H. P. Lovecraft – Nostalgia Central

Named after the legendary horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, this bizarre Chicago band drew much of its inspiration from the author’s works.

Classically trained multi-instrumentalist Dave Michaels (who possessed a spectacular four-octave vocal range) and folk singer George Edwards formed the band, branching out from folk-rock into eerie. spacey tunes, often with classical overtones and electronic segments.

They signed to Philips Records in 1967 and released their first single, Anyway That You Want Me. Their debut self-titled album followed in late 1967 and included their best-known song, The White Ship – a psychedelic masterpiece directly inspired by Lovecraft’s short story.

The group was largely ignored in their hometown for being too eclectic and esoteric, but they won critical acclaim across the rest of the US and toured the country several times. Eventually relocating to San Francisco, they became a frequent attraction at various Bay Area venues, including The Fillmore and the Winterland Ballroom, alongside major acts like Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, and Buffalo Springfield.

Their H.P. Lovecraft II album is still a classic among heavy prog rock masterpieces, but they never had a real hit single, and the group disbanded in early 1969.

Drummer Mike Tegza reformed the group in 1970 (with the shortened name of Lovecraft) and again in 1975. though there was little similarity to their original sound.

George Edwards
Vocals, guitar, bass
Dave Michaels 
Vocals, keyboards, recorder
Tony Cavallari
Guitar, vocals
Michael Tegza
Drums, vocals
Tom Skidmore
Bass
Jerry McGeorge
Bass, vocals
Jeff Boyan
Bass, vocals