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Elf (band)
Encyclopedia
Elf was a rock
band founded in 1967 by the late singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio
, keyboardist Doug Thaler, drummer Gary Driscoll
, and guitarists Nick Pantas and David Feinstein (Dio's cousin). The band was originally called The Electric Elves, but was shortened to The Elves and finally Elf in mid-1970. Elf disbanded in 1975, after recording three albums, and after most of the lineup had been absorbed into Ritchie Blackmore
's new group, Rainbow
.
. (Upon leaving in 1972, Thaler moved to New York and got a job as a booking agent — Elf was one of the bands he booked.)
Elf's self-titled debut album was produced by Deep Purple
members Roger Glover
and Ian Paice
, who happened to see Elf auditioning in 1972. For the next few years, the band enjoyed mild success as an opening act for Deep Purple.
Dio both sang and played the bass guitar until, in 1973, bass player Craig Gruber was asked to join. The same year saw Feinstein quit the band, to be replaced by Steve Edwards. Feinstein formed a band called The Rods
, which met with a moderate amount of success, touring with groups such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, as well as Metallica, before finally retiring from the music industry. He would not return to the music scene until 2004, when his band, Feinstein, released the album Third Wish on the Magic Circle Music
label.
In 1974, Dio was asked by Glover to sing on his solo album The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. Dio's voice gained the attention of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore
who had just left Deep Purple and was looking for musicians for his first solo album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
. Apart from guitarist Steve Edwards, he decided to use all of the musicians in Elf for this album, and the band Rainbow
was thus formed, with Blackmore replacing Edwards. After they finished recording the album, however, Driscoll, Gruber, and Soule were replaced by Cozy Powell
, Jimmy Bain
and Tony Carey
, who played with Dio and Blackmore during the subsequent tour; Elf was no more.
In 2009, Ronnie James Dio
spoke to Classic Rock magazine about the possibility of an Elf reunion in the future: "I’ve been talking to my cousin ‘Rock’ [guitarist David 'Rock' Feinstein] about getting that band back together, and it’s certainly on the cards. But, as usual, it’s dependent on schedules coinciding." On the possibility of a new Elf studio album, Dio said, "I’d only want to do an Elf tour if we could come up with a new album. That would include reworkings of some of the older songs, which I don’t think we ever did justice in the studio, plus also a few new tracks." On May 16, 2010, singer Ronnie James Dio
died from stomach cancer, making an Elf reunion impossible. However, before his death, he did manage to record a track on Feinstein's solo album entitled "Metal Will Never Die".
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band founded in 1967 by the late singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
, keyboardist Doug Thaler, drummer Gary Driscoll
Gary Driscoll
Gary Driscoll was an American R&B style rock drummer who performed in a number of successful bands from the 1960s until his violent death in June 1987....
, and guitarists Nick Pantas and David Feinstein (Dio's cousin). The band was originally called The Electric Elves, but was shortened to The Elves and finally Elf in mid-1970. Elf disbanded in 1975, after recording three albums, and after most of the lineup had been absorbed into Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
's new group, Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
.
History
In 1968, the band was involved in an automobile accident which claimed the life of Nick Pantas, whom the band decided not to replace. After recovering from his injuries, Doug Thaler played keyboards with the band for one more year. He quit the band after their 1972 album, Live at the Bank, and was replaced by Micky Lee SouleMicky Lee Soule
Mickey Lee Soule was the keyboard player for New York state hard rock band Elf and a founding member of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.Не was born on June 6, 1946 in Cortland, New York. Mickey had a band in the mid-1960s until he was drafted into the army...
. (Upon leaving in 1972, Thaler moved to New York and got a job as a booking agent — Elf was one of the bands he booked.)
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
members Roger Glover
Roger Glover
Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
and Ian Paice
Ian Paice
Ian Anderson Paice is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the English rock band Deep Purple. As of Jon Lord's departure in 2002, he is the only founding member of the band who never stopped performing with the group, and the only member to appear on every album the band has...
, who happened to see Elf auditioning in 1972. For the next few years, the band enjoyed mild success as an opening act for Deep Purple.
Dio both sang and played the bass guitar until, in 1973, bass player Craig Gruber was asked to join. The same year saw Feinstein quit the band, to be replaced by Steve Edwards. Feinstein formed a band called The Rods
The Rods
The Rods is an American heavy metal band formed by David "Rock" Feinstein , Garry Bordonaro and Carl Canedy ....
, which met with a moderate amount of success, touring with groups such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, as well as Metallica, before finally retiring from the music industry. He would not return to the music scene until 2004, when his band, Feinstein, released the album Third Wish on the Magic Circle Music
Magic Circle Music
- History :Magic Circle Music was founded by Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio in 2005 named after Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen by which DeMaio is highly inspired. The purpose of the label is to give the band complete creative control of their operation...
label.
In 1974, Dio was asked by Glover to sing on his solo album The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. Dio's voice gained the attention of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
who had just left Deep Purple and was looking for musicians for his first solo album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Note: On the cassette version of the album, Side One features the last five tracks, while Side Two plays the first four. Also, on the case insert and on the cassette itself, "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" is written as "Sixteen Century Greensleeves"....
