Rhinoceros (band)
Encyclopedia
Rhinoceros was a rock band established in 1967 by Elektra Records
as that label's intended supergroup
. The band, while well respected in many circles, did not live up to the record label's expectations. One reviewer commented, "Despite the fact that the band could not live up to the expectations that were raised by Elektra Records' publicity machine, Rhinoceros' contributions to rock still deserve more credit than subsequent rock histories give it."
, then Elektra Records
' talent scout and house producer, conceived the idea, with fellow producer Frazier Mohawk
(formerly Barry Friedman), to individually sign talented young musicians and then put them together in a group. Frazier Mohawk had been instrumental in forming Buffalo Springfield
through coordinating band membership, though the establishment of Rhinoceros involved a more formal third party role. The concept of band formation by third parties was popular at the time. Such bands as The Monkees
(for whom Stephen Stills
had auditioned, prior to being encouraged by Frazier Mohawk to form Buffalo Springfield), Moby Grape
and Blue Cheer
were all established in this manner during the 1966-1967 period.
Producers Paul Rothchild and Frazier Mohawk initially invited twelve musicians to audition in September, 1967, at Frazier Mohawk's house in Laurel Canyon
. Included in this initial group were Douglas Hastings and Alan Gerber. A second audition was held at a Los Angeles motel in November, 1967, where approximately twenty musicians were reviewed. After this meeting, John Finley (vocals) and Danny Weis (guitar) were chosen to work with Doug Hastings (guitar) and Alan Gerber (keyboards and vocals). Peter Hodgson, who attended the second audition, was not initially selected. Finley and Hodgson were both former members of Jon and Lee & The Checkmates
, which had broken up in September, 1967. Rothchild had expressed an interest in signing Jon and Lee & The Checkmates as early as 1965.
Weis was an original member of Iron Butterfly
, with whom he recorded their first album. Hastings had been a member of Seattle's renowned Daily Flash, and briefly served as Neil Young
's replacement in Buffalo Springfield, during one of Young's departures from the group. Other members of The Daily Flash were invited to audition for Rhinoceros, though only Hastings was chosen. John Keleihor, former drummer for The Daily Flash, contributed to some of the group's early recordings, pending the selection of Billy Mundi as the band's permanent drummer.
Weis then suggested former Iron Butterfly bandmate Jerry Penrod
as the bass player for Rhinoceros; his suggestion was accepted. Former Checkmate keyboard player Michael Fonfara was then invited to join the lineup. Fonfara had joined The Electric Flag in mid-November, 1967, for sessions and a brief tour of the US northeast and California. During mid-December, he ran into Finley and Hodgson at the Tropicana Motel in Los Angeles, and was encouraged by Finley to sign on to the Rhinoceros project. Based on Finley's recommendation, Fonfara was brought into Rhinoceros, following the completion of his obligations to The Electric Flag. The final member chosen, in early 1968, was Billy Mundi
, former drummer for The Mothers of Invention
.
radio, and covered by Danny Gatton
for the 1990 compilation Rubáiyát
. Another of the album's songs, "I Will Serenade You", written by John Finley, was covered by Three Dog Night
as "Let Me Serenade You" and went to #17 in the US in 1973. In addition, their cover of "You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It)" was covered in 1969 by Amen Corner
on their National Welsh Coast Live Explosion Company album, and in 1970 by Rod Stewart
, on his Gasoline Alley
album. "I Will Serenade You" was the debut single of Rhinoceros in the United States, while "You're My Girl" was the debut single in the United Kingdom, both being released in 1968. Both songs were released on the same single, with each song being the "B-side" of the other, depending on the country of release.
The next two years saw many changes of the line-up and two more albums. From the time of their second album Satin Chickens (1969), Paul Rothchild and Frazier Mohawk were no longer involved with production. The album was instead produced by David Anderle
. Peter Hodgson replaced Jerry Penrod on bass, after Penrod had abruptly departed from the band. Hodgson had lost out to Jerry Penrod in the initial auditions and had then joined David Clayton-Thomas
in Toronto for his "David Clayton-Thomas Combine". He later returned to Los Angeles to work with Jackson Browne
before finally joining Rhinoceros in April 1969.
Alan Gerber and Billy Mundi also left, and were replaced by two more ex-Checkmates. Checkmates' guitarist Larry Leishman
had played with "Freedom Fair" and "The Power Project" until mid-1968 and then with Bobby Kris & The Imperials
. In early 1969, he reunited with Checkmates' manager/drummer Duke Edwards in The Duke Edwards Cycle. Later that year, both musicians joined Rhinoceros.
"Better Times Are Coming", their third and last album, appeared in 1970.
(replacing original guitarist Doug Hastings), and Mike Sloski on drums, replacing original drummer Billy Mundi.
