The Climax Blues Band (originally Climax Chicago Blues Band) from Stafford, England, was formed in late 1968. One of the leading lights of the late 1960s UK blues boom, the original members were guitarists Derek Holt and Peter Haycock (1951-2013), keyboardist Arthur Wood (1929-2005), bassist Richard Jones, and drummer George Newsome; Colin Cooper (1939–2008) on vocals and saxophone made up the sextet. In 1970, the band shortened its name to the Climax Blues Band.