The late ’60s and early ’70s produced some terrific rock bands that for whatever reason didn’t reach the mass audience they perhaps deserved. Instead, they remained ‘local heroes,’ but thanks to this wonderful internet thing, their sounds are finally being played across the world.

One such band is Warpig.

Rick Donmoyer had taught himself lap steel guitar while still at high school in Woodstock, Ontario. He played in several local bands, one of which was named The Kingbees, formed when he and pal Jim Walker quit their day jobs and focused on music.

They later teamed up with Terry Brett who had returned from living in the UK. He was a trained classical guitarist who played bass.

After some further changes, the three ended up playing together in a band called Mass Destruction, still in the environs of Woodstock, Ontario. Towards the end of that band’s short lifespan, they were joined by Dana Snitch on rhythm guitar.

Dana was known to Donmoyer and Walker as a folk guitarist and vocalist. The three had met in Toronto and tried, unsuccessfully, to form an R’n’B band with Dana on bass. Dana returned to college to complete his studies and reconnected with the others when he later played warm-up shows with Mass Destruction, and was subsequently asked if he’d join them.

A change of drummer / percussionist saw Terry Hook join and a name-change followed…. Warpig were off and running.

Their debut, eponymous album was released on the Fonthill label in 1972 and original copies of these have passed hands on Discogs for over £500.

I believe Fonthill were bought over by London Records and the album was re-mastered and two tracks, ‘Flaggit‘ above and ‘Rock Star,’ below, were released as a 7″ single which created a bit more awareness of the band, peaking at #52 in the Canadian chart.

As you can tell, there is quite a similarity in sound to Deep Purple, especially so with this track which could pass as a template for ‘Fireball.’ The album is chock full of big, chunky guitar riffs, and yes, you could say at points there are similarities to Black Sabbath also.

Yet, one of my favourite tracks on the album is ‘Advance Am’ which closes this post – it has classical influences,time and key changes and is altogether far more ‘prog’ orientated than straight up ‘rock.’

A second album was started, but for whatever reason, never completed. Terry Hook left the band in 1974 and Dana Snitch, the following year. The three remaining members tried to soldier on, but the loss of two key original players proved too much, and Warpig was no more.

The album though continues to attract attention and was bootlegged several times before I believe band members got together and authorised official re-issues in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

I can understand why … this album is too good to disappear without trace.

WARPIG

Rick Donmoyer – Vocals / Guitar
Terry Brett – Bass
Dana Snitch – Keyboards / Guitar / Vocals
Terry Hook – Drums

TITLE	FORMAT	YEAR	LABEL	NOTES
Warpig	LP	1972	Fonthill	Re-issued by London Records in 1973
Rockstar / Flaggit	7″ single	1973	London Records