Evil (band)

Evil was a garage rock band from Miami, Florida, active between late 1965 and early 1967.[1][2][3] They were known for a hard–driving, sometimes, thrashing 60s punk sound that combined elements of blues, rockabilly, and British invasion influences (particularly the tougher sounding London-based outfits of the time, such as The Yardbirds, The Who, The Pretty Things, and The Small Faces).[3][4] They recorded several songs, amongst which “Always Runnin' Around” and “Whatcha Gonna Do” were released as a single on Living Legend Records in 1966.[1][3][5][6][7] The band would eventually be signed to Capitol Records, but broke up shortly thereafter.[4] In more recent years they have become particularly noted for several previously unreleased songs recorded in 1966, which have been released in recent years on various independent labels from acetates, such as "From a Curbstone," "Short Life," and especially "I'm Movin' On," which is now regarded as a garage classic.[1][3][8][9]

Evil
Background information
OriginMiami, Florida, United States
GenresGarage rock, rock and roll, proto-punk
Years active1965 (1965)-1967 (1967)
LabelsCapitol, Living Legend, Norton, Corduroy, Florida Archive Recordings
Associated actsThe Montells
Past members
  • John Doyle
  • Stan Kinchen
  • Doug Romanella
  • Jeff Allen
  • Larry O'Connell
  • Al Banyai
  • Mike Hughes
  • John Dalton

The band was formed in 1965 by Stan Kinchen, who would play lead guitar on most of their recordings.[10] one night that year, after dance, Al Banyai, the band's rhythm guitarist asked John Doyle to join as lead singer.[10] Doyle would come up with the name of the band: "We were looking for something dark and scary. We were all into Edgar Allan Poe, almost named the band that, then Raven, then just EVIL! The story is that we named it after the blues tune..."[10][3] Later in 1965, Larry O' Connell, on bass, and Doug Romanella, on drums would be added to the lineup. [10] In March 1966, after winning WFUN's annual Dade County Youth Fair Battle Of The Bands, the band were awarded a chance to make several recordings in a one-day marathon session at the Dukoff recording studio in Miami, where they cut several demos and acetates.[10] Amongst the self-penned songs recorded there were "I'm Movin' On," "From a Curbstone," "Short Life," and Always Runnin' Around.[10]

Later that year Al Banyai, Larry O'Connell, and Doug Romanella departed and were replaced by John Dalton (rhythm guitar), Mike Hughes (bass), and Jeff Allen (drums).[10] Their new drummer, Jeff Allen, joined after the breakup of his former group, another Miami band, The Montells. He would occasionally travel to England, where he was able to go to clubs and witness, firsthand, many of the latest British bands playing live and would then bring his observations back home to share with fellow band members.[4] Near the end of 1966, they would record again in Miami, this time at Criteria Studios, with their version of the Small Faces' "Whacha Gonna Do."[3][6][5][10] “Always Runnin' Around” and “Whatcha Gonna Do” were released as a single on Living Legend Records in late 1966.[3][6][5] By the end of the year they signed to Capitol Records, who re-released the same single on their own label, with the band's name mistakenly printed as "The Evil."[3][6][5] However, shortly afterward, in 1967, the band broke up.[10]

In 2010, Jeff Allen, second drummer for Evil (and earlier with the Montells) died.[11][12] On February 14, 2014, former lead singer, John Doyle, passed.[13]

Personnel
First Lineup (1965-1966)
  • John Doyle - Lead Singer
  • Stan Kinchen - Lead Guitar
  • Al Banyai - Rhythm Guitar
  • Larry O'Connell - Bass
  • Doug Romanella - Drums[4]
Second Lineup (1966-1967)
  • John Doyle - vocals
  • Stan Kinchen - lead guitar
  • John Dalton - rhythm guitar
  • Mike Hughes - bass
  • Jeff Allen - drums[4][14]

Discography

Singles
  • "Always Runnin' Around"/ "Whatcha Gonna Do" (Living Legend LL-108, rel. 1967; Capitol 2038, rel. 1967)[3][6][5]
  • "I’m Movin' On" (Evil)/"You Can’t Make Me" (The Montells) (Norton 826-8, rec. 1966, rel. 1997)[4][9]
  • "From a Curbstone"/"Short Life" (Florida Archive Recordings F.A.R. 6601, rec. 1966, rel. 2012)[3]

Albums
  • The Montells/Evil (Corduroy, Cord 027, rel. 1997 on LP) (includes songs: "Don't Put Me Down" and "I Know I'll Die")[8]

References
  1. Markesich, Mike (2012). Teen Beat Mayhem (First ed.). Branford, Connecticut: Priceless Info Press. pp. 104, 385. ISBN 978-0-9856482-5-1. - Pg. 104 mentions information about their place of origin and details of their discography. In the section listing the top 1000 garage rock songs (voted on by a panel of garage rock writers and experts) "I'm Movin' On" is ranked in the top twenty five garage rock songs of all time—at #23 (pg. 385), and achieves the highest position of any previously unissued garage acetate. At the time of the publication of this book, the unissued acetate of "From a Cubstone" had not yet been released, but other sources, as well as comments from band members regard "From a Curbstone" also as one of their finest achievements.
  2. Lemlich, Jeffrey M. (1992). Savage Lost: Florida Garage Bands of the 60s and Beyond (First ed.). Plantation, FL: Distinctive Publishing Corporation. p. 49. ISBN 0-942963-12-1.
  3. "EVIL - From A Curbstone / Short Life (Florida Archive Recordings)". Down the Line. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  4. "Evil: Interview with John Doyle". '60s Punk. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  5. "In Dan's Garage...#25". Dan's Garage. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  6. "EVIL - Whatcha Gonna Do About It". YouTube. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  7. Lemlich, Jeffrey M. (1992). Savage Lost: Florida Garage Bands of the 60s and Beyond (First ed.). Plantation, FL: Distinctive Publishing Corporation. p. 29. ISBN 0-942963-12-1.
  8. "The Montells/ EVIL- Split LP (Corduroy, CORD 027)". ghost-capital. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  9. "The Evil- Im Movin On -The Montells-You Cant Make Me 45". No Hit Records. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  10. 60s Punk in south Florida: Evil (interview with John Doyle, former lead singer http://60spunk.m78.com/flpunk.htm
  11. "Jeff Allen of the Montells & Evil." The Limestone Lounge http://limestonelounge.yuku.com/topic/2585
  12. G45 Central http://www.g45central.com/oldforum/viewtopic.php?t=2010&sid=e489e4e9fc09ba49701af5b22470364a
  13. Lemlich, Jeff. "JOHN DOYLE of the Miami Band Evil--We'll always Remember You" Savage Lost (website) http://savagelost.com/john-doyle-of-the-miami-band-evil-well-always-remember
  14. "Evil". SouthernGarageBands.com. DaveandAndy. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
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