Mike Pinera
Encyclopedia
Mike Pinera is an American guitarist who started professionally in the late 1960s with the group Blues Image, which had a #4 hit in 1970 with their song "Ride Captain Ride
". After the breakup of that group, he joined Iron Butterfly
, and later formed the group Ramatam
. Pinera was then the founding member of the band New Cactus, a later incarnation of the band Cactus
. He was the guitarist for Alice Cooper
from 1980-1983. He is currently performing with the Classic Rock All Stars. Pinera met the band Renegade
through their manager, Kim Richards, who also managed Pinera at the time. They remained close friends and appear together in the television special "Renegade Live @ The House of Blues", which was filmed before a sold out audience at the Hollywood House of Blues.
where they scored the major hit "Ride Captain Ride
" which Pinera co-wrote and sang. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) first certified Ride Captain Ride Gold on August 4, 1970. "Ride Captain Ride" has been featured in television programs and on several popular music compilations offered on television, such as "Flower Power, Have A Nice Day, PBS-My Music The 70's and Sounds of the 70's." The song has now reached multi-platinum status and been included in many feature motion pictures, including Anchorman.
Pinera later was employed as a session musician
for Atlantic Records label mate Iron Butterfly
, serving as one of four guest guitarists on their album Metamorphosis
, and contributing lead vocals to several tracks. On the strength of his contributions, Metamorphosis was officially credited to "Iron Butterfly With Pinera & Rhino", and Pinera was later asked to join the group. When Doug Ingle
left shortly after, Pinera served as the band's sole lead vocalist for several months, after which the band broke up. The only Iron Butterfly recording where Pinera appears as an official member is the single Silly Sally.
Ride Captain Ride
"Ride Captain Ride" is a song recorded by the American rock band Blues Image. The song was co-written by the band's singer-guitarist Mike Pinera and keyboardist Frank "Skip" Konte. It was included on the group's 1970 album, Open...
". After the breakup of that group, he joined Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
, and later formed the group Ramatam
Ramatam
Ramatam was a 1970s rock band featuring Mike Pinera on guitar and vocals, April Lawton on lead guitar, and, for a short time, Mitch Mitchell on drums....
. Pinera was then the founding member of the band New Cactus, a later incarnation of the band Cactus
Cactus (band)
Cactus is an American hard rock supergroup, formed in 1970.-Biography:Cactus was initially conceived as early as late 1969 by the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice with guitarist Jeff Beck and Xylophone player Adele Smitchell acted as the counterpart and...
. He was the guitarist for Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
from 1980-1983. He is currently performing with the Classic Rock All Stars. Pinera met the band Renegade
Renegade (band)
Renegade is an American rock n' roll band composed of Luis Cardenas, Kenny Marquez and Tony De La Rosa. Although each member hails from the United States, the band is widely recognized as being the first Hispanic or "Chicano rock" band to gain acceptance in the United States. Throughout Latin...
through their manager, Kim Richards, who also managed Pinera at the time. They remained close friends and appear together in the television special "Renegade Live @ The House of Blues", which was filmed before a sold out audience at the Hollywood House of Blues.
Early years
Mike Pinera and his group Blues Image were co-founders and house band at Thee Image, a Miami Beach concert venue they opened and co-headlined on weekends. Blues Image soon signed with Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
where they scored the major hit "Ride Captain Ride
Ride Captain Ride
"Ride Captain Ride" is a song recorded by the American rock band Blues Image. The song was co-written by the band's singer-guitarist Mike Pinera and keyboardist Frank "Skip" Konte. It was included on the group's 1970 album, Open...
" which Pinera co-wrote and sang. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) first certified Ride Captain Ride Gold on August 4, 1970. "Ride Captain Ride" has been featured in television programs and on several popular music compilations offered on television, such as "Flower Power, Have A Nice Day, PBS-My Music The 70's and Sounds of the 70's." The song has now reached multi-platinum status and been included in many feature motion pictures, including Anchorman.
Pinera later was employed as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
for Atlantic Records label mate Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
, serving as one of four guest guitarists on their album Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis (Iron Butterfly album)
Metamorphosis is the fourth studio album by Iron Butterfly, released in 1970. Though it was not as successful as its predecessor Ball , it reached number 16 on the US charts. The album was recorded as a trio; Erik Brann, who left because of band disputes, was replaced by four session guitarists...
, and contributing lead vocals to several tracks. On the strength of his contributions, Metamorphosis was officially credited to "Iron Butterfly With Pinera & Rhino", and Pinera was later asked to join the group. When Doug Ingle
Doug Ingle
Doug Ingle is a founding member and former organist, vocalist and primary composer for the band Iron Butterfly. He also had a short stint with the pop group Stark Naked and the Car Thieves in the early 1970s after he left Iron Butterfly.- Biography :Ingle's father Lloyd, a church organist,...
left shortly after, Pinera served as the band's sole lead vocalist for several months, after which the band broke up. The only Iron Butterfly recording where Pinera appears as an official member is the single Silly Sally.