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Rhinoceros was a rock band established in 1967 by Elektra Records. 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."〔Linda Seida, (Biography of Rhinoceros ); www.allmusic.com.〕 ==Formation== Paul A. Rothchild, 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. Mohawk had been instrumental in forming Buffalo Springfield through coordinating band membership, though the establishment of Rhinoceros involved a more formal third party role.〔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 Mohawk to form Buffalo Springfield), and Moby Grape were established in this manner during the 1966-1967 period. 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.〔Neil Warburton, (Biography of Daily Flash ); www.rhinoceros-group.com.〕 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.〔〔〔Mundi's departure for Rhinoceros is noted in the personnel listing for the Mothers of Invention release ''Uncle Meat''.〕 The final member chosen, in early 1968, was Billy Mundi, former drummer for The Mothers of Invention. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rhinoceros (band)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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