Rhinoceros

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. As 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."^[1]

Formation

Paul A. Rothchild, then Elektra Records' talent scout and house producer^[2] 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. ^[3]

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 all former Checkmates, which had broken up in September, 1967.^[4] Throughout its existence, the core membership of Rhinoceros, despite numerous changes in personnel, were ex-members of the Checkmates. 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, prior to being replaced by Eric Braun. Hastings had been a member of Seattle's renowned Daily Flash, prior to spending a period of time as Neil Young's replacement in Buffalo Springfield, during one of Young's departures from the group.^[5]

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 initial 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.^[6]

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. The album contained the instrumental "Apricot Brandy", written by Weis and Fonfara, which was later used as a signature tune by BBC radio, and was covered by Danny Gatton for the 1990 compilation Rubáiyát. Another of the album's songs, "Let Me Serenade You", written by John Finley, was covered by Three Dog Night and went to #17 in the US in 1973.^[7] In addition, "You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It)",^[8] again from the first album, 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" had been 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.^[9]

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 well-known producer David Anderle.^[10] Peter Hodgson replaced Jerry Penrod on bass, after Penrod had abruptly departed from the band. Hodgson had originally 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, who had left the band, were replaced by two 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.

Blackstone

In 1971, after the break up of Rhinoceros, John Finley, Michael Fonfara, Peter Hodgson, Danny Weis and Larry Leishman formed a new group called Blackstone, who 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 LaBarge (replacing original guitarist Doug Hastings), and Mike Sloski on drums, replacing original drummer Billy Mundi.

Discography

Albums
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”

References

1. ^ Linda Seida, Biography of Rhinoceros; www.allmusic.com.
2. ^ Of such artists as The Doors, Love, Tim Buckley and Tom Rush.
3. ^ Canadian Pop Encyclopedia, Biography of Rhinoceros; www.jam.canoe.ca. 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.
4. ^ See band history at Jon and Lee & The Checkmates
5. ^ Hastings contributed to a number of Buffalo Springfield recordings in 1967, as well as appearing with the band at its performance at the Monterey International Pop Festival in June, 1967. Other members of The Daily Flash were invited to audition for Rhinoceros, though only Hastings was chosen. See Neil Warburton, Biography of Daily Flash; www.rhinoceros-group.com. 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. See Biography of Rhinoceros; www.jam.canoe.ca.
6. ^ Canadian Pop Encyclopedia, Biography of Rhinoceros; www.jam.canoe.ca.
7. ^ Included also on Three Dog Night's Cyan album (1973) and on the Joy to the World: Their Greatest Hits album (1974).
8. ^ Originally written by Dick Cooper, Beth Beatty and Ernie Shelby; the recording by Rhinoceros was the first major recording of the song. Cooper, Beatty and Shelby also wrote "Nobody", contained in the first Three Dog Night album, released in 1969.
9. ^ Canadian Pop Encyclopedia, Biography of Rhinoceros; www.jam.canoe.ca. Both songs were released on the same single, with each song being the "B-side" of the other, depending on the country of release.
10. ^ Producer of such artists as Judy Collins, Rita Coolidge and David Ackles.

External links

• Rhinoceros Tribute Site
• Michael Fonfara Page
• Alan Gerber Website