Rain Parade
Part of Los Angeles’ rock renaissance of the early '80s, the Rain Parade drew from late '60s influences to forge a new brand of psychedelia-tinged rock. After a promising debut single, What She's Done To Your Mind on their own Llama label, the band—David Roback (vocals, guitar, percussion), brother Steve (vocals, bass), Matthew Puicci (vocals, guitar, sitar), Will Glenn (keyboards, violin) and Eddie Kalwa (drums)—issued EMERGENCY THIRD RAIL POWER TRIP to critical acclaim in 1983, followed by the excellent You Are My Friend in 1985. Such was their impetus that the Rain Parade signed with Island Records, despite the loss of key figure David Roback (who then formed Opal with partner and original Rain Parade bassist Kendra Smith). His replacement John Thoman arrived alongside new drummer Mark Marcum in time for BEYOND THE SUNSET, drawn from live performances in Japan. A second studio set, CRASHING DREAM, emerged later in the year, but some of the original Rain Parade's other-worldly, evocative nature had been lost. It was not until 1988 that the band issued EXPLOSIONS IN A GLASS PALACE on Zippo. Whatever promise this album contained, it proved to be their last.