Rhinoceros Rhinoceros
www.rhinoceros-group.com 
This is a site about the U.S. sixties "super" group RHINOCEROS.

Signed to ELEKTRA, the group made three albums: Rhinoceros (1968), Satin Chickens (1969) and Better Times Are Coming (1970)

After your visit to this site, please check out the visitors book and show your appreciation of this great band by leaving a few lines here.

Satin Chickens

" The music of Rhinoceros has a groove and feel that makes it some of the greatest stuff ever recorded... The interaction among the group is magical... I listen to this stuff today and it's just as fresh and inspiring to me as it was 30 years ago when I first heard it."

Joe Mingori
from the visitors book

Rhinoceros Reunion!

Rhinoceros, featuring original members John Finley, Alan Gerber, Danny Weis, Michael Fonfara and Peter Hodgson, with Mike Sloski (drums) and Bernie LaBarge (guitar), played at the Kitchener Blues Festival in Ontario on 7 August 2009.

Rhinoceros at the Kitchener Blues Festival 2009
Rhinoceros at the Kitchener Blues Festival 2009 - Picture by Stefan Myles - Fandy Photography
Left to right: Michael Fonfara, John Finley, Danny Weis, Peter Hodgson,
Mike Sloski (hidden), Alan Gerber, Bernie LaBarge


Clips on You Tube:

You're My Girl   That Time Of The Year (excerpt)    Apricot Brandy  

Get Out The Back Door   Monkee Man   When You Say You're Sorry  

The band played on the festival's main stage on King Street, in downtown Kitchener, Ontario, coming on stage at about 9:15 p.m. to a warm welcome by several thousand people who became increasingly enthusiastic and ecstatic in many cases over the course of the hour plus (about 75-minutes) performance. The performance closed the Friday night portion of the annual festival.

Rhinoceros delighted long-time fans with its startling re-creation of the original songs as arranged and performed on their three albums (1968-70). Singers John Finley and Alan Gerber sounded virtually the same August 7 as they did in the late sixties, and guitarists Danny Weis and Bernie LaBarge exchanged almost as many grins as funky guitar licks. Among the many highlights was an instrumental extension of the song Top of the Ladder, taking it where the album version only hints before it fades out. On stage August 7, the band took that song into an instrumental groove that showed off the band's locomotive-like rhythmic power better than anything recorded on the albums. Other songs ended with the same fierce precision as the album versions.

Set List:
Monkey Man
When You Say You're Sorry
You're My Girl
I've Been There
Belbuekus
Back Door
Along Comes Tomorrow
Apricot Brandy
I Will Serenade You
It's the Same Thing
Just Me
Top of the Ladder
That Time of the Year
I Need Love

Encore:
Better Times

Many thanks to Bob Langmaid

Other reviews and comments can be found on the visitors book

www.kitchenerbluesfestival.com

Rhinoceros on Video!!!
Maybe the only video clip that exists of Rhinoceros, download it or watch the streaming version.

The John Finley Interview
John talks about Rhinoceros, his early days with The Checkmates and recent projects.

Rhinoceros Live Dates
An attempt to list all of the shows that Rhinoceros played.
If you saw the band live, maybe you can help.

Update The Rhinoceros Story
A full and extensively researched history of the band.
...This is a 'must read' for any visitor to this site.

Article in Hullabaloo Magazine
Bradley Siegal's introduction to Rhinoceros from 1969.

The Discography
Group, solo and session work, a discography of all Rhinoceros members

Also on this site...

Interviews:
The Alan Gerber Interview
An interview with the original Rhinoceros vocalist and 'boogie man'.

The Danny Weis Interview
Our Interview with one of the world's greatest guitarists.

The John Haeny Interview
The Rhinoceros recording engineer talks about the development and
recording of the first album and his involvement with Rhinoceros.

Articles:
Jon & Lee & The Checkmates
The group that was the forerunner of Rhinoceros.

Update The Daily Flash
An article and history of Seattle's first alternative rock band.

