Now Playing: natural silence
It's been something of a mystery what the origins were for the generally excellent and convincingly jam-oriented members of The Farm Band, as heard on their terrific debut double album in particular. As it turns out, these guys were indeed experienced Bay Area players, who simply hadn't been involved in any recording group before. Known as Phoenix, they played numerous SF gigs while members came and went, and there was also a connection to Mt Rushmore who had a couple of LPs. Their last incarnation was as Potter's Wheel, from which a live tape exists if I recall correctly. Following this band, three members moved to Gaskin's Farm in Tennessee.
Thanks to Terry P, some data has surfaced regarding the Farm Band's 'mystery' guitarist Walter Rabindeau, the mystery part being limited to the fact that he came into the Farm collective via another route than the other band members: '...Walter did not arrive with the others on their 1971 bus caravan from San Francisco, but did arrive shortly thereafter in 1971. A band had already formed, before they settled on The Farm Band moniker. Stephen Gaskin, the commune's spiritual leader, had a firm grip on things at first, and Walter was another "alpha personality", like Stephen. This was perceived as "a threat to Stephen's authority". Phil Schweitzer, who was already in the band, told Stephen how talented Walter was and that he should be part of the band. Stephen was reluctant to accept this, but eventually the other band members sort-of worked him into the group. He was a member of the band when they officially took on the name The Farm Band, playing lead guitar on their first album in 1972, the "Mantra album" double LP.
Thanks! As to whether Rabindeau recorded anything prior to the Farm Band album, this is still unclear.