Luke Fleerackers,[note 1] Brentford, 1934, died 21 December 2016),[1] whose father was Dutch.

[4] He produced their first single, "Green Jeans", a rocked-up version of the traditional "Greensleeves" released on Meek's own label, Triumph Records, in early 1960.

[3][4][6] The group also featured on a single, "Hot Chick-A-Roo", by singer Ricky Wayne (born Learie Carasco), who became a prominent bodybuilder and, later, a noted writer and broadcaster in Saint Lucia.

[6] According to the liner notes of their EP, they "were the first 'rock' group to be signed for a long term contract with Mecca after making appearances at their ballrooms up and down the country, and in the London area.

They played at The Top Ten Club, Hamburg, West Germany from October 1963 with new lead singer Tony Vincent (born 12 May 1941, London).