About Me
This country rock outfit was formed in New England, USA, in 1965 by Gram Parsons (b. Cecil Ingram Connor III, 5 November 1946, Winter Haven, Florida, USA, d. 19 September 1973, Joshua Tree, California, USA; vocals/keyboards/guitar), Ian Dunlop (bass/vocals), John Nuese (guitar, ex-Trolls) and Tom Snow (piano), who was later replaced by a drummer, Mickey Gauvin. It was Gauvin and Dunlop who suggested their new name - a reference to the "International Silverstream Submarine Band" from the "Our Gang" film series of the 1930s.The quartet moved to New York where they backed former child actor Brandon De Wilde on a series of demos for RCA Records and also made two singles. The first, an instrumental version of the title song to the movie The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming , was backed by a version of Buck Owens' "Truck Driving Man" and was issued on Ascot Records in 1966. Later that year the quartet switched to Columbia Records for "Sum Up Broke"/"One Day Week", the a-side of which was an impressive synthesis of folk rock and pop. When these singles were unsuccessful, the band followed De Wilde to Los Angeles where they supported several acts, including Love and Iron Butterfly, but their blend of R&B, C&W and rock 'n' roll was at odds with prevailing psychedelic trends. Footage of the band appeared in the movie The Trip . Lee Hazlewood showed interest in the C&W element of their music but internal disputes broke apart the founding line-up. In 1967, Dunlop and Gauvin left to form the original Flying Burrito Brothers while Parsons and Nuese were joined in the International Submarine Band by Bob Buchanan (bass) and Jon Corneal (drums). Safe At Home was released on Hazlewood's LHI label. It featured material by Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, alongside four Parsons originals, notably "Luxury Liner" and "Blue Eyes". Both of these songs were completed prior to Buchanan's arrival and feature Chris Ethridge on bass. The album, however, was not a success and the band dissolved.Parsons briefly joined the Byrds, then formed a revamped Flying Burrito Brothers, initially including both Corneal and Ethridge. Gauvin formed Vegelava with two ex-members of the Blues Magoos before retiring from music. Dunlop returned to his native Cornwall where he formed the Muscletones, while Nuese fronted a version of the International Submarine Band during the early 70s. At the same time Parsons was enjoying an influential solo career.
