The Vipers began playing together as amateurs. Whyton worked in advertising, Martin (guitar) was a coffee bar manager, and Van der Bosch (guitar/ banjo) a wire salesman. Tolhurst (bass) repaired brass instruments for his living and Pilgrim (percussion/ washboard) was a journalist.

However, there were many changes during the group's short lifetime and it is known that Tommy Steele, along with future Shadows- Bruce Welch and Hank Marvin can be counted among its ranks at least for a short period while the group held a residency at London's '2 "I"s' coffee bar.

The Vipers biggest problem became keeping their material from Donegan, and after Lonnie had achieved higher chart placings with the Vipers' first two hits there was no love lost between the two outfits. Unlike Lonnie, The Vipers gradually shifted away from skiffle and moved their ground closer to rock and roll- even covering Eddie Cochran material. However, by the end of 1957, the Vipers were already in steep decline while Lonnie Donegan went on to become acknowledged 'king' of the skiffle genre- a fact that frustrated Whyton. However, Wally Whyton went on to have a long and successful career in broadcasting and became a familiar commentator on BBC programmes that dealt with folk and country music.