1968: Rhinoceros (CD Reissue 2002, Collector's Choice)
1969: Satin Chickens (Double CD Reissue, 2003, with Better Times Are Coming, Collector's Choice)
1970: Better Times Are Coming (Double CD Reissue 2003, with Satin Chickens, Collector's Choice)
Singles
1968: “You're My Girl/I Will Serenade You”
1969: “Apricot Brandy/ When You Say You're Sorry”
1969: “I Need Love/ Belbuekus”
1969: “Back Door/In A Little Room”
1970: “Old Age/Let's Party”
1970: “Better Times/It's A Groovy World”
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
as that label's intended supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
. The band, while well respected in many circles, did not live up to the record label's expectations. One reviewer commented, "Despite the fact that the band could not live up to the expectations that were raised by Elektra Records' publicity machine, Rhinoceros' contributions to rock still deserve more credit than subsequent rock histories give it."
Formation
Paul A. RothchildPaul A. Rothchild
Paul A. Rothchild was a prominent American record producer of the late 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:Born in Brooklyn, New York, Rothchild grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and graduated from Teaneck High School in 1953....
, then Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
' talent scout and house producer, conceived the idea, with fellow producer Frazier Mohawk
Frazier Mohawk
Frazier Mohawk is an American record producer and sometime photographer, publicist, circus owner and farmer....
(formerly Barry Friedman), to individually sign talented young musicians and then put them together in a group. Frazier Mohawk had been instrumental in forming Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
through coordinating band membership, though the establishment of Rhinoceros involved a more formal third party role. The concept of band formation by third parties was popular at the time. Such bands as The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
(for whom Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
had auditioned, prior to being encouraged by Frazier Mohawk to form Buffalo Springfield), Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting and that collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz together with rock and psychedelic music...
and Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...
were all established in this manner during the 1966-1967 period.
Producers Paul Rothchild and Frazier Mohawk initially invited twelve musicians to audition in September, 1967, at Frazier Mohawk's house in Laurel Canyon
Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California
Laurel Canyon is a canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It was first developed in the 1910s, and became a part of the city of Los Angeles in 1923 ....
. Included in this initial group were Douglas Hastings and Alan Gerber. A second audition was held at a Los Angeles motel in November, 1967, where approximately twenty musicians were reviewed. After this meeting, John Finley (vocals) and Danny Weis (guitar) were chosen to work with Doug Hastings (guitar) and Alan Gerber (keyboards and vocals). Peter Hodgson, who attended the second audition, was not initially selected. Finley and Hodgson were both former members of Jon and Lee & The Checkmates
Jon and Lee & The Checkmates
Jon and Lee & The Checkmates are an Canadian music group, best known for containing future members of Elektra band Rhinoceros. Together with Mandala, they spearheaded Toronto's R&B scene during the mid 1960s. As the Jon-Lee Group, the band released a lone single for ABC Records before splitting up...
, which had broken up in September, 1967. Rothchild had expressed an interest in signing Jon and Lee & The Checkmates as early as 1965.
Weis was an original member of Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
, with whom he recorded their first album. Hastings had been a member of Seattle's renowned Daily Flash, and briefly served as Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's replacement in Buffalo Springfield, during one of Young's departures from the group. Other members of The Daily Flash were invited to audition for Rhinoceros, though only Hastings was chosen. John Keleihor, former drummer for The Daily Flash, contributed to some of the group's early recordings, pending the selection of Billy Mundi as the band's permanent drummer.
Weis then suggested former Iron Butterfly bandmate Jerry Penrod
Jerry Penrod
Jerry "The Bear" Penrod is a bass player. He was a member of Iron Butterfly and Rhinoceros. In addition to playing bass with Iron Butterfly, he contributed one of the lead vocals on their song "Look for the Sun".- References :...
as the bass player for Rhinoceros; his suggestion was accepted. Former Checkmate keyboard player Michael Fonfara was then invited to join the lineup. Fonfara had joined The Electric Flag in mid-November, 1967, for sessions and a brief tour of the US northeast and California. During mid-December, he ran into Finley and Hodgson at the Tropicana Motel in Los Angeles, and was encouraged by Finley to sign on to the Rhinoceros project. Based on Finley's recommendation, Fonfara was brought into Rhinoceros, following the completion of his obligations to The Electric Flag. The final member chosen, in early 1968, was Billy Mundi
Billy Mundi
Billy Mundi is an American drummer, who has played a multitude of sessions and been a member of countless bands, most notably The Mothers of Invention and Rhinoceros. He sometimes used the name Tony Schnasse.A former Hells Angel, his career dates back to the late 1950s, when he majored in music at...
, former drummer for The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1964 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1975.They mainly performed works by, and were the original recording group of, US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa , although other members have had the occasional writing credit...
.
