Rain Parade in the 1980s (1981–1986) Originally called the Sidewalks, the band was founded in Los Angeles by college roommates Matt Piucci (guitar, vocals) and
David Roback (guitar, vocals) in 1981, who had attended
Carleton College together. 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 become a member of
the Bangles, the most famous of the
Paisley Underground bands). 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. Critic
Jim DeRogatis would later write in his book
Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock (2003) that "
Emergency Third Rail Power Trip is not only the best album from any of the Paisley Underground bands, it ranks with the best
psychedelic rock efforts from any era", with uplifting melodies offset by themes that were "dark and introspective." According to DeRogatis, the album showcased "the Robacks' ethereal vocals, Eddie Kalwa's precise drumming, Will Glenn's colorful sitar, violin, and keyboard accents, and an intricate, chiming, but droney two-guitar attack that picks up where
the Byrds left off with '
Eight Miles High. The song "No Easy Way Down" was cited as a "mantra for an altered state of mind, and testament to a band who, however fleetingly, made music that sounded like the best drugs ever." After the release of a single, "You Are My Friend", drummer Eddie Kalwa left and was replaced by Mark Marcum, with John Thoman (guitar, vocals) also added to the line-up.
Breakup and other projects (1986–2012) The band split in 1986, reforming briefly in 1988 to finish a double album they had started, which was never released. In 2014, drummer Gil Ray gave up performing due to health concerns, and was replaced in the lineup by returning member Stephan Junca. Ray died of cancer in 2017. Three new recordings by Rain Parade were released in November 2018 as part of a compilation album called
3 × 4, which also included
the Dream Syndicate,
the Bangles, and
the Three O'Clock, with each of the four bands covering songs by the other three. Following the initial
Record Store Day First release as a
double album on "psychedelic swirl" purple vinyl,
Yep Roc Records released the album on LP, CD, and digital in February 2019.
David Roback died from metastatic cancer on February 25, 2020. The band released their first studio album in 38 years,
Last Rays of a Dying Sun, on August 4, 2023. Their follow up EP "Last Stop On The Underground" was released on May 24, 2024. ==Discography==