1965: early line-up The Chocolate Watchband was formed in the summer of 1965 in
Los Altos, California by Ned Torney and Mark Loomis, who had previously played guitar together in a local band known as The Chaparrals in the previous year. The two were joined by Rich Young (
bass guitar), Pete Curry (
drums), Jo Kemling (
organ), and Danny Phay (
lead vocals) to form the first version of the Chocolate Watchband, a name that was originally meant to be taken as a joke. Curry was soon replaced by Gary Andrijasevich, a jazz drummer from
Cupertino High School. They never recorded any commercial releases, but rare demos by the group appeared in the 1990s. The band was gaining popularity until Torney and Phay accepted an offer from a rival band, The Otherside, to join their group. Kemling followed soon after, effectively dismantling the first incarnation of the band. The group played several dates, including the Oakland Coliseum until late 1967, when Abbott and Flinders had a disagreement with Tolby and manager Ron Roupe over financial matters, which ensured the indefinite break-up of the Watchband in December 1967. During recording sessions for the Chocolate Watchband's second album,
The Inner Mystique, the band chafed at Cobb's influence because he presented them as being more instrumentally refined on record than they were live. Less than half of the featured studio work was by official members of the band; Continued interest prompted the band to reunite in 1999, with Dave Aguilar, Tim Abbott (replacing Mark Loomis, who backed out of the reunion), Bill Flores, and Gary Andrijasevich; Michael Reese was added as guitarist in place of Sean Tolby. The group began to touring internationally in 2000, culminating in a show at New York's Cavestomp and a live album,
At the Love-In Live! in 2001. They also issued a studio album,
Get Away, in between the Cavestomp show and the live album. The group has since performed in Europe and the United States. In 2005,
Melts in Your Brain . . . Not on Your Wrist, a two-CD compilation of the Chocolate Watchband's complete Tower and Uptown recordings, was released. In June 2013, the Chocolate Watchband made it back to a recording studio in their hometown San Jose, to begin a new album. From 2015 to the present (2018), the band's lineup is Tim Abbott on lead guitar and vocals; Gary Andrijasevich on drums; David Aguilar on vocals, keyboards, and harmonica;
Alec Palao on bass and backing vocals; and
Derek See on guitar and vocals. The resulting album (
This Is My Voice) was released in 2019 to critical acclaim; the lead off single 'Secret Rendezvous' was featured as 'Coolest Song In The World' on
Little Steven's Underground Garage program in February 2019. The first song recorded was a tribute to
Sky Saxon who had recently died. Founding member Mark Loomis died on September 26, 2014, in
Hawaii. From David Aguilar: This is a sad moment for all of us in the band. I never quite understood Mark's withdrawal and leaving, but in later years he expressed deep regret in breaking up the band. However, at that point in time there was no way to revive that magical moment in time. I always marveled at his guitar work and as time passed, my admiration for his musical abilities and unique guitar playing grew like the expanding universe. I can't express how sad I feel knowing all that is now permanently behind us. In my heart all I can say is thank you Mark for making the Watchband happen. And thank you for selecting me as your lead singer. With our fans - your musical notes will always play on. ==Discography==