The Warriors were a 1960s skiffle group formed in Accrington, Lancashire, England.
Tony Anderson became their lead singer when the group formed in 1960. In 1962, his younger brother
Jon Anderson became their second singer. Other members were bassist
David Foster (founder member), drummer
Ian Wallace (who replaced original drummer Derek Thornhill in February 1964), and guitarists
Rod Hill and
Mike Brereton. The group were quite successful in Northern England, appearing in the film
Just for You (1964). Their single, "You Came Along/ Don't Make Me Blue" was released in 1964 on Decca.
In 1965
Tony Anderson and
Mike Brereton left, and keyboard player
Brian Chatton joined. Anderson and Foster became the groups singers and also wrote songs together. The group toured Germany in 1967 and made a television appearance, performing "Mr. Nobody Nothing".
The group split up in Frankfurt, Germany in August 1967.
Jon Anderson soon moved to London in search of a solo career, after failing to make it in Munich. Fellow Warriors member,
Brian Chatton, introduced him to
Jack Barrie owner of the Marquee Club, who gave Jon a job working in the bar. Jon failed to gain success as Hans Christian Anderson (he recorded two singles in 1968). While working at the La Chasse Bar, Jack introduced Jon to
Chris Squire of Mabel Greer's Toyshop. The result was the formation of progressive rock group
Yes.
Drummer, the late
Ian Wallace lived in the same London flat as
Yes and even stood in for
Bill Bruford at one show in November 1968. Wallace went on to work with
King Crimson,
Bob Dylan and later Yes guitarist
Peter Banks in the short-lived group Teabags.
Keyboard player
Brian Chatton went on to work with
Phil Collins and many other successful artists.
Warriors bassist,
David Foster, co-wrote two early
Yes songs with
Jon Anderson ("Time And A Word" and "Sweet Dreams", which both appeared on their 1970 album "Time And A Word") and went on to form the group Badger with Yes organ player
Tony Kaye in the early 1970s. Their live album "One Live Badger", recorded live in London in 1972, was co-produced by Anderson. Foster now lives in Scotland and made a solo album called "Open Road".