Complete List Of The Babys Band Members

Feature Photo: Jbisaha, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Few bands in rock history have a legacy so equally defined by the hits they created and the major careers that grew from their lineup. The Babys, a British rock group formed in the mid-1970s, are remembered for a string of polished arena-rock songs and as an important launching point for musicians who would become major figures in rock throughout the following decade.

The band’s story began in London, where keyboardist and guitarist Michael Corby connected with manager Adrian Millar and began assembling a new group. Vocalist and bassist John Waite, drummer Tony Brock, and lead guitarist Wally Stocker completed the original recording lineup, giving The Babys a combination of melodic songwriting, blues-based guitar work, powerful vocals, and an increasingly polished studio sound.

The name The Babys was deliberately unusual for a serious rock band and became part of their identity almost immediately. What may have started as a temporary or tongue-in-cheek choice ultimately remained with the group throughout both its original run and its later revival.

In 1976, The Babys signed with Chrysalis Records in a deal widely reported at the time as one of the richest ever offered to a new act. Over the next several years, the band released five studio albums that defined its original era: The Babys in 1976, Broken Heart in 1977, Head First in 1978, Union Jacks in 1980, and On the Edge in 1980.

The group’s greatest singles success came with “Isn’t It Time” and “Every Time I Think of You,” both written by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy. Each song reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Back on My Feet Again” later reached number 33 in 1980, giving the band a third U.S. Top 40 hit.

The original lineup changed dramatically during the making of Head First. Founding member Michael Corby was dismissed in August 1978, and the remaining trio of Waite, Brock, and Stocker completed the album. Jonathan Cain then joined on keyboards and Ricky Phillips took over bass, allowing Waite to concentrate on lead vocals and stage presence.

That five-piece lineup became the final classic-era version of The Babys and recorded Union Jacks and On the Edge. The band toured extensively, but its original run ended after John Waite suffered a serious knee injury during a December 1980 performance. The remaining tour dates were cancelled, Jonathan Cain left for Journey, and The Babys disbanded in early 1981.

For more than three decades, the band’s legacy lived through its recordings and the later careers of its members. Waite became a successful solo artist, Cain joined Journey, and Waite, Cain, and Phillips later reunited in Bad English. Tony Brock and Wally Stocker also continued working with major artists, including Rod Stewart.

The Babys began a new chapter when Brock and Stocker organized a revival around 2012 and brought in vocalist and bassist John Bisaha and guitarist Joey Sykes. The new lineup debuted publicly in 2013 and released I’ll Have Some of That! the following year, giving The Babys their first new studio album in decades.

As of October 2026, the official Babys lineup consists of Tony Brock, John Bisaha, Joey Sykes, Walter “Wally” Stocker, and backing vocalist Holly Bisaha. The band remains active, with 2026 performances scheduled and new music continuing to appear. A three-song If You’ve Got the Time single was released on May 1, 2026.

The Classic Era

The original era of The Babys saw the band evolve from a British rock quartet into a transatlantic five-piece group with a polished AOR sound. This period produced all of the band’s best-known hits and established a musical identity that would later influence the careers of several members.

The Original Quartet

Michael Corby

Michael Corby was the founder, keyboardist, rhythm guitarist, and original architect of The Babys. He helped initiate the project in the mid-1970s and remained with the band until his dismissal on August 28, 1978, during the difficult sessions surrounding Head First.

Corby’s contributions were foundational to the band’s first three albums: The Babys, Broken Heart, and Head First. Although he was removed before Head First was completed, his playing and songwriting remained part of the finished record.

His keyboard textures gave the earliest Babys recordings a different character from the more streamlined AOR sound the band developed later. Songs such as “Dying Man” showed how much room the original lineup allowed for dramatic arrangements and a more distinctly British rock sensibility.

Corby’s importance to The Babys extends beyond any single keyboard or guitar part because he was central to the band’s formation itself. His departure marked the end of the original quartet and forced Waite, Brock, and Stocker to redefine the group during one of the most important moments of its career.

John Waite

John Waite was the unmistakable voice and charismatic frontman of The Babys throughout the band’s original run. He handled lead vocals on all five classic-era studio albums and initially played bass as well, giving the group one of the most recognizable voices in late-1970s rock.

Waite’s blues-tinged vocal style could move from aggressive rock songs such as “Head First” to orchestrated ballads such as “Isn’t It Time” without losing its identity. As the band developed, his role as a songwriter also increased, especially after Michael Corby’s departure.

When Ricky Phillips joined on bass, Waite was able to step away from the instrument in live performance and concentrate completely on being the frontman. That change helped make the later Babys lineup more dynamic onstage and supported the larger arena shows the group was playing by the end of the 1970s.

Waite co-wrote several important songs from the later albums, including “Midnight Rendezvous” and “Turn and Walk Away.” The transition from the Corby era into the Cain and Phillips lineup gave him a greater role in defining the band’s lyrical and melodic direction.

After The Babys split, Waite launched a highly successful solo career. His 1984 single “Missing You” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the signature songs of the decade.

