Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt - Captain Beyond/Iron Butterfly R.I.P.

[Digitar]

So sad to hear that one the original "HEAVY" guitarists Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt has passed on after a long battle with cancer. I'd heard about him having cancer on an earlier thread.

AND HERE'S WHAT I WROTE...

I hate to hear that Rhino's got terminal cancer. I've seen him play many times in Captain Beyond with the original line-up and over the years with both bands. He's always been highly original.

His playing on the first Captain Beyond record was amazing and should be listened to by any young kid who wants a dose of "REAL" heavy guitar. I remember the first time I saw him at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago in the early 70's and he just cooked. Our band backed them up one time and he was really a cool guy.

One of my fond memories was when we went to see him with Captain Beyond at B.Ginnings (drummer of Chicago Danny Seraphine's club) and they were fantastic as usual.

Well, some idiot comes up to the stage right as they finished and grabbed Rhino's pedalboard right off the stage and took off out the door. I was right on his heels as I watched it going down and grabbed him and said " Give me that F-in' pedalboard " and he did (whew)and I brought it back and gave it to the road crew and they thanked me and wanted to kick that guys a** but he was long gone by this time. I just couldn't stand by and let a real cool guy like Rhino get ripped off.

I wish him all the best and to stay strong in his battle with cancer. Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt is definitely one of my guitar heroes.

AND RHINO WROTE BACK .....

I remember that gig, It was one of those nights that feels great when you have finished the show, So, I was up in the dressing rooms when my Guitar Tec came in saying that somebody just tried to take my pedal board right off the stage. Well, I starting to lift off when he told me that a guy got the guy and re-took the board.

All these years later, long past due but all my thanks to you for that good deed.

Live on!!!! Larry Rhino Reinhardt



That was definitely one of my Gearslutz highlights so far. So I'm sitting here listening to Captain Beyonds first record thinking back on the old days when being totally original was the goal and the reward.

Live On "Rhino" Live On

[theblue1]

A great story.


RIP, Mr Reinhardt.

[DigitMus]

R.I.P. old friend.
Rhino was a unique talent, who got some bad breaks (& made a few bad decisions), but deserved a lot more recognition than he got. After losing touch with him for many years, I got a call a few years back - he wanted me to record his 1st solo album (& probably his last, as he was in hospice care at the time).
In dribs and drabs over the next 9 or 10 months we put together "Rhino's Last Dance" - and while there were times I thought he would die right there in the studio, the process of music making seemed to gradually rejuvinate him. In fact, shortly after we finished his doctors were quite surprised at his improvement, and thought he might not be terminal after all.

With this unexpected turn of events, Rhino went into a frenzy of songwriting and soon was ready to do another CD. He wanted to "do it right" this time, and as his old friend Dickey Betts had just announced his retirement from touring, Rhino got 3 members of Great Southern (Mike, Pedro and Frankie) as his core rhythm section and began rehearsals. He also decided to let Mike and Frankie handle the vocal chores - his chief disappointment with "Last Dance" was his vocal performance.

In August of 2010 they (joined by guitarist Don Bonzi & myself) arrived at the studio, and commenced recording "Back in the Day". Not only were we more than satisfied with the results, but were signed by a promoter/distributer in California.

In 2011, Rhino & the band did several gigs, but sadly his multiple ongoing health problems again began affecting him. After a fall and a bad infection, he was hospitalized on Christmas day. His ravaged body couldn't fight off this final blow - though he remained conscious and lucid until New Years Eve, he was put on life support the next day - then removed from it according to his wishes from his Living Will. He expired Monday without regaining consciousness.

I will miss him, his music, his humor, his stories and his friendship. My last hope is that he will not be relegated to a footnote in the history of rock music, but remembered by those he has touched, and discovered by those who never knew him.

