Canned Heat is an American blues rock band founded by Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson and Bob “The Bear” Hite in 1965, the bands classic line-up consisted of Wilson on slide guitar, vocals and harmonica, Hite on vocals and harmonica, Henry “The Sunflower” Vestine on lead guitar, Larry “The Mole” Taylor on bass and Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra on drums, the bands current line-up includes De la Parra, singer, guitarist and harmonicist Dale Wesley Spalding (since 2008), bassist Rick Reed (since 2019), and guitarist/keyboardist Jimmy Vivino (since 2021).
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History
editBoth 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 bands 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 bands 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 talent 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 joined 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.[2] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8][9] The band again had to continue due to contractual reasons, Hite was replaced by singer and harmonica player Rick Kellogg.[10] Vestine again departed after a fight with Rodriguez, he was replaced by Walter Trout.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13] 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 the fall of 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 the Spring of 2010 the lineup included Dale Spalding (guitar, harmonica and vocals), Barry Levenson (lead guitar), Greg Kage (bass), and classic lineup hold-over and band leader 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]
Members
editCurrent members
edit| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra[21][22] | 1967–present |
|
all releases except Canned Heat (1967) and Vintage (1970) | |
| John Paulus |
|
|
Friends in the Can (2003) | |
| Dale Wesley Spalding | 2008–present |
|
Finyl Vinyl (2024) | |
| Rick Reed | 2019–present | bass | ||
| Jimmy Vivino | 2021–present |
|
Former members
edit| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob "The Bear" Hite | 1965–1981 (until his death) |
|
| |
| Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson | 1965–1970 (until his death) |
|
all releases until Live at Topanga Corral (1971) | |
| Stuart Brotman | 1965–1966 | bass | Vintage (1970) | |
| Keith Sawyer | 1965 | drums | none | |
| Mike Perlowin | 1965 (died 2021) | lead guitar | ||
| Kenny Edwards | 1965 (died 2010) | |||
| Ron Holmes | 1965 (temporary) | drums | ||
| Henry "The Sunflower" Vestine |
|
|
| |
| Frank Cook | 1965–1967 (died 2021) | drums | Vintage (1970) | |
| Mark Andes | 1966–1967 | bass | none | |
| Larry "The Mole" Taylor[23] |
|
|
| |
| Mike Bloomfield | 1969 (temporary) (died 1981) | lead guitar | none | |
| Harvey "The Snake" Mandel |
|
| ||
| Antonio de la Barreda | 1970–1972 (died 2009) | bass |
| |
| Joel Scott Hill | 1970–1972 (died 2016) |
|
| |
| Richard Hite | 1972–1977 (died 2001) |
|
| |
| James Shane | 1972–1974 |
|
| |
| Ed Beyer | keyboards | |||
| Chris Morgan | 1974–1977 (died 2024) | lead and rhythm guitar |
| |
| Gene Taylor | 1974–1976 (died 2021) |
|
none | |
| Stan Webb | 1976 |
| ||
| Mark Skyer | 1976–1977 |
| ||
| Richard Exley | 1977–1978 | bass | none | |
| Mike "Hollywood Fats" Mann | 1978–1980 (died 1986) | lead and rhythm guitar | King Biscuit Flower Hour (1995) | |
| Ronnie Barron |
|
keyboards |
| |
| Jay Spell | 1978–1980 (died 2010) |
|
Christmas Album (2007) | |
| Mike Halby | 1978–1984 (died 2008) |
|
| |
| Jon Lamb | 1980 | bass | none | |
| Ernie Rodriguez | 1980–1985 |
|
| |
| Richard Kellogg | 1981–1985 (died 2008) |
| ||
| Walter Trout | 1981–1985 |
|
| |
| James Thornbury | 1985–1995 (died 2017) |
|
| |
| Skip Jones | 1985–1987 | bass | none | |
| Junior Watson |
|
|
| |
| Ron Shumake | 1990–1996 (died 2014) | bass | Internal Combustion (1994) | |
| Becky Barksdale | 1992 | lead guitar | none | |
| Smokey Hormel | ||||
