Biography
The Mourning Reign originated in San Jose, California, USA, as garage rock contemporaries of the Chocolate Watchband and the Harbinger Complex. At the outset they operated under the name the English, with a roster that included Frank Beau Maggi on vocals, Johnnie Bell on lead guitar, Steve Canali on rhythm guitar, Charlie Garden on bass, and Craig Maggi on drums. Strong local support developed for them throughout the south and east suburbs of San Francisco, where their sets leaned on punk-styled numbers influenced by the Rolling Stones and Yardbirds. In 1966 the group issued a cover of ‘Evil Hearted You’ as its first single, then followed it with the original ‘Satisfaction’s Guaranteed’. Thomas O’Bonsawin stepped in for Bell, after which two additional tracks were laid down for a prospective third single that stayed unreleased once the Mourning Reign disbanded in 1968 upon several members receiving draft notices for Vietnam.
Albums