Stretch (band)

The band was put together in 1974 with help from Fleetwood Mac manager Clifford Davis and drummer Mick Fleetwood, ==Music career==

Stretch rose from the ashes of this debacle, and soon had a No. 16 hit single in November 1975 with "Why Did You Do It?", the lyric of which was a direct attack on Mick Fleetwood for his failure to join the band on the ill-fated U.S. tour. In the eventual video for the record, the bass player was Steve Emery who wore a traditional keffiyeh head-dress. On the original studio recording, Elmer Gantry sang the vocals, Paul Martinez was on bass, the guitarist was Kirby with Jim Russell on drums and tambourine, the single also featured electric guitar by Hiroshi Kato and horns by Bud Beadle, Chris Mercer, Mick Eve, Mike Bailey and Ron Carthy. The band followed the single up with the album Elastique, but during the recording of this album, Martinez was sacked. In 2011, the band released the album Unfinished Business, an 11-track recording for Repertoire Records including original songs, covers and a new version of "Why Did You Do It?". ==Cover versions==

In 2012, German producer Ferry Ultra recorded a version of "Why Did You Do It?" featuring Canadian vocalist Ashley Slater for the album Ferry Ultra and the Homeless Funkers. ==Personnel==

;Current members • Elmer Gantry (Dave "Elmer" Terry) – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1974–78, 2007–present) • Kirby Gregory (Graham Gregory) – lead guitar, backing vocals (1974–79, 2007–present); lead vocals (1978–79) • Jim Scadding – bass guitar (2007–present) • Justin Hildreth – drums (2009–present) ;Former members • Paul Martinez – bass guitar (1974–75) • Craig Collinge – drums (1974) • John Wilkinson – keyboards (1974) • Jim Russell – drums (1974–76) • Hiroshi Kato – guitar (1974) • John Cook – keyboards (1975) • Dave Evans – bass guitar (1975–76) • Steve Emery – bass guitar, backing vocals (1976–79), lead vocals (1978–79) • Jeff Rich – drums (1976–78, 2007–09) • Nicko McBrain – drums (1978–79) ==Discography==

Albums • Elastique (1975) (Anchor) • ''You Can't Beat Your Brain for Entertainment'' (1976) (Anchor) • Lifeblood (1977) (Anchor) • Forget the Past (1978) (Hot Wax - not the US label of the same name) • ''Can't Judge a Book... The Peel Sessions'' (1996) (Strange Fruit) • Stretch: The Story of Elmer Gantry (1996) (Repertoire) • Why Did You Do It: The Best of Stretch (2007) (Repertoire) • ''That's the Way the Wind Blows – A Collection'' (2011) (Repertoire) • Unfinished Business (2011) (Repertoire) Singles ==Notes==