Poobah (band)

Poobah are a rock band from Youngstown, Ohio, U.S., which was founded in 1972 by Jim Gustafson. The band played classic 70s rock or simply rock. Especially the first record ''Let Me in'' is a rare collector's item. Prices between $300 and $900 for an original are not uncommon. Poobah released a total of 14 albums from 1972 to 2020. The band gained more popularity through the use of their songs in the television series ''Graves'' and the Hollywood film '' Josie''.

History

The beginnings

Jim Gustafson was the guitarist and singer in the band Daze Endz in 1967. In 1968, at the age of 15, he recorded his first record, the single "What Can I Do?" / "Knock On Wood". He wrote and sang the songs and played electric guitar. Phil Jones, later founding member of Poobah, played bass on the recording.

From 1969 to 1972, Gustafson was the guitarist and singer in the band Biggy Rat. His second single, "Look Inside Yourself / I'm A Woman" was produced in Memphis Tennessee by Billy Cox, the bassist with the recently deceased Jimi Hendrix. Other members of the band were Scott Hunter, Gary Dipasquale, Shirliann Shank, later Steve Rohrbaugh and Frank Amedia. Biggyrat support Cheech & Chong, Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Sugarloaf and others.

After Gustafson left Biggy Rat, he formed the hard rock trio Poobah with bassist Phil Jones and drummer Glenn Wiseman. The band's name derived from the nickname of a feared girl at Gustafson's school. In 1972, Gustafson used a small inheritance from his grandmother to record the album ''Let Me In'' in Peppermint Studio, Youngstown, Ohio. The album had great success on local radio stations. The first pressing of 500 copies, sold out in one day by National Record Mart.

First changes of line-up and temporary disbanding

After disputes with Gustafson, Wiseman left the band in 1973 and was replaced by sixteen-year-old Steve Schwelling. Wiseman later returned to the band, but soon left again and was replaced by Nick Gligor. The new line-up was working on the next album while they did tours and shows with Ted Nugent, Canned Heat, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Blue Öyster Cult, Spirit, Uriah Heep, Mitch Ryder, Glass Harp, The Godz, Foghat, Tim Curry, Judas Priest, Eddie Money, James Gang, Cheech & Chong, Brownsville Station, Mark Lindsay, Mark Chatfield, Sugarloaf and others. In 1974, Nick Gligor and guitarist Pat O'Horo left Poobah, to form their own band. New members were drummer Gene Procopio and keyboardist Ken Smetzer, who added Hammond organ to the sound of Poobah. The band also made several appearances on television during this period. The album ''U.S. Rock'' was recorded in 1976 with the record company A.E.I. Records. Camelot Music Distribution, who had already sold their entire stock of Poobah records, pre-ordered 5,000 copies of the new album. Poobah, preoccupied with touring, noticed too late that A.E.I. Records was in financial trouble. As a result of the bankruptcy of their record company, Poobah disbanded in 1978. Jim Gustafson played in other bands, but no records were released in that time.

New start

Jim Gustafson and Phil Jones re-established Poobah in 1979. There were several line-up changes since then. In 1979 the album ''Steamroller'' was released, the last album on vinyl until later re-issues. In the following years Jim Gustafson founded or joined several short-lived bands, including "Switch", where he produced the single "Eye To Eye" in 1986. In 1994, Gustafson produced the CD ''The Rock Collection''. It is the first CD produced by Poobah, more releases and personnel changes followed. The drummer Mike Fortino, whose first album with Poobah is the CD ''Peace Farmers'', remains a member of the band to this day. Other long-time players are bassists Kevin Mc Illvaine and Dan Tharp.

New popularity

In 2010 Poobah signed a deal with the Ripple Music label. The first album ''Let Me In'' was remixed by Tony Reed (Stone Axe / Mos Generator) and reissued as CD and double album on vinyl with previously unreleased bonus material from 1972-73. The album received good reviews and high recognition. The ''Rolling Stone'' magazine e.g. added ''Let Me In'' to the "Top Ten Albums Of The Year". The '' Goldmine'' music collector magazine named the album "Reissue Pick Of The Year" and Poobah "One of the world's most collectable psych rock bands". The ''Goldmine'' magazine also featured an interview with Poobah in April 2021. London's ''Shindig!

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