PsychepediA

From: Redondo Beach, CA, USA

This L.A. area quintet started life as the W.C. Fields Memorial Electrical String Band and released a few 45s under that moniker in 1966. It is said that they issued the very first cover of Boyce & Hart's '(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone' in May of '66, before the Paul Revere & The Raiders' version and then the Monkees, who of course made it a huge hit later that year. Original members included George Caldwell (vocals), Hal Tennant (guitar), Robert Zinner (guitar), Patrick Burke (bass) and Steven Lagana (drums).

In 1967, Tennant left the fold and was replaced by Vejtables alumnus Richard Fortunato (guitar, vocals). Around this same time, they shortened their name to the Electrical String Band and then to just ESB. Under this abbreviated moniker, they released one amazing 45 ('Mushroom People' b/w 'Let Me Touch You') on the local In Arts label, which is a must have for any 60s psychedelic rock fan. In 1969, Zinner and Caldwell called it quits and the remaining trio changed their name to Fields, releasing an LP under that moniker later in the year.

Artist information sources include: The book, 'Fuzz, Acid, and Flowers Revisited' by Vernon Joynson.