Influence (band)
Influence was a 1960s Canadian band best known for their mini rock-opera, Mad Birds of Prey. Roots The band was the brainchild of guitarist Louis Campbell McKelvey (born 31 October 1943 in Killorgin, County Kerry, Ireland). McKelvey, who had spent the early ‘60s playing in west London band, Jeff Curtis & The Flames and recorded with South African bands The Upsetters and The A-Cads between September 1965 and April 1966. Having arrived in Montreal around October 1966, he initially found work with the French-speaking group, Les Sinners, playing a one-off date with them at Paul Sauve Arena before briefly hooking up with Our Generation in December for a lone single. Formation Through a chance meeting with The Haunted's guitarist Jurgen Peter, McKelvey met former Haunted drummer Dave Wynne (born May 17, 1947 in Stockport, England) and recruited him for the new project he was planning. Around the same time, he also befriended bass player Jack Geisinger (born Jakob August Geisinger, March 1945 in Czechoslovakia) who had recently been playing with The Buddy Miles Quartet but was currently unemployed after Wilson Pickett recruited the group for a US tour. The last member to join this original lineup was English singer Andrew