In the late 1980s, Waite reunited with former Babys members Jonathan Cain and Ricky Phillips in Bad English. That band also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with “When I See You Smile,” written by Diane Warren.

Waite has remained a solo artist rather than returning as a full-time member of the revived Babys. He gave his blessing to the later version of the group and has continued touring under his own name, performing material from The Babys, Bad English, and his solo catalog.

Tony Brock

Tony Brock’s powerful and dynamic drumming has been one of the strongest links between the original and modern versions of The Babys. He joined during the band’s formative period and played on every studio album from the classic 1970s and 1980 era.

Brock’s drumming was central to the band’s combination of hard rock energy and polished pop arrangements. His playing helped give songs such as “Looking for Love,” “Head First,” and “Back on My Feet Again” the drive needed to stand alongside the band’s more heavily orchestrated ballads.

After the original breakup, Brock built a long career as a touring and session drummer. He spent years working with Rod Stewart and also performed or recorded with artists including Roy Orbison, Jeff Beck, Eddie Money, and Jimmy Barnes.

Brock later developed extensive production experience and operated Silver Dreams Studios. Those skills became especially important when he and Wally Stocker began planning the revival of The Babys, because Brock was able to contribute not only as the drummer but also as a producer and musical director.

When The Babys returned, Brock helped shape new recordings from both fresh compositions and ideas connected to the band’s earlier history. His presence gave the reformed group continuity while also allowing it to create new material rather than functioning only as a nostalgia act.

As of 2026, Brock remains an original member and one of the central figures in the current band. The official Babys site identifies him as the group’s original drummer and presents him as one of the leaders carrying the catalog forward.

Wally Stocker

Wally Stocker, also identified on the current official site as Walter Stocker, joined The Babys as lead guitarist in January 1976 and became one of the defining musicians in the band’s sound. His melodic, blues-based guitar style gave the group a strong rock foundation even when the arrangements became increasingly polished.

Stocker’s playing has often been compared to the soulful approach of Paul Kossoff from Free. Rather than relying on constant technical flash, he built memorable parts through phrasing, tone, vibrato, and carefully placed melodic lines.

His contributions can be heard throughout the classic catalog, including the descending guitar work associated with “Head First” and the opening riff of “Midnight Rendezvous.” Even as synthesizers became more important during the Jonathan Cain era, Stocker’s guitar remained an essential part of the band’s identity.

After the breakup of The Babys, Stocker continued working professionally and joined Tony Brock in Rod Stewart’s touring band. He also performed with Air Supply and later versions of Humble Pie.

Stocker’s decision to reunite with Brock decades later gave the modern Babys one of the most important pieces of the original sound. His guitar tone remains the clearest instrumental connection between the band’s classic recordings and its present-day performances.

He remains part of the official 2026 lineup alongside Brock, John Bisaha, Joey Sykes, and Holly Bisaha.

The Five-Piece Evolution

Jonathan Cain

Jonathan Cain joined The Babys after Michael Corby’s departure and became the band’s new keyboardist as the group moved toward a more polished American AOR sound. Cain joined alongside bassist Ricky Phillips, transforming the surviving trio into a five-piece lineup.

Cain appears on Union Jacks and On the Edge, both released in 1980. His keyboards and songwriting brought a more streamlined melodic approach that fit naturally with the direction John Waite was already pursuing.

Cain quickly formed a productive songwriting partnership with Waite. Together with other members, he helped shape songs including “Back on My Feet Again,” “Midnight Rendezvous,” and “Turn and Walk Away.”

His time with The Babys was brief but important. The polished, keyboard-rich rock heard during this period foreshadowed the sound Cain would soon help develop on a much larger scale with Journey.

Cain left The Babys around the time the original band ended and joined Journey. His impact there was immediate, and he became a co-writer of songs including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Faithfully.”

He later reunited with John Waite and Ricky Phillips in Bad English, strengthening the connection between the final Babys lineup and another major AOR band. Cain was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey.

Ricky Phillips

Ricky Phillips joined The Babys on bass alongside Jonathan Cain, completing the band’s transition into a five-piece unit. By taking over the bass role, Phillips allowed John Waite to concentrate entirely on lead vocals and stage performance.

Phillips appears on Union Jacks and On the Edge. His playing gave the later Babys lineup a dedicated bassist at a time when the band was expanding both its arrangements and the scale of its live shows.

His arrival helped create a more conventional frontman role for Waite, which became increasingly important as The Babys moved into larger venues. Phillips also contributed backing vocals and became part of the personal and musical chemistry of the band’s final lineup.

After The Babys, Phillips reunited with Waite and Cain as a founding member of Bad English. He later worked with artists including Ted Nugent, Ronnie Montrose, and the Coverdale/Page project.

Phillips eventually joined Styx in 2003 and remained with the group for more than two decades before announcing his departure in 2024. His long career reinforces The Babys’ reputation as a band whose members continued to play major roles in rock long after the original lineup ended.

