The Graveyard Five
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 in Lakeport, California, United States |
| Founder | Louis Shriner, Dave Tempelton, Dennis Roller, Steve Kuppinger |
| Headquarters | Lakeport , United States |
| Products | Garage rock music |
The Graveyard Five was a garage rock group originating from Lakeport, California in 1967. Renowned for their spooky and spectral musical style influenced by funerary motifs, they are chiefly remembered for their track "The Marble Orchard," which has earned notable acclaim among enthusiasts of garage rock.
History
The band came together in 1967 following a fortuitous encounter at a convenience store. Its members were Louis Shriner (lead guitar and vocals), Dave Tempelton (drums), Dennis Roller (rhythm guitar), and Steve Kuppinger (bass guitar and vocals). The moniker Graveyard Five was inspired by an alleged paranormal event involving a ouija board. Their so-called "fifth member" was represented by a coffin that the group brought onstage during performances. Their intricate light displays and somber stage atmosphere enhanced a setlist initially dominated by surf rock instrumentals. Kuppinger recounted early difficulties playing in bars that were unaccustomed to their sound, encountering hostility and minimal compensation.
Nevertheless, they gained popularity as a live act throughout the Bay Area, supporting acts such as Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Loading Zone, and Jefferson Airplane. Triumphing over the Fatigues in a local battle of the bands earned them a recording opportunity with producer Stan Sweeney. They chose original compositions that embodied their "graveyard sound," particularly "The Marble Orchard" and "Graveyard Five Theme." The song "The Marble Orchard," alluding to a cemetery, was composed by Shriner and Kuppinger during a stormy evening at Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport. Kuppinger provided an in-depth account of the song’s creation, emphasizing its moody atmosphere.
In September 1968, Stanco Records issued "The Marble Orchard." While it experienced considerable demand within the region, numerous copies were lost either due to a fire or destroyed by Shriner amid an LSD-induced episode. A subsequent single featuring "Stay By My Grave" and "Out of the Night" was scheduled for early 1969 to maintain their dark thematic focus. Unfortunately, Shriner endured a mental breakdown while touring Florida, resulting in the destruction of the band's gear and leading to their dissolution before the release of this single. They had also recorded sufficient material for a complete album, which remains unreleased.
Since its initial release, "The Marble Orchard" has been included on various compilation albums, most notably Pebbles, Volume 16. Original pressings are highly sought after by collectors, sometimes commanding prices up to $4,500. Following the breakup, members faced significant difficulties: Tempelton was incarcerated; Roller suffered severe burn injuries; Kuppinger lives with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, causing persistent pain. Shriner currently resides in California.
Single
- "The Graveyard Theme" b/w "Marble Orchard" – Stanco Records (SR-102), 1968