Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera picked up on the British psychedelic movement after supporting The Pink Floyd as a soul/blues band called 'The Five Proud Walkers'. The band played in clubs and university gigs all over England and at London venues like the Marquee and 100 club and Electric garden. They would also occasionally play at the Speakeasy where Jimi Hendrix, Jeff beck and Eric Burdon would jam with them. As the group called it quits, the rhythm section of Hudson and Ford went on to join forces with the folk/progressive rockers The Strawbs.