BABE RUTH, named after the legendary American baseball player, was founded by guitarist Alan Shacklock originally under the band name SHACKLOCK. The guitarist's antecedent credentials included tenures with THE JUNIORS, alongside a pre-ROLLING STONES Mick Taylor, and as a member of Chris Farlowe's band. BABE RUTH achieved moderate success in North America, but band member Bernie Marsden attained greater fame by later joining WHITESNAKE. The opening formation comprised Shacklock, who had just graduated from the London Royal Academy of Music, singer Janita "Jenny" Haan, bassist Dave Hewitt, with subsequent additions being keyboard player Dave Punshon and drummer Jeff Allen.

Following the 'Rupert's Magic Feather' single of 1971 Allen made way for Dick Powell. The debut album, recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios with engineer Tony Clark and clad in distinctive Roger Dean artwork, was not a significant success but did sell well in Canada, gaining gold sales status. In the UK, BABE RUTH featured on the 1973 package 'Harvestmobile' tour sharing stages with SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION and the EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND.

1973 had a further shift on the drum stool as erstwhile PIBLOKTO man Ed Spevock joined for the 'Amar Caballero' album, once again crafted at Abbey Road Studios. Keyboard player Chris Holmes, a former member of TIMEBOX, joined that same year. The following year keyboard player Steve Gurl swelled the ranks. Flanking URIAH HEEP, the group put in a lengthy 1974 European and Scandinavian tour.

For the eponymous 1975 album Shacklock was ousted by another former WILD TURKEY member Bernie Marsden. This album gave the band their first and only real taste of success as it entered the American top 100. Such was the band's status in the USA and Canada that BABE RUTH support acts would include HUMBLE PIE, in Dayton, Ohio, MANFRED MANN, in Ottawa, and ROXY MUSIC in Milwaukee.

The following year saw the band splinter as Haan and Hewitt created JENNY HAAN'S LION, forcing by threat of litigation ex JUDAS PRIEST men AL ATKINS and Bruno Stapenhill to curtail their LION project. Hewitt would later relocate to America to join WHITFORD/ST. HOLMES, the band made up of AEROSMITH guitarist Brad Whitford and former TED NUGENT man DEREK ST. HOLMES.

Marsden, Spevock and Gurl retained the name BABE RUTH, pulling in new vocalist Ellie Hope and bassist Ray Knott. Keyboards on the 1976 album 'Kid's Stuff' were supplied by ex-COZY POWELL'S HAMMER man DON AIREY. BABE RUTH could not be sustained however and Marsden jumped ship to PAICE, ASHTON, LORD. The band recruited two guitarists to plug the gap in Sid Twineham and Allan Ross but the end was inevitable.

Unexpected exposure came from an unlikely source when Disco band THE BOMBERS scored a club hit with their rendition of 'The Mexican'. In 1984 this song was re-worked yet again by the esteemed producer John Jellybean Benitez to produce another hit, this time with Haan providing fresh vocal takes.

Gurl joined his former WILD TURKEY partner guitarist Tweke Lewis in the post MAN act the MICKY CLARKE BAND in 1978. Shacklock was to be found in 1985 in a production capacity for the album by AOR act BRIDGE 2 FAR. Post WHITESNAKE Marsden created ALASKA, the MOODY MARSDEN BAND, THE SNAKES and COMPANY OF SNAKES. The guitarist also has solo albums to his credit.

BABE RUTH was resurrected between late 2005 and early 2006, as Haan, now Janita Haan Morris, Shacklock, Punshon, and Hewitt recorded new tracks, including a re-vamped 'Mexican Millennium', in Nashville, Tennesse. Drummer Ed Spevock cut his drum tracks for the 'Que Pasa' album in London.