The Reformed Era

After more than three decades away, The Babys began a second life when Tony Brock and Wally Stocker organized a new version of the group. The project was assembled around 2012, debuted publicly in 2013, and brought new musicians into the lineup while preserving two original members.

The revival was not presented as an attempt to replace John Waite or erase the band’s history. Instead, the new lineup built a touring show around the classic catalog while also writing and recording new material.

John Bisaha

John Bisaha became the lead vocalist and bassist for the revived Babys after an extensive search for a singer capable of handling the band’s demanding catalog. He joined the new lineup in 2013 and took on the difficult job of performing songs strongly associated with John Waite while also helping create a new identity for the modern group.

Bisaha contributed lead vocals and bass to I’ll Have Some of That!, the band’s comeback studio album. He also became an active songwriter, helping shape new material rather than simply recreating the classic hits.

His vocal approach respects the phrasing and range required by songs such as “Isn’t It Time” and “Every Time I Think of You,” but the modern Babys recordings gave him room to establish his own voice. That balance between honoring the catalog and avoiding pure imitation became central to the revived band’s identity.

Bisaha also participated in later projects connected to the band’s anthology material and continued touring with the group throughout the 2010s and 2020s. He has also performed with Firefall while remaining part of The Babys.

As of October 2026, the official Babys site continues to list Bisaha as the band’s lead vocalist and bassist. He remains one of the core members alongside Brock, Stocker, Joey Sykes, and Holly Bisaha.

Joey Sykes

Joey Sykes joined the revived Babys in 2013 after initially becoming involved as a songwriter. He helped write “Not Ready to Say Goodbye,” one of the early songs created for the band’s return, and soon became a permanent member of the lineup.

Sykes contributed guitar, backing vocals, mandolin, and songwriting to the modern era. His role expanded as the group developed I’ll Have Some of That!, where he helped turn new ideas and older instrumental concepts into finished songs.

Before The Babys, Sykes had been part of the 1990s band Coward and had worked as a guitarist, songwriter, and producer with other artists. That background made him useful not only as a performer but also as a collaborator who could help connect older Babys influences with newer material.

The official 2026 Babys site lists Sykes as a current guitarist. His continued presence gives the modern group a dual-guitar setup built around his playing and the unmistakable lead style of Wally Stocker.

The Babettes

A signature part of some of The Babys’ biggest recordings was the use of strong female backing vocals. When the band reformed, Brock and Stocker revived that element under the name The Babettes to reproduce the layered vocal sound associated with songs such as “Isn’t It Time.”

Holly Bisaha and Elisa Chadbourne became the best-known Babettes of the revived era and both contributed backing vocals to modern Babys performances and recordings. Their work helped give the reunion lineup a fuller vocal texture and strengthened the connection to the arrangements of the classic records.

Holly Bisaha remains part of the band’s official 2026 lineup and is currently listed by The Babys as a Babette providing backing vocals. Elisa Chadbourne was an important part of the reformed lineup for years, although she is not listed on the band’s current official roster.

Walter Ino

Walter Ino served as a touring keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist with The Babys during the modern era. His role was especially valuable because the classic catalog includes keyboard parts originally associated with Michael Corby and Jonathan Cain, requiring a player capable of moving comfortably between different periods of the band’s history.

Ino is an experienced touring musician, producer, and musical director whose career has included work with Survivor and Eagles of Death Metal. His versatility made him a natural fit for a legacy band whose live arrangements require both rock guitar energy and detailed keyboard textures.

Ino was associated with the touring lineup beginning around 2019. He is not listed on The Babys’ current official 2026 band page, so he is best understood as an important recent touring member rather than part of the present core lineup.

Other Key Contributors

Several other musicians have played roles in The Babys’ long history. Matt Irving was briefly involved during the band’s formative period, contributing guitar, bass, keyboards, and backing vocals before the classic recording lineup was fully established.

When the band returned in the early 2010s, J.P. Cervoni briefly played guitar before Joey Sykes joined the permanent lineup. The modern touring keyboard role has also included Francesco Saglietti, Eric Ragno, Brian Johnson, and Louis Middleton at different times.

These contributors matter because the revived band has had to reproduce material from several very different classic lineups. The keyboard role in particular has required musicians who can cover the early Michael Corby sound, the more polished Jonathan Cain era, and the arrangements developed by the modern group.

The Babys In 2026

The Babys remain active more than fifty years after the group first took shape. The official 2026 lineup is Tony Brock on drums, John Bisaha on lead vocals and bass, Joey Sykes on guitar, Walter “Wally” Stocker on lead guitar, and Holly Bisaha on backing vocals.

The band’s official site announced additional new music for 2026 and listed live dates extending through the end of the year. On May 1, 2026, The Babys released a three-song If You’ve Got the Time single through Sunset Blvd. Records.

The continuing activity gives The Babys an unusually long history for a band whose original run lasted only a few years. Their catalog still connects the late 1970s power-ballad era, the rise of AOR, the later success of Journey and Bad English, and the modern legacy-band circuit.