Peter Wheat & the Breadmen

Fremont, CA, folk-rock combo Peter Wheat and the Breadmen formed in 1964 under the name the Tarantels -- originally just high-school friends Dave Wheeler and Bob Birdwell messing around on their guitars, the additions of singer/guitarist Roger Kennedy and drummer Terry Riesman made their musical aspirations a little more realistic, and Birdwell moved to bass to shore up the fledgling band's rhythm section. When Wheeler's family moved away, Kennedy moved to rhythm guitar, Barry Houk assumed lead guitar duties, and Chuck Tedford signed on to play keyboards -- while gigging at the San Leandro Rollerina in support of the Turtles, the Tarantels were spotted by Go Teen Productions exec Barry Carlos, who signed the group and renamed them Peter Wheat and the Breadmen. Opening dates for the Byrds, the Animals, and the Yardbirds followed, and though slated to open for the Beatles at Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966 -- an appearance that would prove the Fab Four's final official concert date -- conflicts between rival musicians' unions kept the Breadmen on the sidelines. Also in 1966, the group issued their lone single, "Baby What's New," on the Amber label -- though little noticed upon its original release, the performance was later immortalized on the tenth volume in the legendary Pebbles series. Peter Wheat and the Breadmen dissolved in early 1967. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide