Complete List Of Bread Band Members

Feature Photo: CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It didn’t matter what types of music you liked in the 1970s, from heavy metal to disco to R&B, everyone loved Bread. The reason was simple: they wrote and recorded terrific songs. Bread formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1968 with David Gates, James Griffin, and Robb Royer. Drummer Mike Botts joined the group after the band’s first album, and Larry Knechtel replaced Royer in 1971.

Bread released six studio albums between 1969 and 1977: Bread, On the Waters, Manna, Baby I’m-a Want You, Guitar Man, and Lost Without Your Love. The band’s biggest hits included “Make It with You,” “It Don’t Matter to Me,” “If,” “Baby I’m-a Want You,” “Everything I Own,” “The Guitar Man,” and “Lost Without Your Love.” Bread first broke up in 1973, reunited in 1976, separated again after the late-1970s period, and returned for a reunion tour in 1996 and 1997.

The official membership history of Bread is unusually compact. Five musicians made up the band’s recognized lineup across its different eras: David Gates, James Griffin, Robb Royer, Mike Botts, and Larry Knechtel.

David Gates

David Gates was a founding member of Bread and served as the band’s principal vocalist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He appeared on all six Bread studio albums, beginning with the self-titled Bread in 1969 and continuing through the reunion album Lost Without Your Love in 1977.

Gates wrote and sang the majority of Bread’s major hit singles, including “Make It with You,” “If,” “Baby I’m-a Want You,” “Everything I Own,” “Diary,” “The Guitar Man,” and “Lost Without Your Love.” His melodic songwriting and restrained vocal style became the most immediately recognizable elements of the band’s sound.

Outside Bread, Gates maintained a solo career and recorded the title song for the 1977 film The Goodbye Girl. He continued releasing solo material after Bread’s final reunion period.

James Griffin

James Griffin was one of Bread’s three founding members in 1968. A singer, guitarist, keyboardist, and songwriter, Griffin provided an important counterweight to David Gates within the group, contributing his own songs and lead vocals throughout Bread’s recording career.

Griffin appeared on all six Bread studio albums. His compositions and collaborations with Robb Royer included songs such as “Could I,” “Any Way You Want Me,” “Just Like Yesterday,” and other album tracks that helped demonstrate that Bread’s music extended beyond the Gates-written hit singles.

Griffin and Robb Royer also achieved one of the greatest honors of their songwriting careers outside Bread. Using the names Arthur James and Robb Wilson, they wrote the lyrics to Fred Karlin’s music for “For All We Know” from the 1970 film Lovers and Other Strangers. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 43rd Academy Awards.

After Bread, Griffin continued recording and performing, including work with Black Tie and the country group The Remingtons. He returned for Bread’s reunions in the 1970s and again for the 1996–1997 reunion tour.

Robb Royer

Robb Royer was a founding member of Bread in 1968 and played bass, guitar, keyboards, flute, percussion, and other instruments during the band’s earliest period. He appeared on Bread’s first three studio albums: Bread, On the Waters, and Manna.

Royer was also an important songwriting partner for James Griffin. Their collaborations appeared throughout Bread’s early albums, and the two continued writing together even after Royer left the group’s performing lineup.

Royer departed Bread in 1971 and was replaced by Larry Knechtel. That same period brought Royer and Griffin major recognition for “For All We Know,” the Academy Award-winning song from Lovers and Other Strangers, with music by Fred Karlin and lyrics by Royer and Griffin.

After leaving Bread, Royer continued writing and working in music, including later collaborations with Griffin.

Mike Botts

Mike Botts joined Bread in 1969 after the recording of the band’s debut album. He first appeared on the group’s second studio album, On the Waters, and became Bread’s regular drummer during its most commercially successful years.

Botts played on On the Waters, Manna, Baby I’m-a Want You, Guitar Man, and Lost Without Your Love. His drumming supplied the rhythmic foundation beneath the band’s carefully arranged harmonies, acoustic guitars, keyboards, and orchestration.

He returned for Bread’s later reunions, including the 1996–1997 reunion tour. Outside Bread, Botts worked extensively as a session and touring musician, recording or performing with artists including Linda Ronstadt and Dan Fogelberg.

Larry Knechtel

Larry Knechtel joined Bread in 1971 after Robb Royer left the performing lineup. A highly accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Knechtel contributed keyboards, bass, guitar, and harmonica and first appeared as a full member on Baby I’m-a Want You.

Knechtel also played on Guitar Man and returned when Bread reunited for Lost Without Your Love. His versatility gave the band another musician capable of moving easily among instruments as the arrangements became increasingly polished and elaborate.

Before joining Bread, Knechtel had established himself as one of Los Angeles’ elite session musicians and was associated with the legendary Wrecking Crew. Among his most famous performances was the piano part on Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” His long session career also included work connected with artists such as Elvis Presley and The Beach Boys.

Knechtel remained part of Bread’s reunion lineups and participated in the band’s 1996–1997 reunion tour.

Bread Band Members at a Glance

Member	Primary Role	Bread Era
David Gates	Vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, songwriting	1968–1973, 1976–1978, 1996–1997
James Griffin	Vocals, guitar, keyboards, songwriting	1968–1973, 1976–1977, 1996–1997
Robb Royer	Bass, guitar, keyboards, flute, percussion, songwriting	1968–1971
Mike Botts	Drums, percussion	1969–1973, 1976–1978, 1996–1997
Larry Knechtel	Keyboards, bass, guitar, harmonica	1971–1973, 1976–1978, 1996–1997