Blackstone

Websites:  No
Origin: Toronto, Ontario
Biography:

In February 1972 former Rhinoceros members John Finley, Michael Fonfara, Danny Weis, Larry Leishman and Peter Hodgson reunited as a new act calling themselves The Blackstone Rangers. The line-up is completed with new drummer, Richard Steinberg, and ex-McKenna Mendelsohn Mainline member Frank ‘Zeke’ Sheppard. Not long after, the band soon has to shorten its name to Blackstone after being threatened by the local Black Panthers’ motorcycle escort who have the same moniker. Within the year former Rhinoceros’ producer/creator Paul Rothchild travels to Toronto and records the group’s debut (and only) album “On The Line”. With the album getting poor reviews and sales, by March 1973, the group’s membership begins jumping ship. Fonfara and Weis carry on briefly with new singer Mike Stull and ex-Bush bassist Prakash John and drummer Penti 'Whitey’ Glan, but the band crashes and burns in Los Angeles. John and Glan would go on to join Lou Reed’s touring band (and eventually Alice Cooper) while Fonfara and Weis become top session musicians. John Finley (vocals) Michael Fonfara (piano, organ) Danny Weis (guitar) Larry Leishman (lead guitar) Peter Hodgson (bass) Richard Steinberg (drums) Frank 'Zeke’ Sheppard Mike Stull (vocals; replaced Finley; 1973) Prakash John (bass; replaced Hodgson) Penti 'Whitey’ Glan (drums; replaced Steinberg; 1973).

Onetime members from a group called Rhinoceros came back together in 1972 to form a new rock band, the Blackstone Rangers. Because of circumstances, the guys soon shortened their name to the one-word title Blackstone. The lineup started out with lead singer John Finley, guitarists Danny Weis and Larry Leishman, pianist Michael Fonfara, and bassist Peter Hodgson. A short time later, drummer Richard Steinberg and musician Frank “Zeke” Sheppard were added to the roster.

Blackstone recorded its debut album in 1973, On the Line. The music critics found the first album less than pleasing, and soon group members Finley, Leishman, Hodgson, Sheppard, and Steinberg were all moving on to more lucrative projects. Weis and Fonfara tried to hang in there for a while longer with Blackstone, brining in some new blood to the group, like bassist John Prakash, singer Mike Stull, and drummer Penti “Whitey” Glan. The official end came in 1973, only a year after the band’s creation.
-Charlotte Dillon

John Finley: vocals
Danny Weis: guitar
Larry Leishman: vocals, guitar, harp
Frank "Zeke" Sheppard: vocals, harp
Michael Fonfara: keyboards
Peter Hodgson: bass
Richard Steinberg: drums