The Redcoats were an American garage rock band formed in Wildwood, New Jersey, in 1964. Heavily influenced by the Beatles from the onset, the group released one single as the Redcoats before recording as the Sidekicks. As the Sidekicks, the band earned a national hit with their tune, "Suspicions", and recorded an album in 1966. In 2001 an album of newly discovered recordings, Meet the Redcoats! Finally, was issued.Co-founder John Spirit (drums) possessed prior recording experience and national success as a credited writer and singer on the Ran-Dells' Top 20 novelty hit "Martian Hop", in 1963. With the arrival of the Beatles and the onset of the British Invasion, Spirit formed a Beatlesque band, which complimented his composing style. Spirit recruited Zach Bochelle (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Randy Bochelle (bass guitar, and Mike Burke (lead guitar, vocals) as bandmates, and hired record producer Steven Rappaport – the cousin of Spirit and producer of "Martian Hop" – as the band's manager. When asked if the band had any other influences in an interview, Rappaport limited them just to the Fab Four, before saying: "it's obvious from listening that their influences were generally Merseybeat – not just the Beatles". After extensive rehearsals at Spirit's home garage, the group signed to Providence Records, a subsidiary record label of Laurie Records, in 1965. Wikipedia
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