The Misunderstood

The Misunderstood
The Misunderstood in London – 1966
Background information
Origin	Riverside, California, United States
Genres	Psychedelic rock, blues rock, garage rock
Years active	1963–69, sporadically thereafter
Labels	Fontana (UK), Cherry Red (UK), Ugly Things (USA)
Associated acts	The Influence, Juicy Lucy, High Tide
Website	themisunderstood.com
Members	Rick Brown (voc) Glenn Ross Campbell (steel g) Tony Hill (rgtr, bvoc) Rick Moe (drums) Greg Treadway (rgtr, key) Steve Whiting (bass) George Phelps (lgtr) --1969 lineup-- Glenn Campbell Steve Hoard (voc) David O'List (rgtr, bass) Chris Mercer (sax) Guy Evans (drums) Nic Potter (bass) Ray Owen (rgtr)
Notable instruments
electric slide guitar (Campbell)

The Misunderstood were a psychedelic rock band originating from Riverside, California in the mid-1960s. The band moved to London early in their career, and although they recorded only a handful of songs before being forced to disband, they are considered highly influential in the then-emerging genre.

Creem, in their September 2004 review, wrote, "The saga of the Misunderstood is one of the most unbelievable, heartbreaking, and unlikely stories in the entire history of rock."

Classic Rock's June 2010 issue stated, "The truth is that this band (the Misunderstood) were so far out on their own, so individual and innovative that you can only wonder at the set of circumstances that conspired to prevent them from becoming the iconic name that was surely their destiny."

The band began in 1963 as one of many garage bands formed in the US in the wake of the British Invasion. They moved to London in 1966, with the assistance of their manager, John Peel, who would later gain fame as an influential BBC Radio DJ. In UK they recruited Englishman Tony Hill on rhythm guitar. Hill and singer Rick Brown formed a songwriting team. Bass player Steve Whiting was also involved in developing material for the band.

The band was influenced by and often compared to the Yardbirds, and in 2004 were called "the American Yardbirds" by Rolling Stone. Distinctive features of the band's sound included the steel guitar of Glenn Ross Campbell and the innovative style of Whiting, known for his use of slide, fuzz tone and distortion.

Fontana Records introduced the band with a 4-song live performance in London's Philips Studios. British media response was positive, but at this juncture it was decided that Campbell, Whiting, and Moe should go to Europe to sort out their British visas and work permits, while Brown returned to California for his draft.