Moby Grape

Moby Grape
Columbia Records promotional photo, 1967. (Left to right) Skip Spence, Jerry Miller, Bob Mosley, Peter Lewis, Don Stevenson
Columbia Records promotional photo, 1967. (Left to right) Skip Spence, Jerry Miller, Bob Mosley, Peter Lewis, Don Stevenson
Background information
OriginSan Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1966–1969
  • 1971
  • 1973–1975
  • 1977–1979
  • 1983–1984
  • 1987–1991
  • 1996–2001
  • 2006–present
Labels
MembersPeter Lewis
Bob Mosley
Past membersJerry Miller
Skip Spence
Don Stevenson
Websitemobygrape.us

Moby Grape is an American rock band founded in 1966. Part of San Francisco's psychedelic music scene, the band merged elements of rock and roll, folk music, pop, blues, and country.[5][6] They were one of the few groups of which all members were lead vocalists and songwriters. The group's first incarnation ended in 1969, in part due to members Bob Mosley and Skip Spence suffering from mental illness.[1] The group has reformed many times afterwards and continues to perform occasionally.

Moby Grape's success was accompanied by decades-long legal disputes with their former manager, Matthew Katz. Legal difficulties originated shortly after the group's formation, when Katz insisted on ownership of the group name. The dispute with Katz became more acute after the group members' rights to their songs were signed away in 1973, in a settlement made without their knowledge.

As described by Jeff Tamarkin, "The Grape's saga is one of squandered potential, absurdly misguided decisions, bad luck, blunders and excruciating heartbreak, all set to the tune of some of the greatest rock and roll ever to emerge from San Francisco. Moby Grape could have had it all, but they ended up with nothing, and less."[1]

  1. ^ a b c Tamarkin, Jeff (2003). "Skip Spence and The Sad Saga of Moby Grape". Got A Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. New York City: Atria Books. pp. 120–121. ISBN 978-0671034030.
  2. ^ "In The News: Wilco, Pete Yorn, The Jesus Lizard, Moby Grape and Free MP3s". Magnet (magazine). March 1, 2009. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  3. ^ Fletcher, Amy L. (2012). "Acid Rock". In Debolt, Abbe A.; Baugess, James S. (eds.). The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Vol. 1: A–M. Popular Press. pp. 7–8. ISBN 978-0-313-32944-9.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Moby Grape". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  5. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p19444/biography
  6. ^ Wine, Steven (June 16, 2023). "Latest film news and reviews | Yahoo Movies UK". Yahoo Movies. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.