Earth Opera | |
---|---|
Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
Genres | Psychedelic rock |
Years active | 1967–69 |
Labels | Elektra |
Past members | Peter Rowan David Grisman Bill Stevenson Paul Dillon Billy Mundi John Nagy Richard Grando |
Earth Opera was an American psychedelic rock group, active between 1967 and 1969 and featuring Peter Rowan and David Grisman.
Both Rowan and Grisman were virtuoso folk and bluegrass performers in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, clubs, who became caught up in the changes in the music scene in the mid-1960s. [1] They formed Earth Opera in 1967 in Boston, and were joined by John Nagy on bass, Paul Dillon on drums, and Bill Stevenson on keyboards and vibraphone. [1] [2] [3]
The group was signed by Jac Holzman to Elektra Records. [1] Their self-titled debut album, produced by Grisman's ex-bandmate Peter Siegel, and including veteran drummer (and Mothers of Invention alumnus) Billy Mundi, was a mixture of folk and psychedelic influences. [1] The group frequently opened for The Doors, who were also on Elektra Records.
Although the first album never charted, Elektra was willing to record a second LP, The Great American Eagle Tragedy . [1] By this time, Stevenson had left. [1] The second album featured an array of eminent guests including John Cale (viola) and Bill Keith (pedal steel).
The Great American Eagle Tragedy managed to reach the lower end of the national charts, the cover featuring a parody of the U.S. presidential seal with a superimposed death skull and what looks like blood stains. However, the band's relative lack of success caused Earth Opera to break up in 1969. [1] Rowan, Grisman, Nagy, and Stevenson all continued their careers in the music business. Nagy became a producer and engineer, including producing the late Mimi Farina (Solo, 1986). [4]
In 2001, both of Earth Opera's LPs were reissued on CD on Wounded Bird Records. [5]
Dillon died unexpectedly at his home on September 25, 2018, at age 75. [6]
The Electric Prunes are an American psychedelic rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. Much of the band's music was, as music historian Richie Unterberger described it, possessed of "an eerie and sometimes anguished ambiance." It mainly consisted of material by songwriters Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz, though the group also penned their own songs. Incorporating psychedelia and elements of embryonic electronic rock, the band's sound was marked by innovative recording techniques with fuzz-toned guitars and oscillating sound effects. In addition, guitarist Ken Williams' and singer James Lowe's concept of "free-form garage music" provided the band with a richer sonic palette and exploratory lyrical structure than many of their contemporaries.
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The Great American Eagle Tragedy is the second and last album by the psychedelic band Earth Opera, recorded in 1969. It is marked by departure of Bill Stevenson and his harpsichord sound, using more guest musicians than on the debut album and use of pedal steel by Bill Keith. The album also had better success on charts then the previous one, but soon after, the group disbanded, paving the way for solo careers mainly for Pete Rowan and David Grisman.
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