Career
Their self-titled debut album, produced by Paul Rothchild, was released in 1968. Despite heavy promotion and critical acclaim it didn't sell well. However, the instrumental "Apricot Brandy", written by Weis and Fonfara, reached #46 on the Billboard Charts and was later used as a signature tune by BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio, and covered by Danny Gatton
Danny Gatton
Danny Gatton was an American guitarist who fused rockabilly, jazz, and country styles to create his own distinctive style of playing. A biography, Unfinished Business: The Life and Times of Danny Gatton by Ralph Heibutzki, was published in 2003. It has a voluminous discography...
for the 1990 compilation Rubáiyát
Rubáiyát
Rubáiyát is a compilation album, released in 1990 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Elektra Records record label. The concept was to feature present-day Elektra artists covering songs from the historic catalogue of recordings of Elektra Records and its sister label Asylum Records.Two...
. Another of the album's songs, "I Will Serenade You", written by John Finley, was covered by Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
as "Let Me Serenade You" and went to #17 in the US in 1973. In addition, their cover of "You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It)" was covered in 1969 by Amen Corner
Amen Corner (band)
Amen Corner were a successful Welsh rock group, formed in late 1966 in Cardiff, Wales.-Career:The band was named after The Amen Corner, a weekly disc spin at the Victoria Ballroom in Cardiff, Wales, where every Sunday night Dr...
on their National Welsh Coast Live Explosion Company album, and in 1970 by Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, on his Gasoline Alley
Gasoline Alley (album)
Gasoline Alley was the second solo album by Rod Stewart. It was released in 1970. It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die...
album. "I Will Serenade You" was the debut single of Rhinoceros in the United States, while "You're My Girl" was the debut single in the United Kingdom, both being released in 1968. Both songs were released on the same single, with each song being the "B-side" of the other, depending on the country of release.
The next two years saw many changes of the line-up and two more albums. From the time of their second album Satin Chickens (1969), Paul Rothchild and Frazier Mohawk were no longer involved with production. The album was instead produced by David Anderle
David Anderle
David Anderle is a well-known record producer. His production credits include albums for Judy Collins, Rita Coolidge, Amy Grant, Delaney and Bonnie, David Ackles, Kris Kristofferson, Aaron Neville, Chris De Burgh, Rhinoceros, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Doc Holliday and the Circle Jerks...
. Peter Hodgson replaced Jerry Penrod on bass, after Penrod had abruptly departed from the band. Hodgson had lost out to Jerry Penrod in the initial auditions and had then joined David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas is a Canadian musician and singer best known as the lead vocalist for the American band; Blood, Sweat & Tears...
in Toronto for his "David Clayton-Thomas Combine". He later returned to Los Angeles to work with Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
before finally joining Rhinoceros in April 1969.
Alan Gerber and Billy Mundi also left, and were replaced by two more ex-Checkmates. Checkmates' guitarist Larry Leishman
Larry Leishman
Larry Leishman is a Canadian guitarist who was a member of Toronto R&B outfit, Jon and Lee & The Checkmates during the mid '60s...
had played with "Freedom Fair" and "The Power Project" until mid-1968 and then with Bobby Kris & The Imperials
Bobby Kris & The Imperials
Bobby Kris & The Imperials were a 1960s Toronto folk-rock band, that had a local hit with Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Walk On By".-Origins:...
. In early 1969, he reunited with Checkmates' manager/drummer Duke Edwards in The Duke Edwards Cycle. Later that year, both musicians joined Rhinoceros.
"Better Times Are Coming", their third and last album, appeared in 1970.
Blackstone
In 1971, after the breakup of Rhinoceros, John Finley, Michael Fonfara, Peter Hodgson, Danny Weis and Larry Leishman formed a new group called Blackstone, later referred to by Weis as "an attempt to re-capture some of the fun we had in Rhinoceros". They recorded an album for Canadian label GRT, produced by Paul Rothchild. The musicians then went their separate ways.Rhinoceros reunion
On 7 August 2009, original members John Finley, Alan Gerber, Danny Weis and Michael Fonfara reunited at the Kitchener Blues Festival in Ontario, Canada with bass player Peter Hodgson, along with Bernie LaBargeBernie LaBarge
Bernie LaBarge is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter.-History:Bernie LaBarge began studying guitar at age 11, shortly after seeing The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964. Bernie has been playing professionally since 1967...
(replacing original guitarist Doug Hastings), and Mike Sloski on drums, replacing original drummer Billy Mundi.
Discography
Albums1968: Rhinoceros (CD Reissue 2002, Collector's Choice)
1969: Satin Chickens (Double CD Reissue, 2003, with Better Times Are Coming, Collector's Choice)
1970: Better Times Are Coming (Double CD Reissue 2003, with Satin Chickens, Collector's Choice)
Singles
1968: “You're My Girl/I Will Serenade You”
1969: “Apricot Brandy/ When You Say You're Sorry”
1969: “I Need Love/ Belbuekus”
1969: “Back Door/In A Little Room”
1970: “Old Age/Let's Party”
1970: “Better Times/It's A Groovy World”