{{short description|American rock band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} [[File:Helix, v.3, no.5, Apr. 11, 1968 - DPLA - 40ca53f6c2fdc9c45fabf82dd272d002 (page 14).jpg|thumb|upright|Ad for The Loading Zone's first album, 1968]] '''The Loading Zone'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chickenonaunicycle.com/Loading%20Zone.htm|title=Loading Zone|website=Chickenonaunicycle.com|access-date=October 12, 2025}}</ref> was an American [[rock music|rock]] [[musical ensemble|band]] of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They issued two albums worth of material, with differing band lineups, before disbanding in 1971.
==Career== They were formed in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[California]] in 1966 by singer-keyboardist Paul Fauerso, following the dissolution of his jazz group The Tom Paul Trio. The original lineup was Fauerso, bassist Bob Kridle, drummer Ted Kozlowski (replaced by George Newcom), and guitarists Peter Shapiro and Steve Dowler,<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p18973/biography|pure_url=yes}} Jason Ankeny, Loading Zone Biography], ''AllMusic.com''</ref> both formerly of [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]] [[psychedelic rock]] band [[The Marbles (quartet)|The Marbles]], who had supported [[Jefferson Airplane]] at the historic "Tribute to Dr. Strange", the inaugural [[Family Dog Productions|Family Dog]] promotion concert held at San Francisco's Longshoreman's Hall in October 1965.
The Loading Zone's first major [[concert]] was the [[Trips Festival]] at the Longshoreman's Hall in January 1966.<ref name="Gilbert">[http://www.eastbayexpress.com/music/loading_zone_reloaded/Content?oid=807429 Andrew Gilbert, "Loading Zone Reloaded"], ''[[East Bay Express]]'', 13 August 2008 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926162438/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/music/loading_zone_reloaded/Content?oid=807429 |date=26 September 2009 }}</ref> Although primarily an [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] band, The Loading Zone added contemporary psychedelic influences and soon became a popular attraction on the burgeoning [[Bay Area]] music scene. The Loading Zone was based at the Berkeley venue The New Orleans House, but performed numerous times at major venues including the [[Fillmore West]].
Although The Loading Zone occasionally headlined, the group is better known for supporting some of the biggest acts of the period including [[Cream (band)|Cream]], [[The Who]], [[The Byrds]], [[Big Brother & the Holding Company]], [[Grateful Dead]], [[Howlin' Wolf]], [[Sam & Dave]], [[Chuck Berry]] and [[Buddy Miles]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldhandbills.com/bill_graham_postcards.htm|website=Oldhandbills.com |title=Bill Graham postcards|access-date=October 12, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Gilbert"/>
In 1967 the band placed an advertisement in the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' seeking a new lead vocalist, which led to the recruitment of [[Linda Tillery]], who joined just prior to the band's signing with [[RCA Records]]. Despite their live popularity, the group lacked a strong base of original material; their self-titled debut [[album]] was poorly received, and was criticised for its excessive production and its reliance on [[cover version]]s. The Loading Zone was unable to garner support from radio, and eventually split in 1969.<ref>During this period, drummer John Chambers, previously the touring drummer with [[We Five]] and later a member of the [[Elvin Bishop]] Band, also played with the group. See profile of John Chambers, [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Millard Agency]], [http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist5/ebishop.html Elvin Bishop Band]. News release, 1969; [[Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco]]. Retrieved 2017-01-15.</ref>
In 1969, Fauerso re-formed the group with new members- guitarist Steve Busfield, bassist Mike Eggleston, and drummer George Marsh, and initially with previous horn players Todd Anderson (tenor sax) and Patrick O'Hara (trombone). Anderson was replaced after a few months by Ron Taormina. The new Zone also recruited old friend and drummer Frank Davis to play with the group for a while. During this brief period, the band performed with two drummers at the same time - Davis and Marsh - with some exciting results. The band recorded their second LP ''One for All'' for their own label, Umbrella, before disbanding in 1971.
Tillery released her solo debut album ''Sweet Linda Divine'' on [[Sony Music Entertainment|CBS Records]] in 1970. It was produced by [[Al Kooper]] of [[Blood, Sweat & Tears|Blood, Sweat and Tears]] fame. Fauerso went on to produce the unreleased [[Mike Love]] solo album ''First Love'' and more recently, a second entitled ''Only One Earth''. Fauerso went on to make [[sound recording and reproduction|recordings]] of [[new-age music]] and also to compose and produce commercials for radio and TV. Tillery resurfaced with the jazz fusion group Cesar 830 before embarking on a solo career.
In 2005, Fauerso reconnected with Eggleston and Marsh to record a new Loading Zone CD entitled ''Blue Flame''. The album contained five new tracks and three cuts from the second Zone album, ''One For All''.
George Newcom died from a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] on July 1, 2010, in [[Red Bluff, California]]. He was 63 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2010b.html|title=The Dead Rock Stars Club 2010 July to December|website=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com|access-date=October 12, 2025}}</ref> Trombonist Pat O'Hara later worked with Buddy Miles on ''Cold Blood'' and others, and died in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''The Loading Zone'' (RCA Records, 1968) *'' One for All'' (Umbrella Records, 1970)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{allMusic|artist/the-loading-zone-mn0000772415}} * {{Discogs artist}} *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100531020209/http://www.digthatcrazyfarout.com/trips/trips_festival_history.html "The Trips Festival" of January 1966"]}} *[http://www.chickenonaunicycle.com/Loading%20Zone.htm The Loading Zone] * Roxon, Lillian: Lilian Roxon's Rock Encyclopedia (Grosset and Dunlop, Universal Library Edition, 1972) p300 {{ISBN|0-448-00255-8}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Loading Zone, The}} [[Category:Musical groups established in 1966]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1971]] [[Category:Musical groups from San Francisco]] [[Category:Psychedelic rock music groups from California]] [[Category:RCA Records artists]] [[Category:1966 establishments in California]]