Scott Gould

P.S. I don't know when "Back in the Day" will be in wide release, but you can find his music at his website - . . . BACK IN THE DAY - Rldrecords.com

[aremos]

Metamorphosis by "Iron Butterfly w/ Mike Pinera & El Rhino" ...
what a gem!

[T'Mershi Duween]

That's sad to hear. He was a very talented and unique player.

I've only recently got into Captain Beyond. Such a lost "classic" band.

Their debut is probably the freshest rock that I've heard in ages. The fact that it was released in the early 70's blows my mind. If a new band put out an album that strong, they would be huge. It has dated much better than a lot of other music. Not one bit of filler on the whole record, just serious ROCK. The second album is really good too, but the debut just slams with energy and power. Sounds very modern.

Everyone who really loves hard rock needs to hear Captain Beyond.

[Digitar]

Originally Posted by DigitMus

R.I.P. old friend.
Rhino was a unique talent, who got some bad breaks (& made a few bad decisions), but deserved a lot more recognition than he got. After losing touch with him for many years, I got a call a few years back - he wanted me to record his 1st solo album (& probably his last, as he was in hospice care at the time).
In dribs and drabs over the next 9 or 10 months we put together "Rhino's Last Dance" - and while there were times I thought he would die right there in the studio, the process of music making seemed to gradually rejuvinate him. In fact, shortly after we finished his doctors were quite surprised at his improvement, and thought he might not be terminal after all.

With this unexpected turn of events, Rhino went into a frenzy of songwriting and soon was ready to do another CD. He wanted to "do it right" this time, and as his old friend Dickey Betts had just announced his retirement from touring, Rhino got 3 members of Great Southern (Mike, Pedro and Frankie) as his core rhythm section and began rehearsals. He also decided to let Mike and Frankie handle the vocal chores - his chief disappointment with "Last Dance" was his vocal performance.

In August of 2010 they (joined by guitarist Don Bonzi & myself) arrived at the studio, and commenced recording "Back in the Day". Not only were we more than satisfied with the results, but were signed by a promoter/distributer in California.

In 2011, Rhino & the band did several gigs, but sadly his multiple ongoing health problems again began affecting him. After a fall and a bad infection, he was hospitalized on Christmas day. His ravaged body couldn't fight off this final blow - though he remained conscious and lucid until New Years Eve, he was put on life support the next day - then removed from it according to his wishes from his Living Will. He expired Monday without regaining consciousness.

I will miss him, his music, his humor, his stories and his friendship. My last hope is that he will not be relegated to a footnote in the history of rock music, but remembered by those he has touched, and discovered by those who never knew him.

Scott Gould

P.S. I don't know when "Back in the Day" will be in wide release, but you can find his music at his website - . . . BACK IN THE DAY - Rldrecords.com

Scott, thanks for all you did to help Rhino in his final days.
He was truly a one of a kind musician and person.

[Digitar]

Originally Posted by T'Mershi Duween

Everyone who really loves hard rock needs to hear Captain Beyond.

So true!!

The trills that he used on "Raging River Of Fear" were incredibly difficult.

The 5/4 Rhythm on "Dancing Madly Backwards", totally unique even still today.

[BudgetMC]

RIP! Rock (on) In Peace!!! A lot of mighty fine work there. We should all hope to do as much.

[yosefTux]

*covers eyes* Baruch atta Hashem, Dyan Emet. (Praise be to G-D, the True Judge). Have no idea if Rhino was Jewish, but I am, and this is how we respond when we hear bad news that affects us deeply.

Rhino affected my deeply in my life, through his music, and through his music, he will continue to do so.

[big65pbass]

Originally Posted by Digitar

So true!!

The trills that he used on "Raging River Of Fear" were incredibly difficult.

The 5/4 Rhythm on "Dancing Madly Backwards", totally unique even still today.

that song on that record blew me away when it came out! i was truly stunned by that one.

[Deltones]

A definitive "Hell Yeah" on the first Captain Beyond album. I discovered it fairly recently, but man did it blow my mind. An album that aged very, very well.