History
Both Wilson and Hite were avid blues historians and record collectors, they chose the name Canned Heat from “Canned Heat Blues", a 1928 song by Tommy Johnson. The band's first rehearsal included Mike Perlowin on lead guitar, Stu Brotman on bass and Keith Sawyer on drums, Perlowin and Sawyer soon left and were replaced by Kenny Edwards and Ron Holmes respectively. [1] Henry Vestine attended the band's first gig, and soon after asked to join the band and third guitarist, soon replacing Edwards after the band decided to go back to two guitars. [1] Frank Cook replaced Holmes as the bands drummer at around the same time. [1]
After a run of infrequent gigs, the band disbanded in August 1966, [1] before reforming for a one off gig that November. This gig got the interest of agents for the William Morris Agency, who got the band a record contract. Stuart Brotman departed in early 1967, he was replaced by Mark Andes and then by Samuel Larry Taylor in March that year. [1] After releasing their self titled debut album in July, the band replaced Cook with Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra. De la Parra became an official member on December 1, 1967. [1] Vestine departed in late July 1969 after tensions with Taylor. He was temporarily replaced by Mike Bloomfield, and then by Harvey "The Snake" Mandel. Taylor and Mandel both departed in 1970 to join the Bluesbreakers, they were replaced by Antonio de la Barreda and the returning Vestine respectively. [1]
On September 3, 1970, Alan Wilson committed suicide at age 27. The band had to continue due to contractual reasons, Wilson was replaced by Joel Scott Hill. In 1973 the line-up expanded, included Hite, Vestine and De la Parra alongside James Shane on rhythm guitar and vocals, Ed Beyer on keyboards, and Hite's brother Richard on bass. [1] After a change in management in 1974, Vestine, James Shane and Ed Beyer quit the band. Replacing the departed were pianist Gene Taylor and guitarist Chris Morgan. In 1976 Taylor departed, [3] and was replaced by guitarist Stan Webb (of Chicken Shack) [4] on a temporary basis before Mark Skyer joined.
Mark Skyer, Chris Morgan and Richard Hite all quit the band in 1977, Richard Exley quickly joined as bass player and the band continued as a three piece, until Exley left in 1978. The band was revived with Larry Taylor returning on bass and new members Mike "Hollywood Fats" Mann (guitar) and Ronnie Barron (piano). Barron was soon replaced by Jay Spell after an argument with Taylor. Mike Halby replaced Mann during recording, Taylor also left and was replaced by Jon Lamb, who joined alongside Henry Vestine who returned to the band. After a difficult tour in 1980, Jay Spell also left the band and was not replaced, after the next tour Jon Lamb also left, He was replaced by Ernie Rodriguez.
On April 5, 1981, Bob Hite died of a heroin overdose. [9] The band again had to continue due to contractual reasons, Hite was replaced by singer and harmonica player Rick Kellogg. Vestine again departed after a fight with Rodriguez, he was replaced by Walter Trout. The incarnation continued until 1984 when Mike Halby departed after a dispute with De la Parra. In 1985, Trout departed to join John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Vestine returned to take his place, joining alongside James Thornbury (slide guitar, harmonica and lead vocals) and Skip Jones (bass).
In 1987, Larry Taylor and Ronnie Barron both returned. Vestine and Barron were soon ousted by Taylor, they were both replaced by Junior Watson in 1988. A new line-up appeared in 1990, with Mandel back in the fold and Ron Shumake joining on bass alongside Taylor. After a few tours, Mandel left the band with Becky Barksdale stepping in for a few tours in 1992. Smokey Hormel also played one gig before departing alongside Taylor after friction with De la Parra.
Vestine and Watson made their returns to the lineup. In 1995, frontman James Thornbury left the band after ten years on amicable terms, Robert Lucas replaced him in the line-up. Mandel returned in 1996 with Shumake departing soon after, Mark "Pocket" Goldberg temporarily took the vacant bass spot, before Greg Kage joined permanently. Larry Taylor also returned on second bass.
On October 20, 1997, Vestine died of cancer following the final gig of a European tour. Taylor and Watson subsequently left the band. By 2000, Robert Lucas had departed and the lineup was completed by Dallas Hodge (vocals, guitar), [14] John Paulus (guitar) and Stanley "Baron" Behrens (harmonica, saxophone, flute). Paulus was replaced by Don Preston for dates in 2005. [15] Lucas returned to Canned Heat in late 2005, alongside Barry Levenson. Lucas left again in late 2008. He died, age 46, on November 23, 2008, at a friend's home in Long Beach, California; the cause was an apparent drug overdose. Also, former bassist Antonio de la Barreda died of a heart attack on February 17, 2009.
From late 2008 to early in 2010, the lineup included Dale Spalding (guitar, harmonica and vocals), Barry Levenson (lead guitar), Greg Kage (bass), and de la Parra on drums. Mandel and Larry Taylor toured with Canned Heat during the summer of 2009 on the Heroes of Woodstock Tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. In 2010, Taylor and Mandel officially replaced Kage and Levenson, and as of 2012, this lineup (de la Parra, Taylor, Mandel, and Spalding) continued to tour regularly.
In October 2012, during a festival tour in Spain, France and Switzerland, Randy Resnick was called to replace Mandel who had to quit the tour due to health issues. Resnick played two dates, October 4 and 5, but had to return home for prior commitments. De la Parra was able to get Paulus to fly in from Portland to finish the tour. On September 7, 2013, Paulus once again substituted for Mandel at the Southern Maryland Blues Festival. In 2014, he officially replaced Mandel. On August 19, 2019, longtime bass guitarist Taylor died after a twelve-year battle with cancer. [16] Former drummer Frank Cook died on July 9, 2021, aged 79. [17] The band now includes Rick Reed on bass (since 2019), [18] and Jimmy Vivino on guitar, keyboards and vocals (since 2021). [19] [18] Paulus still plays with the band when his health allows. [20]