The Music:
The Albums
Details and MP3 samples from the Rhinoceros albums

Media Articles and Interviews:
Danny Weis - The Blitz Interview
An interview with Danny Weis in 1980 by John Mars.

Rhinoceros - Hit Parader Interview
An article and interview with the band by Ellen Sander from March 1969.

Rhinoceros in UK Rock Magazine Mojo.
The Rhinoceros feature from the February 2001 issue of the UK magazine Mojo.

The Rhinoceros Site...
The Visitors Book
With over 200 entries, including some fantastic stories about the band.
...and don't forget to sign it before you leave!

Rhinoceros Links
Other Rhino related links.


The first Rhinoceros album - re-issued on CD
Rhinoceros on Collectors Choice The first album was re-issued on CD by Collectors Choice in 2002. The CD booklet has a brief history of the band by Matthew Greenwald, with quotes from lead singer John Finley, and is available online, by mail order and from some record stores.

Collectors Choice www.collectorschoicemusic.com
Mail Order: (00)1-800-923-1122
Satin Chickens and Better Times Now Available on CD
Satin Chickens and Better Times Collectors Choice have now released a 'two on one' CD re-issue of the second and third albums; Satin Chickens and Better Times Are Coming

The package has excellent liner notes by Matthew Greenwald, with quotes from John Finley, Alan Gerber and Danny Weis about the albums.


Collectors Choice www.collectorschoicemusic.com
Mail Order: (00)1-800-923-1122
The Checkmates!
the Checkmates Reformed and working regularly together again in and around Toronto, Canada, the Checkmates are; Michael Fonfara (Hammond B-3 organ/vocals), Larry Leishman (guitar/vocals), Mike Sloski (drums), John Finley (lead vocals) and Peter Hodgson (Fender bass).

John Mars has been catching up with the band and has posted the latest news, including details about their first album recording on his site:
A review of the Checkmates' recent activities and some current pictures.

Nick Warburton's article about Jon & Lee & The Checkmates, is here.

Photo of John Finley at the Southside Shuffle Festival at Port Credit, Ontario by John Mars (2005)
Alan Gerber - Blue Tube
Alan Gerber - Blue Tube Former Rhinoceros singer/instrumentalist Alan Gerber has released his sixth solo album 'Blue Tube'. The album has a roots music feel with styles ranging from blues/folk to R&B funk/ gospel with some great new songs. Alan's distinctive vocals have never sounded better.


CD Baby		 http://www.alangerber.org/

http://www.cdbaby.com/
Preview the album and purchase online.
Phone: (800)BUY-MY-CD - for CD orders only
Danny Weis Solo Album
Danny Weis - Sweet Spot Danny Weis has released his first solo album on Marshmellow records. It's a great mix of Funk and Jazz with an excellent supporting cast of some of Canada's finest players, including Michael Fonfara from Rhinoceros.
The guitar playing is fantastic as you would expect... this album is highly recommended!

Marshmellow Records http://marshmellowrecords.com
Preview the album and purchase online.
Phone: (416) 291-9553
Toll free : (888) 728-3333

Rhinoceros

Google
Web This Site
mp3 downloads
Samples from "Rhinoceros"
When You Say You're Sorry
You're My Girl
Belbeukus
 (From the Rhinoceros album, now available from Collectors Choice)


Samples from "Satin Chickens"
  Don't Come Crying
  It's The Same Thing
  Back Door

Samples from "Better Times Are Coming"
Better Times
Lady Of Fortune
(From the Satin Chickens/Better Times CD, now available from Collectors Choice)


From "Blackstone - On The Line"
Qualified (3.1Mb)

Jon & Lee & The Checkmates
Bring It Down Front (2.3Mb)
Pork Chops (2.7Mb)

Bodine
Into My Life (2.7Mb)
Travelogue (2.9Mb)


If you have anything to add to this site, contributions, comments, information, pictures or recollections of this great band, please contact us.
Sign the Rhinoceros Visitors book or Read the Visitors book or email