The Chocolate Watchband

The Chocolate Watchband are an extremely raw and punky psychedelic garage rock band from San Jose, California. The group was first formed in the summer of 1965. The original line-up was: Ned Torney (guitarist), Mark Loomis (guitarist), Rich Young (bassist), Peter Curry (drummer), Joe Kemling (box organ), and Danny Phay (vocals). Alas, this particular line-up quickly dissolved and broke up. Only Loomis stayed on for the second line-up; the new members were David Aguiler (lead singer), Gary Andrijasevich (drummer), Sean Tolby (guitarist), and Bill 'Flo' Flores (bassist). The Chocolate Watchband started out performing in various places in San Francisco's Bay Area teen circuit. The group was offered a management deal by famous rock promoter Bill Graham after doing a show in which they opened for the Mindbenders. The band released their debut single "Sweet Young Thing/Baby Blue" on the Uptown label in December, 1966. Their debut album "No Way Out" was issued on the Tower label in 1967. The Chocolate Watchband appear as themselves in both "The Love-Ins" and the American International Pictures teen exploitation cult favorite "Riot on Sunset Strip." In mid 1967 the group's line-up changed for a third time: Only Tolby and Flores remained from the previous line-up along with new additions Tim Abbott (guitarist), Mark Whittaker (drummer), and Chris Finders (singer). A fourth line-up change occurred in the autumn of 1968: Phay, Andrijasevich, and Torney all rejoined the group. The band's second album "The Inner Mystique" was released that same year. They recorded their third album "One Step Beyond" in 1969. Alas, the Chocolate Watchband split for good in 1970. Fortunately, the group got back together in 1999. The line-up for this particular incarnation of the group includes original members Aguiler, Abbott, Flores, and Andrijasevich. The band started playing gigs again in the spring of 1999 and performed at the Cavestomp garage rock festival in New York in November, 1999. Moreover, they recorded the album "Get Away" that same year. The live album "Live at the Love-In!" was issued in 2001. The Chocolate Watchband continue to perform in concert at garage rock shows in both Europe and America on a regular basis.