Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders were a British Invasion-era pop/rock band from Manchester, England, best known for their 1965 U.S. No. 1 hit “Game of Love.” Wayne Fontana (born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, October 28, 1945) was the charismatic lead singer, backed by Eric Stewart (guitar/vocals), Bob Lang (bass), and Ric Rothwell (drums). Originally The Mindbenders as an instrumental group, they added Fontana in 1963 after he won a talent contest. Signed to Fontana Records (no relation), “Game of Love” (written by Clint Ballard Jr.) exploded in the U.S., topping the Billboard Hot 100 and selling millions with its upbeat, mod energy. Follow-ups included “A Groovy Kind of Love” (Top 10 U.S./UK, later a Phil Collins hit) and “Ashes to Ashes.” Fontana left in 1966 for a solo career, scoring UK hits like “Pamela Pamela” before fading commercially. The Mindbenders continued briefly with Stewart (who later joined 10cc). Fontana battled personal issues (including alcoholism) but performed sporadically. He passed away from cancer on August 6, 2020, at age 74 in Stockport, England. The group’s brief stardom captures the raw, youthful spirit of mid-1960s British pop-rock, with “Game of Love” enduring as a classic Invasion staple.