Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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MAHOGANY RUSH

Heavy metal band formed '70 in Montreal by guitarist Frank Marino (b 22 Aug. '54, Del Rio TX) who began jamming with locally-based rhythm section of Paul Harwood (b 30 Feb. '54, Quebec) on bass, drummer Jimmy Ayoub (b 18 Aug. '53, Honolulu). A concert in the Montreal Expo grounds '71 won them a contract with the Katai label; they gained notoriety when Marino, undoubtedly influenced by Jimi Hendrix in his playing, said he was visited by Hendrix's spirit while in a coma after a car crash, reinforcing this by playing with his teeth and including 'Purple Haze' and 'Star Spangled Banner' in the stage act. After Child Of The Novelty '73 and Strange Universe '75 saw him moving away from pyrotechnics to songs, the band signed to CBS; the latter was issued in the USA on 20th Century and that label also reissued the first two (including Maxoom), enabling Marino to claim that they were marketed as new product. IV '76 saw them hit the road; World Anthem '77 and Live '78 fared well in HM circles; Marino liked the live sound so much he persevered with half-studio, half-live Tales Of The Unexpected '79. What's Next '80 added Marino's brother Vince on rhythm guitar, altering the formula slightly, but a bigger change was the variety of covers on that LP: Doors' 'Roadhouse Blues', Bo Diddley's 'Mona', B. B. King's 'Rock Me Baby'. Power Of Rock'n'Roll '81 continued in heavy rock vein; Juggernaut '82 and Full Circle '86 were billed as by Frank Marino. They never claimed to be original, but ploughed a profitable furrow. Double Live '89 was on Maze; best-of Dragonfly on Razor and Tie.