by Richie UnterbergerOne of the most interesting cult figures in rock history, Fankhausers best work came as the leader of several interesting groups during the 60s and early 70s: the Impacts (instrumental surf), Merrell & the Exiles (solid British Invasion-style rock), Fapardokly (great Byrds-ish folk-rock), the H.M.S. Bounty (fine late-60s folk-rock), and Mu (spaced-out progressive blues/psychedelia). When Mu broke up in the mid-70s, Fankhauser began working as a solo artist, issuing a series of independent albums. These usually show him in a considerably mellower and more mainstream folk-rock mood than his earlier work, sometimes recalling Crosby, Stills, & Nash and often featuring violinist Mary Lee.
by Richie UnterbergerOne of the most interesting cult figures in rock history, Fankhausers best work came as the leader of several interesting groups during the 60s and early 70s: the Impacts (instrumental surf), Merrell & the Exiles (solid British Invasion-style rock), Fapardokly (great Byrds-ish folk-rock), the H.M.S. Bounty (fine late-60s folk-rock), and Mu (spaced-out progressive blues/psychedelia). When Mu broke up in the mid-70s, Fankhauser began working as a solo artist, issuing a series of independent albums. These usually show him in a considerably mellower and more mainstream folk-rock mood than his earlier work, sometimes recalling Crosby, Stills, & Nash and often featuring violinist Mary Lee.