Ronnie Silverman soon departed as well to enter the military. However, Michalski was not as enthused by Glenn's playing as Fox and left the band immediately. After hearing Schwartz play, and hearing that two of his influences were the Spencer Davis Group and Jeff Beck, Fox was impressed and invited Schwartz to join the James Gang. Fox initially declined the offer but changed his mind when he heard that local guitar legend Glenn Schwartz, who was fresh out of the army, was to be in attendance. He was soon replaced by Dennis Chandler, who was then succeeded by John 'Mouse' Michalski who, with the Count Five, had just enjoyed a national hit with 'Psychotic Reaction'.ДЄ short time later, Fox was invited to audition for a nine-piece rhythm and blues band that was being assembled. The James Gang's earliest lineup consisted of Fox (drums), Kriss (bass), Silverman (guitar), Giallombardo (vocals, keyboards), and after auditioning some 25 candidates for lead guitar, the band decided to go with Greg Grandillo, who later played with another popular Cleveland band, Rainbow Canyon. After leaving them again to return to school, Fox, heavily influenced by the sound of British Invasion bands such as the Beatles, the Who and the Yardbirds, began to think about forming his own band and teamed up with schoolmate Ronnie Silverman (guitar), bassist Tom Kriss and keyboardist Phil Giallombardo in 1966. After they had a national hit the following year with ' Time Won't Let Me', Fox returned temporarily to play with them after their drummer was drafted.

Drummer Jim Fox first played with the Cleveland-area band the Outsiders but left them in 1965 to attend college.

James gang band