This psychedelia-tinged, late-60s-influenced new wave band hailed from Los Angeles.
After a promising debut single, What She’s Done To Your Mind on their own Llama label, the band issued Emergency Third Rail Power Trip to critical acclaim in 1983, followed by the excellent You Are My Friend in 1985.
Leader David Roback left in 1985 to form Opal and later Mazzy Starr. The group signed with Island Records as John Thoman arrived to replace Roback alongside new drummer Mark Marcum in time for Beyond The Sunset, drawn from live performances in Japan.
A Second studio set, Crashing Dream, emerged later in the year, but some of the Rain Parade’s other-worldly, evocative nature had been lost.
It was not until 1988 that the band issued the mini-LP Explosions In The Glass Palace on Zippo. It proved to be their last album.
Keyboards/violin player William Cooper (who went with Roback to Opal) died from cancer in 2001.
David Roback
Vocals, guitar Matthew Puicci
Vocals, guitar, sitar Will Glenn (William Cooper)
Keyboards, violin Steve Roback
Bass, vocals Eddie Kalwa
Drums John Thoman
Vocals Mark Marcum
Drums
