The Baroques
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Baroques were a rock ensemble originating from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, established in 1966. They gained prominence within their region by evolving from a garage rock style to psychedelic rock, particularly recognized for their provocative single "Mary Jane". The band produced a single studio album before dissolving in 1968.
History
Initially formed in 1966 under the name "The Complete Unknowns," the lineup included Rick Bieniewski on bass, Jacques Hutchinson handling lead guitar and vocals, Dean Nimmer, and Wayne Will on drums. Their early performances focused on garage rock cover songs. After Wayne Will was conscripted for military service in Vietnam, multi-instrumentalist Jay Borkenhagen joined the group, which led to a transition toward psychedelic rock and a name change to The Baroques. Their musical style incorporated ornate keyboard arrangements, distorted guitar sounds, and extended improvisational sections.
Their energetic live performances caught the attention of Chess Records—a label primarily known for blues and R&B—which signed them in January 1967 as part of its effort to diversify into other genres. Under the production of Ralph Bass at Chicago's Ter Mar Studios, their debut single "Mary Jane" backed with "Iowa, A Girl's Name" was released in June 1967. Although intended as an anti-drug message, "Mary Jane" was banned by several local radio stations due to perceived drug references, resulting in regional controversy that increased the band's visibility.
Subsequent to the single's release, The Baroques issued their sole album, The Baroques, featuring both tracks from the single. While the album achieved success within their local area, it did not receive broad distribution because Chess Records had limited influence within rock markets. Despite an uptick in live performances during this period of heightened popularity, Chess eventually dropped the band. In 1968, they independently financed a final single titled "I Will Not Touch You" / "Remember," which attained modest regional attention before the group disbanded.
Following the breakup, Jay Borkenhagen recorded with the band Feather in California throughout the 1970s; Jacques Hutchinson became a professor of communications at the University of Colorado; Dean Nimmer pursued studies and work in art education at Massachusetts College of Art; and Rick Bieniewski embarked on a career as a traveling salesman.
Renewed interest in their work led to a self-released compilation LP in 1989 containing demos and unreleased material from 1967-68. In 1995, Distortion Records issued Purple Day, a compilation curated with input from former members that combined tracks from their Chess album with demos and outtakes. The track "Mary Jane" was featured on the 1997 psychedelic anthology Psychedelic Crown Jewels, Vol. 1. In 2017, Sundazed Music released a limited edition deluxe colored vinyl reissue of their Chess album, preserving the original artwork and mono mix.