. Apart from guitarist Steve Edwards, he decided to use all of the musicians in Elf for this album, and the band Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
was thus formed, with Blackmore replacing Edwards. After they finished recording the album, however, Driscoll, Gruber, and Soule were replaced by Cozy Powell
Cozy Powell
Colin Flooks , better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.-Early history:...
, Jimmy Bain
Jimmy Bain
James Stewart 'Jimmy' Bain is a Scottish bassist most famous for playing in the bands Rainbow and Dio with Ronnie James Dio. He has worked with Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, co-writing on his solo albums....
and Tony Carey
Tony Carey
Antony Laurence Carey is a keyboard player best known for his work with Rainbow.One of his earliest musical experiences was in a band called Blessings, in which he played until 1975 when Ritchie Blackmore discovered and hired him as keyboardist for Rainbow. He played with Rainbow on two world...
, who played with Dio and Blackmore during the subsequent tour; Elf was no more.
In 2009, Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
spoke to Classic Rock magazine about the possibility of an Elf reunion in the future: "I’ve been talking to my cousin ‘Rock’ [guitarist David 'Rock' Feinstein] about getting that band back together, and it’s certainly on the cards. But, as usual, it’s dependent on schedules coinciding." On the possibility of a new Elf studio album, Dio said, "I’d only want to do an Elf tour if we could come up with a new album. That would include reworkings of some of the older songs, which I don’t think we ever did justice in the studio, plus also a few new tracks." On May 16, 2010, singer Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
died from stomach cancer, making an Elf reunion impossible. However, before his death, he did manage to record a track on Feinstein's solo album entitled "Metal Will Never Die".
Singles
- Hey, Look Me Over / It Pays To Advertise 7” (1967) - as The Electric Elves
- Walking In Different Circles / She's Not The Same 7” (1969) - as The Elves
- Amber Velvet / West Virginia 7” (1970) - as The Elves
Albums
- Live At The Beacon (1971) - as The Elves (bootleg)
- Live At The Bank (1972) - as The Elves (bootleg)
- ElfElf (album)Elf is the first album by Ronnie James Dio's blues rock band called Elf. It was released in 1972. In this album, Dio is listed by his birth name Ronald Padavona...
(1972) - Live! And My Soul Shall Be Lifted (1973) (bootleg)
- Carolina County BallCarolina County BallCarolina County Ball, was the second album by the rock band Elf, released as an LP in 1974 on the MGM label. It was released in the United States and Japan as L.A.59.- Track listing :Songs written by Dio and Soule.#"Carolina County Ball" – 4:46...
(1974) (US title: L.A.59) - Trying to Burn the SunTrying to Burn the SunTrying To Burn the Sun was the third and last album produced by Elf, released in 1975.-Track listing:Songs written by Dio and Soule.#"Black Swampy Water" - 3:43#"Prentice Wood" - 4:37#"When She Smiles" - 4:54#"Good Time Music" - 4:30...
(1975) - The GargantuanThe GargantuanThe Gargantuan Elf Album compiles Elf's second and third albums, Carolina County Ball and Trying to Burn the Sun, with the exclusion of the song "Happy."-Track listing:# "Carolina Country Ball" - 4:46# "L.A...
(1978) compilation of 1974 & 1975 albums - Ronnie James Dio: The Elf AlbumsThe Elf AlbumsRonnie James Dio: The Elf Albums is a CD compilation released in 1994. It consists of Elf's second and third albums, Carolina County Ball and Trying to Burn the Sun, in their entirety on a single CD...
(1991) compiles 1974 & 1975 albums - And Before Elf... There Were Elves (2011) - as The Elves features 12 songs from 'Live At The Bank' bootleg.
Personnel
- Ronnie James DioRonnie James DioRonald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
- Lead Vocals (1967–1975), Bass (1967-1973) - Gary DriscollGary DriscollGary Driscoll was an American R&B style rock drummer who performed in a number of successful bands from the 1960s until his violent death in June 1987....
- Drums (1967–1975) - David "Rock" Feinstein - Lead Guitar (1967–1973)
- Doug Thaler - Keyboards (1967–1972)
- Nick Pantas - Guitar (1967–1970) (Pantas was killed in the 1970 auto accident, and not replaced.)
- Micky Lee SouleMicky Lee SouleMickey Lee Soule was the keyboard player for New York state hard rock band Elf and a founding member of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.Не was born on June 6, 1946 in Cortland, New York. Mickey had a band in the mid-1960s until he was drafted into the army...
- Keyboards, Backing Vocals (1972–1975) - Steve Edwards - Lead Guitar (1973–1975)
- Craig GruberCraig GruberCraig Gruber is an American rock bass player, best known as the original bassist in Rainbow. Along with the other members of Rainbow, except guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, he had played in the band Elf, consisting of vocalist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Mickey Lee Soule, drummer Gary Driscoll and...
- Bass (1973–1975) - Mark NauseefMark NauseefMark Nauseef , is a drummer and percussionist who has enjoyed a varied career, ranging from rock music during the 1970s with his time as a member of the Ian Gillan Band and, temporarily, Thin Lizzy, to a wide range of musical styles in more recent times, playing with many notable musicians from all...
- Percussion (1975)