Elf (American band)
| Eleven | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Blues rock |
| founding | 1967 as The Electric Elves 1967 as The Elves 1970 as Elf |
| resolution | 1975 |
| Founding members | |
| Ronnie James Dio († 2010) | |
| Doug Thaler (until 1968) | |
| Gary Driscoll († 1987) | |
| David Feinstein (until 1973) | |
guitar |
Nick Pantas († 1968) |
| Last occupation | |
singing |
Ronnie James Dio († 2010) |
bass |
Craig Gruber (from 1973, † 2015) |
guitar |
Steve Edwards (from 1973) |
Drums |
Gary Driscoll († 1987) |
percussion |
Mark Nauseef (1975) |
Keyboard |
Micky Lee Soule (from 1968) |
| former members | |
guitar |
Doug Thaler (1968–1972) |
Elf was an American blues rock band founded in 1967 by Ronnie James Dio under the name The Electric Elves . In 1969 the name of the band was shortened to The Elves and finally changed to Elf in 1970 . The songs are a mixture of Dixie , Blues and Rock'n'Roll . In 1975 the band broke up after recording three albums.
Band history
Ronnie James Dio and Nick Pantas already knew each other from Ronnie Dio And The Prophets . After this band was broken up in the fall of 1967, the two formed The Electric Elves together with Dio's cousin David Feinstein, Doug Thaler and Gary Driscoll . In mid-1969, shortly before the release of their second single, they decided to shorten the band name.
In 1968 the band was involved in a car accident in which Nick Pantas died and Doug Thaler was seriously injured. After several months in hospital, Thaler decided to leave the band. While the position of second guitarist was no longer filled, Micky Lee Soule joined the band as keyboardist for Thaler. In the new formation they only called themselves Elf .
In the next few years they played in many smaller clubs. In 1972, she was by Roger Glover and Ian Paice of Deep Purple is one who then offered them a record deal. The recordings for the first album, on which Ronnie James Dio also played bass himself , took place at "Studio One" in Atlanta , Georgia . They then supported Deep Purple as the opening act on several US tours.
In the spring of 1973 David Feinstein left the band and was replaced by Steve Edwards. With Craig Gruber , a bassist was also added as a further member. In the summer of the same year, Elf signed a new record deal with MGM Records (USA) and Purple Records (UK). The album produced by Roger Glover was called the Carolina County Ball . However, it appeared on the US market under the name LA / 59 with a different cover. Another tour as the opening act for Deep Purple followed.
In December 1974, Mark Nauseef joined the band. With him the third album Trying to Burn the Sun was recorded, again with Roger Glover as producer. Immediately after the recordings, before the album was released, Elf broke up. Ritchie Blackmore , who had just left Deep Purple, formed the band Rainbow with Dio, Craig Gruber, Gary Driscoll and Mickey Lee Soule .
| Overview | singing | Guitar 1 | Guitar 2 | Keyboard | bass | Drums | percussion | |
| founding | 1967 | Dio | Fine stone | Pantas † | Thaler | Dio | Driscoll | Driscoll |
| accident | 1970 | Dio | Fine stone | Thaler | Souls | Dio | Driscoll | Driscoll |
| -1 +2 | 1973 | Dio | Edwards | Souls | Gruber | Driscoll | Driscoll | |
| +1 | 1974 | Dio | Edwards | Souls | Souls | Gruber | Driscoll | Nauseef |
| Rainbow | 1975 | Dio | Blackmore | Souls | Gruber | Driscoll | ||
Discography
Albums
- 1972 - Eleven
- 1974 Carolina County Ball (International title, US / Japan title: LA / '59 )
- 1975 - Trying to Burn the Sun
- 1978 - The Gargantuan (compilation)
- 1991 - The Elf Albums (compilation)
Singles
as "The Electric Elves"
- 1967 - Hey, Look Me Over / It Pays To Advertise (Promo)
as "The Elves"
- 1969 - Walking In Different Circles / She's Not The Same
- 1970 - Amber Velvet / West Virginia
as "elf"
- 1972 - Hoochie Koochie Lady / First Avenue
- 1972 - Sit Down Honey (Everything Will Be Alright) / Gambler, Gambler
- 1974 - LA / 59 / Ain't It All Amusing
- 1974 - LA / 59 / Carolina County Ball (in Germany)