Rain Parade
Encyclopedia
The Rain Parade was a band active in the Paisley Underground
scene in Los Angeles
in the 1980s.
(lead guitar, vocals) in 1981, originally as The Moving Sidewalks. David's brother Steven Roback (bass, vocals) joined the band shortly thereafter. David and Steven had been in a band called The Unconscious with neighbor Susanna Hoffs
(who went on to lead the most famous of the Paisley Underground bands, The Bangles
.) The band soon added Will Glenn (keyboards and violin) and later Eddie Kalwa (drums). They self-released their debut single, "What She's Done to Your Mind" on their Llama label in 1982.
In 1983 they released the debut album Emergency Third Rail Power Trip on the Enigma/Zippo label.
David Roback left to form a new band, Opal
, the rest of the band continuing to record as a four piece, releasing the mini-LP
, Explosions in the Glass Palace in 1984. After a single, "You Are My Friend", Kalwa left, his replacement being Mark Marcum, and John Thoman (guitar, vocals) was added to the line-up. The band signed to Island Records
, and a live album (Beyond The Sunset) recorded in Japan
, and a third album, Crashing Dream, came out in 1985.
The band split in 1986, with Piucci going on to release the LP Can't Get Lost When You're Goin' Nowhere with Tim Lee under the band name Gone Fishin', and later joining Crazy Horse
. The band reformed in 1988 to finish off a double album they had started, but it was never released. Steven Roback went on to form the band Viva Saturn
whose releases appeared on the San Francisco label Heyday Records which was run at the time by Pat Thomas. (Pat Thomas made waves of his own in the Rochester New York band Absolute Grey
).
After making the album Rainy Day featuring cover versions performed by various leading lights of the Paisley Underground, David Roback formed The Clay Allison Band and Opal
with ex Dream Syndicate bassist Kendra Smith, and later Mazzy Star
with Hope Sandoval.
Paisley Underground
Paisley Underground is an early genre of alternative rock, based primarily in Los Angeles, California, which was at its most popular in the mid-1980s.- History :...
scene in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the 1980s.
History
The band was founded by college roommates Matt Piucci (guitar, vocals) and David RobackDavid Roback
David Roback is a guitarist and songwriter best known as a member of the duo Mazzy Star.Roback grew up in Los Angeles and attended Palisades High School, graduating in 1975. He was a classmate and neighbor of John Hoffs, the brother of Susanna Hoffs, who would eventually become the lead singer of...
(lead guitar, vocals) in 1981, originally as The Moving Sidewalks. David's brother Steven Roback (bass, vocals) joined the band shortly thereafter. David and Steven had been in a band called The Unconscious with neighbor Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Lee Hoffs is an American vocalist, guitarist and actress. She is best known as a member of the all-female pop band The Bangles.-Early life:...
(who went on to lead the most famous of the Paisley Underground bands, The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
.) The band soon added Will Glenn (keyboards and violin) and later Eddie Kalwa (drums). They self-released their debut single, "What She's Done to Your Mind" on their Llama label in 1982.
In 1983 they released the debut album Emergency Third Rail Power Trip on the Enigma/Zippo label.
David Roback left to form a new band, Opal
Opal (band)
Opal were an American alternative/psychedelic band in the 1980s. They were part of the Paisley Underground musical style.The group formed in the mid-'80s under the name Clay Allison, featuring guitarist David Roback , bassist Kendra Smith and drummer Keith Mitchell...
, the rest of the band continuing to record as a four piece, releasing the mini-LP
Mini-LP
A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
, Explosions in the Glass Palace in 1984. After a single, "You Are My Friend", Kalwa left, his replacement being Mark Marcum, and John Thoman (guitar, vocals) was added to the line-up. The band signed to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, and a live album (Beyond The Sunset) recorded in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and a third album, Crashing Dream, came out in 1985.
The band split in 1986, with Piucci going on to release the LP Can't Get Lost When You're Goin' Nowhere with Tim Lee under the band name Gone Fishin', and later joining Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse was a Native American war leader of the Oglala Lakota. He took up arms against the U.S...
. The band reformed in 1988 to finish off a double album they had started, but it was never released. Steven Roback went on to form the band Viva Saturn
Viva Saturn
Viva Saturn was a rock group from Los Angeles, California formed by former members of Rain Parade.-History:When Rain Parade abandoned attempts to finish their final album, Steven Roback, John Thoman and Mark Marcum formed a new band, Viva Saturn, and relocated to San Francisco. The band's...
whose releases appeared on the San Francisco label Heyday Records which was run at the time by Pat Thomas. (Pat Thomas made waves of his own in the Rochester New York band Absolute Grey
Absolute Grey
Absolute Grey were an alternative rock/jangle pop band formed in September 1983 in Rochester, New York, United States. The group's original lineup compromised of percussionist Pat Thomas, guitarist Matt Kitchen, vocalist Beth Brown and bassist Mitchell Rasor. The band's debut release was a six-song...
).
After making the album Rainy Day featuring cover versions performed by various leading lights of the Paisley Underground, David Roback formed The Clay Allison Band and Opal
Opal (band)
Opal were an American alternative/psychedelic band in the 1980s. They were part of the Paisley Underground musical style.The group formed in the mid-'80s under the name Clay Allison, featuring guitarist David Roback , bassist Kendra Smith and drummer Keith Mitchell...
with ex Dream Syndicate bassist Kendra Smith, and later Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1989 from the group Opal, a collaboration of guitarist David Roback and bassist Kendra Smith...
with Hope Sandoval.
Singles, EPs
- "What She's Done To Your Mind" b/w "Kaleidoscope" (1982) Llama DK002
- "You Are My Friend" (1985) Enigma/Zippo (UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#28)
Albums
- Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (1983) Enigma/Zippo (UK Indie #5)
- Explosions in the Glass Palace mini-LP (1984) Enigma/Zippo (UK Indie #4)
- Beyond The Sunset (live in Tokyo 1984) (1985) Restless/Island (UK #78)
- Crashing Dream (1985) Island
- Demolition (1991) Outtakes and unreleased material
- Emergency Third Rail Power Trip/Explosions in the Glass Palace (1992) Mau Mau
- Perfume River (2002) Live in New York, November 1984
External links
- [ Rain Parade on Allmusic]
- Alan McGee on the Rain Parade in his Guardian Newspaper Column