Popular rock and psychedelic band from Pikesville featured the charismatic Ronnie Raffel on vocals and harmonica. The lineup also included Fred Smith (guitar) and Mark Dennis (bass), [both ex-Startones], Barry Kurlander (drums) and Bruce Spranklin (guitar, sax) both ex-Shades, and Blair Aaronson (keyboards).
The band played originals and songs by such groups as The Doors, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Santana, Iron Butterfly, Grand Funk Railroad, and The Who.
Lucifer’s Mother played many high school dances, fraternity and private parties, proms and sweet sixteens in the Maryland and DC area. Also seen at the Bluesette. They performed at the ‘Mod ’69 Act II’ festival at Pikesville H.S. on April 11, and ‘Mod ’69 Act III’ at Painter’s Mill Music Fair on May 28, 1969 to benefit the March of Dimes. The shows featured many local groups along with an appearance by Peaches & Herb. On May 30, 1970 they opened for Rare Earth at the Ocean City Convention Hall.
Smith, and Kurlander were eventually with Used Parts, The Justin Taylor Band, and ‘00s classic rock band Checkered Past. Aaronson went on to play organ for the Soul Searchers, then on the mellotron with the Bruce Westcott Band traveling to Atlantic City, and Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. He later moved to Los Angeles. As a member of L.A. band Silverspoon he released recordings produced by Beatles road manager Mal Evans. The group backed Keith Moon on album “Two Sides of the Moon’” and provided soundtrack music to the television movie “Helter Skelter… The Charles Manson Story.” During the ‘80s Blair recorded with many artists including Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, John Sebastian, and others. He released the solo album “Studies in Solitude” in 1998 and continued performing and writing in the L.A. area into the ‘00s.
Ronnie Raffel went on to form Riff Raff, worked for rock band Cactus, and later found fame as a highly regarded New York subway performer. He was featured in the film “Downtown Locals.”
