Rhinoceros (band)

Formation

The concept of band formation by third parties was popular in the mid- to late-1960s. Such bands as The Monkees (for whom Stephen Stills had auditioned) and Moby Grape were established in this manner during the 1966-1967 period.

Paul A. Rothchild, then Elektra Records' talent scout and house producer, and fellow producer Frazier Mohawk (formerly Barry Friedman), decided to individually sign talented young musicians and form them together into a group in this fashion. While Mohawk had been instrumental in coordinating band membership for what became Buffalo Springfield (encouraging Stills to form Buffalo Springfield following his Monkees audtion), the establishment of what became Rhinoceros involved a more formal third party role.

Rothchild and Mohawk initially invited twelve musicians to audition in September 1967, at Mohawk's house in Laurel Canyon. Included in this initial group were Doug Hastings (guitar) and Alan Gerber (keyboards and vocals). 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 Hastings and Gerber. Finley and Hodgson were both former members of Jon and Lee & The Checkmates, a band which Rothchild had expressed an interest in signing as early as 1965 that had broken up in September 1967.

Weis had been an original member of Iron Butterfly and played on their debut 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.

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. John Keleihor, former drummer for The Daily Flash, contributed to some of the group's early recordings, but departed early on. The final member chosen, in early 1968, was Billy Mundi, former drummer for The Mothers of Invention.

Career

The band first recorded together as the backing musicians for David Ackles debut album, released in 1968. Rhinoceros' self-titled debut album, produced by Paul Rothchild, was also 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 BBC 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), Rothchild and 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.

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 LaBarge (replacing original guitarist Doug Hastings), and Mike Sloski on drums.

Discography

Albums
1968: Rhinoceros (CD Reissue 2002, Collector's Choice)
Tracks: 01. When You Say You're Sorry (Alan Gerber) - 3:51 02. Same Old Way (John Finley) - 2:02 03. Apricot Brandy (Danny Weis, Michael Fonfara) - 1:57 04. That Time Of The Year (Alan Gerber) - 4:11 05. You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It) (Beth Beatty, Dick Cooper, Ernie Shelby) - 4:38 06. I Need Love (Larry Williams) - 4:23 07. I've Been There (Alan Gerber, John Finley) - 4:24 08. Belbuekus (Danny Weis, John Finley) - 2:25 09. Along Comes Tomorrow (Alan Gerber) - 4:37 10. I Will Serenade You (John Finley) - 3:19

Personnel: - John Finley - vocals (01,02,04-08,10) - Alan Gerber - vocals (01,06-09), piano - Danny Weis - guitar, piano - Doug Hastings - guitar - Michael Fonfara - organ - Jerry "The Bear" Penrod - bass - Billy Mundi - drums, percussion + - Paul A. Rothchild - producer

1969: Satin Chickens (Double CD Reissue, 2003, with Better Times Are Coming, Collector's Choice)

Tracks: 01. Satin Doll (Duke Ellington) - 0:50 02. Monkee Man (Danny Weis, John Finley) - 4:07 03. Find My Hand (Alan Gerber) - 3:36 04. Top Of The Ladder (Danny Weis, John Finley) - 5:03 05. Sugar Foot Rag - 0:47 06. Don't Come Crying (John Finley) - 4:03 07. Chicken (Danny Weis, Doug Hastings) - 3:25 08. It's The Same Thing (Alan Gerber) - 3:22 09. In A Little Room (John Finley) - 4:27 10. Funk Butt (Michael Fonfara) - 3:20 11. Back Door (Doug Hastings) - 3:39

Personnel: - John Finley - vocals - Alan Gerber - vocals, piano - Doug Hastings - guitar - Danny Weis - guitar, piano - Michael Fonfara - organ, piano - Peter Hodgson - bass - Billy Mundi - drums + - David Anderle - producer

1970: Better Times Are Coming (Double CD Reissue 2003, with Satin Chickens, Collector's Choice)

Tracks: 12. Better Times (Duke Edwards, Michael Fonfara, John Finley) - 2:43 13. Old Age (Larry Leishman, Duke Edwards) - 3:00 14. Sweet, Nice 'N' High (Larry Leishman, Duke Edwards) - 3:30 15. Just Me (Guy Draper) - 2:10 16. Happiness (Guy Draper) - 2:32 17. Somewhere (Danny Weis, John Finley) - 3:38 18. It's A Groovy World (Guy Draper) - 2:53 19. Insanity (Guy Draper) - 2:20 20. Lady Of Fortune (Duke Edwards, Larry Leishman) - 3:02 21. Let's Party (Guy Draper) - 3:03 22. Rain Child (Larry Leishman, Duke Edwards) - 5:26

Personnel: - John Finley - lead vocals - Danny Weis - lead & rhythm guitar - Larry Leishman - rhythm & lead guitar - Michael Fonfara - organ - Peter Hodgson - bass - Eddie "Duke" Edwards - drums, vocals + - Guy Draper - producer

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”