Influence (band) - Band History

Band History

Influence debuted on 1 June 1967 at the Barrel, a small Montreal club. Later that month the band added Geisinger's former colleagues from The Buddy Miles Quartet, singer/songwriter and pianist Bob Parkins (aka Bobo Island) and lead guitarist Walter Rossi. The three musicians had previously played together in the early ‘60s with Bob & The Messengers and The Soul Mates.

In late August, the group relocated to Toronto, playing Boris’ Red Gas Room in the city's Yorkville Village on September 2, 1967. They then performed regularly at the venue over the next two months before travelling to New York during November to record an album for ABC Records at Bell Studios with producer Dennis Minogue (aka Terry Cashman). Released in January 1968, the album included the mini-opera 'Mad Birds of Prey', which was "more echoes of Weill's Threepenny Opera than of anything around in rock".

The band then shuttled between Toronto and New York, performing a string of dates at Boris’ Red Gas Room throughout the first half of December, then returning to New York to launch the album at Steve Paul's The Scene, opening for Blood, Sweat & Tears over the Christmas and New Year period. During the festivities, Buddy Miles (now with The Electric Flag) joined the band on stage.

However, the album's failure, together with internal conflict, resulted in Dave Wynne's departure in January 1968. Back in Montreal, Influence replaced Wynne with former Soul Mates’ drummer Frank LoRusso (aka Yum Yum). The new line up returned to Toronto in mid-February to perform at Boris’ and continued to play local gigs, including an extended date at the city’s Penny Farthing club from March 4–9, before landing a support slot at The Doors’ show at the CNE Hall on April 20.

Influence then embarked on a brief tour of the US Midwest, supporting Procol Harum at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit from May 17–19 and Steppenwolf at the Electric Theatre in Chicago from May 24–26. However, the group was slowly unravelling and in June 1968, Andy Keiller left the band, later returning to the UK before emigrating to Australia in 1971.

Back in Toronto, the band resumed live work, appearing at the El Patio from August 31- September 1, but soon afterwards founding member Louis McKelvey left the band and returned to England. The remaining musicians carried on as Influence but broke up in early 1969 when Walter Rossi joined The Buddy Miles Express.