The Rain Parade was a band active in the Paisley Underground scene in Los Angeles in the 1980s.

History

The band was founded by college roommates Matt Piucci (guitar, vocals) and David Roback (guitar, vocals) in 1981, originally as The Sidewalks. David's brother Steven Roback (bass, vocals) joined the band shortly thereafter. David and Steven had been in a band called The Unconscious with neighbor Susanna Hoffs (who went on to lead the most famous of the Paisley Underground bands, The Bangles.) The band soon added Will Glenn (keyboards and violin) and later Eddie Kalwa (drums). They self-released their debut single, "What She's Done to Your Mind" on their Llama label in 1982.

David Roback left to form a new band, Rainy Day, the rest of the band continuing to record as a four piece, releasing the mini-LP, Explosions in the Glass Palace in 1984. After a single, "You Are My Friend", Kalwa left, his replacement being Mark Marcum, and John Thoman (guitar, vocals) was added to the line-up. The band signed to Island Records, and a live album (Beyond The Sunset) recorded in Japan, and a third album, Crashing Dream, came out in 1985.

The band split in 1986, with Piucci forming Gone Fishin' and later joining Crazy Horse. The band reformed in 1988 to finish off a double album they had started, but it was never released. The rest of the band formed Viva Saturn. After Rainy Day, David Roback formed Opal, and later Mazzy Star.

Discography

Singles, EPs

• "What She's Done To Your Mind" (1982) Llama
• "You Are My Friend" (1985) Enigma/Zippo (UK Indie #28)

Albums

• Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (1983) Enigma/Zippo (UK Indie #5)
• Explosions in the Glass Palace mini-LP (1984) Enigma/Zippo (UK Indie #4)
• Beyond The Sunset (live in Tokyo 1984) (1985) Restless/Island (UK #78)
• Crashing Dream (1985) Island
• Demolition (1991) Outtakes and unreleased material
• Emergency Third Rail Power Trip/Explosions in the Glass Palace (1992) Mau Mau
• Perfume River (2002) Live in New York, November 1984

See also

• Opal
• Mazzy Star

References

1. Strong, Martin C. (1999) "The Great Alternative & Indie Discography", Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1
2. Larkin, Colin (1992) "The Guinness Who's Who of Indie & New Wave Music", Guinness Publishing, ISBN 0-85112-579-4
3. Lazell, Barry (1997) "Indie Hits 1980-1989", Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-9517206-9-4

External links

• Rain Parade on Allmusic
• Alan McGee on the Rain Parade in his Guardian Newspaper Column