Earth Opera

Some believed that the Boston-based ‘60s band Earth Opera had a good shot at being the East Coast’s answer to The Grateful Dead. It never happened, but it’s very easy to understand such enthusiasm. The core members were singer-songwriter-guitarist Peter Rowan and mandolin virtuoso David Grisman, with John Nagy on bass, Paul Dillon on drums and Bill Stevenson on keyboards, but their fundamental sound was more rooted in the new psychedelic movement than bluegrass.

Signed to Elektra, the ensemble released an eponymous debut drenched in far-out psychedelia. Though it didn’t sell well, the label gave the band a second shot, The Great American Eagle Tragedy, its highlight being the 10-minute title track (a daring gambit in those days). Earth Opera never attracted much of a listenership outside Boston and broke up in 1969. Both Rowan and Grisman went on to play and record with the Dead’s Jerry Garcia, Rowan was a member of Seatrain before starting a solo career, and Grisman formed his own quartet and did extensive soundtrack work. Both Earth Opera discs are available on Wounded Bird Records.

(by Dean Johnson)