| Robert Lucas |
|
|
| |
| Mark "Pocket" Goldberg | 1996 | bass | ||
| Greg Kage | 1996–2010 |
|
| |
| Paul Bryant | 1997–2000 | lead and rhythm guitar | none | |
| Stanley "The Baron" Behrens | 2000–2005 |
|
Friends in the Can (2003) | |
| Dallas Hodge[24] |
| |||
| Don Preston | 2005 | lead guitar | none | |
| Barry Levenson | 2006–2010 | Christmas Album (2007) | ||
| Randy Resnick | 2012 (substitute) | none |
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Timeline
edit
Line-ups
edit| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 |
|
none |
| 1965 |
| |
| 1965 |
| |
| 1965–1966 |
|
|
| 1966–1967 |
|
none |
| 1967 |
|
|
| 1967–1969 Classic line-up #1 |
|
|
| 1969–1970 Classic line-up #2 |
|
|
| 1970 |
|
|
| 1970–1972 |
|
|
| 1972–1974 |
|
|
| 1974–1976 |
|
none |
| 1976 |
| |
| 1976–1977 |
|
|
| 1977–1978 |
|
none |
| 1978 |
|
|
| 1978–1980 |
|
none |
| 1980 |
| |
| 1980 |
| |
| 1980–1981 |
|
|
| 1981 |
| |
| 1981–1984 |
|
|
| 1984–1985 |
|
none |
| 1985–1987 |
| |
| 1987 |
|
|
| 1987–1988 |
|
none |
| 1988–1990 |
|
|
| 1990–1992 |
|
none |
| 1992 |
| |
| 1992 |
| |
| 1992–1995 |
|
|
| 1995–1996 |
|
none |
| 1996 |
| |
| 1996 |
| |
| 1996–1997 |
|
|
| 1997–1999 |
|
none |
| 1999 |
|
|
| 1999–2000 |
|
none |
| 2000–2005 |
|
|
| 2005 |
|
none |
| 2005–2006 |
| |
| 2006–2008 |
| |
| 2008–2010 |
| |
| 2010–2014 |
| |
| 2014–2019 |
| |
| 2019–2021 |
|
|
| 2021–present |
|
|
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "Canned Heat Official". Canned Heat. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ De La Parra 2000, p. 240.
- ^ Staff, Best Classic Bands (February 21, 2021). "Gene Taylor, Boogie-Woogie Piano Player With the Blasters, Dies at 68". Best Classic Bands. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ "Blues legend Stan Webb headlines third Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festival in Lincoln". www.lincolnshireworld.com. May 9, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ De La Parra 2000, p. 247.
- ^ De La Parra 2000, pp. 248–250.
- ^ De La Parra 2000, pp. 252–258.
- ^ De La Parra 2000, pp. 278–279.
- ^ Bell, Max (October 19, 2018). "Canned Heat: the badass blues band that death couldn't kill". louder. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ De La Parra 2000, p. 282.
- ^ De La Parra 2000, p. 291.
- ^ De La Parra 2000, pp. 325–327.
- ^ De La Parra 2000, pp. 329–342.
- ^ Hodge, Dallas. "Dallas Hodge: The Story". Dallashodge.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ McCoy, Brian (February 16, 2005). "Canned Heat does downtown boogie". The Stockton Record. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (August 20, 2019). "Canned Heat Bassist Larry Taylor Dies at 77". Billboard.
- ^ "Frank Clayman-Cook Obituary". Los Angeles Times. September 9, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ a b Webzine, Myglobalmind (April 4, 2024). "Canned Heat Returns with First New Album in 15 Years: "Finyl Vinyl" Marks a Milestone in Blues Rock History - Your Online Magazine for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal". myglobalmind.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ Front Row Blues (January 12, 2022). Woodstock Boogie - Canned Heat at Maui Sugar Mill - Cadillac Zack 10/18/2021. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ LeValley, Jason (March 19, 2022). "Interview: Fito de la Parra of Canned Heat". Psychedelic Scene Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ "Canned Heat on Stage". Times Herald-Record. August 15, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Canned Heat – Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
- ^ Kurutz, Steve. "Biography: Larry Taylor". AllMusic. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ Hodge, Dallas. "index". Dallashodge.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
Bibliography
edit- De La Parra, Fito (2000). Living the Blues: Canned Heat's Story of Music, Drugs, Death, Sex and Survival. eBookIt.com. ISBN 0-9676449-0-9.