Earth Opera
Encyclopedia
Earth Opera was an American psychedelic rock
group, active during 1967-1969 and featuring Peter Rowan and David Grisman
.
folk and bluegrass
performers in Boston
clubs, who became caught up in the changes in the music scene in the mid 1960s. They formed Earth Opera in 1967 in Boston, Massachusetts, and were joined by John Nagy on bass, Paul Dillon on drums, and Bill Stevenson
on keyboards and vibraphone.
The group was signed by Jac Holzman
to Elektra Records
. 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. 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". By this time, Stevenson had left. 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 US 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. Rowan, Grisman, Nagy and Stevenson all continued their careers in the music business.
In 2002, both of Earth Opera's LPs were reissued on CD.
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
group, active during 1967-1969 and featuring Peter Rowan and David Grisman
David Grisman
David Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
.
History
Both Rowan and Grisman were virtuosoVirtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
folk and bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
performers in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
clubs, who became caught up in the changes in the music scene in the mid 1960s. They formed Earth Opera in 1967 in Boston, Massachusetts, and were joined by John Nagy on bass, Paul Dillon on drums, and Bill Stevenson
Bill Stevenson (Canadian musician)
Bill Stevenson is an award-winning Canadian blues and jazz pianist, vocalist and songwriter, originally associated with the band Earth Opera, whose career in music has spanned over forty years.-Biography:...
on keyboards and vibraphone.
The group was signed by Jac Holzman
Jac Holzman
Jac Holzman was the founder, chief executive officer and head of both Elektra Records and Nonesuch Records.-Biography:He founded Elektra Records in his St. John's College dorm room in 1950 and Nonesuch Records in 1964...
to Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. Their self-titled debut album, produced by Grisman's ex-bandmate Peter Siegel, and including veteran drummer (and Mothers of Invention alumnus) Billy Mundi
Billy Mundi
Billy Mundi is an American drummer, who has played a multitude of sessions and been a member of countless bands, most notably The Mothers of Invention and Rhinoceros. He sometimes used the name Tony Schnasse.A former Hells Angel, his career dates back to the late 1950s, when he majored in music at...
, was a mixture of folk and psychedelic influences. The group frequently opened for The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, 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". By this time, Stevenson had left. The second album featured an array of eminent guests including John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
(viola) and Bill Keith
Bill Keith (musician)
Bill Keith is a five-string banjoist who made a significant contribution to the stylistic development of the instrument. In the 1960s he introduced a variation on the popular "Scruggs style" of banjo playing which would soon become known as melodic style, or "Keith style." -Professional...
(pedal steel).
“The Great American Eagle Tragedy” managed to reach the lower end of the national charts, the cover featuring a parody of the US 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. Rowan, Grisman, Nagy and Stevenson all continued their careers in the music business.
In 2002, both of Earth Opera's LPs were reissued on CD.
Members
- Peter Rowan – vocals, guitar, saxophone
- David GrismanDavid GrismanDavid Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
– mandolin, mandocello, keyboards, saxophone, vocals - Bill Stevenson (1967–1968) - piano, harpsichord, organ, vibraphone
- Paul Dillon - guitar, drums, vocals
- Bill MundiBilly MundiBilly Mundi is an American drummer, who has played a multitude of sessions and been a member of countless bands, most notably The Mothers of Invention and Rhinoceros. He sometimes used the name Tony Schnasse.A former Hells Angel, his career dates back to the late 1950s, when he majored in music at...
- percussion, drums - John Nagy – bass, violoncello
Discography
- Earth OperaEarth Opera (album)Earth Opera is the self-titled first album by the band Earth Opera, recorded in 1968. The group featured Peter Rowan and David Grisman, who made their solo careers in much different genres than this very interesting record of mainly psychedelic music....
(1968) - The Great American Eagle TragedyThe Great American Eagle TragedyThe Great American Eagle Tragedy is a 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 then on the debut album and use of pedal steel by Bill Keith...
(1969)