The Chocolate Watchband
- Actor
- Soundtrack
The Chocolate Watchband are an extremely raw and punky psychedelic
garage rock band from San Jose, California. The group was first formed
in the summer of 1965. The original line-up was: Ned Torney
(guitarist), Mark Loomis (guitarist), Rich Young (bassist), Peter Curry
(drummer), Joe Kemling (box organ), and Danny Phay (vocals). Alas, this
particular line-up quickly dissolved and broke up. Only Loomis stayed
on for the second line-up; the new members were David Aguiler (lead
singer), Gary Andrijasevich (drummer), Sean Tolby (guitarist), and Bill
'Flo' Flores (bassist). The Chocolate Watchband started out performing
in various places in San Francisco's Bay Area teen circuit. The group
was offered a management deal by famous rock promoter Bill Graham after
doing a show in which they opened for the Mindbenders. The band
released their debut single "Sweet Young Thing/Baby Blue" on the Uptown
label in December, 1966. Their debut album "No Way Out" was issued on
the Tower label in 1967. The Chocolate Watchband appear as themselves
in both "The Love-Ins" and the American International Pictures teen
exploitation cult favorite "Riot on Sunset Strip." In mid 1967 the
group's line-up changed for a third time: Only Tolby and Flores
remained from the previous line-up along with new additions Tim Abbott
(guitarist), Mark Whittaker (drummer), and Chris Finders (singer). A
fourth line-up change occurred in the autumn of 1968: Phay,
Andrijasevich, and Torney all rejoined the group. The band's second
album "The Inner Mystique" was released that same year. They recorded
their third album "One Step Beyond" in 1969. Alas, the Chocolate
Watchband split for good in 1970. Fortunately, the group got back
together in 1999. The line-up for this particular incarnation of the
group includes original members Aguiler, Abbott, Flores, and
Andrijasevich. The band started playing gigs again in the spring of
1999 and performed at the Cavestomp garage rock festival in New York in
November, 1999. Moreover, they recorded the album "Get Away" that same
year. The live album "Live at the Love-In!" was issued in 2001. The
Chocolate Watchband continue to perform in concert at garage rock shows
in both Europe and America on a regular basis.