History & Biography Rhino Bucket is a Los Angeles, California, USA-based hard rock band with references to AC/DC that was founded in 1986. The first concert was in 1987. Most of the area was in the mood for glam, but the boys here were more into hard rock than the more glamorous sister sub-genre. The band has disbanded and reappeared and was inactive between 1996 and 1998 and again from 2018 to 2021.
The founding line-up was singer/guitarist Georg Dolivo, guitarist Greg Fields and bassist Reeve Downes. Rick Kubach was replaced by Liam Jason (later called Jackie Enx thanks to a sex change) of Warrior on drums. Georg and Greg had found bassist Downes through a classified advertisement. Warner signed the band and released the group’s first couple of records. The debut yielded the One Night Stand and Blood On The Cross singles. Following the sophomore record, the band was heard in the Wayne’s World film. The group made a connection to The Angels through its producer and opened for the band in Australia. Drummer Simon Wright (Dio, AC/DC, etc.) joined in 1993 and was heard on Pain. The choice was apt given Rhino Bucket’s sound. The band played with Love/Hate and called it a final concert.
Like most of the hard rock scene the group called it a day in 1996. Like most of the hard rock scene the group reformed and reappeared in 2001. Fields was not back and would go on to record and produce rock, mallcore and pop bands like Neil Diamond, Slipknot, Metallica and Adele. Kix guitarist Brian Forsythe joined the act here. The group also toured with Kix among others. No Song Left Behind was a compilation in 2007. It contained three unreleased tracks with the early line-up. The act appeared at Rocklahoma. The band toured Europe in 2010 for the first time in 20 years. Who’s Got Mine? was issued. A return to Europe included a stop at Sweden Rock Festival. The act was kicking off a European tour on January 6th of 2011.
Georg Dolivo left in 2018 and the band again came to a halt. The usual reformation and tour announcement was in 2021. The group returned to Europe in 2022. A new album was promised, but did not materialise. Sean McNabb (Quiet Riot) was part of the line-up on bass as of 2023. He replaced Reeve Downes. The band was booked for Monsters Of Rock Cruise in 2024.
The band emphasises a lack of ballads in its history. The band’s name was chosen when a member suggested Rhino Chaser and another Bucket Of Lard. The members compromised.
Reviews RHINO BUCKET - AND THEN IT GOT UGLY - ACETATE
Rhino Bucket is back after a 12-year hiatus and, to be certain, the boogie rockers haven’t been sitting around twiddling their thumbs or listening to grunge. By the sounds of it, the Los Angeles four have been writing a few gems (still) very much reminiscent of Bon Scott era AC/DC. Then there is former drummer Jason Liam who now is back as Jackie Enx and wears a mean mini skirt to boot!
A buyer’s impression of And Then It Got Ugly is that the cover - a flawless woman amidst chaos - is reminiscent of Rush’s Permanent Waves. Intentional or not, the music couldn’t be the further from the Canadians’ complex progressive music. Rhino Bucket is still a heads-down, frolicking boogie bash. Guitars, swinging vocals, shrieking rasps and groovy rhythms give the listener the best AC/DC fix this side of Dirty Deeds Done Cheap. And watch for them deceptively unruly lyrics with a hint of anger at an unnamed 'she' and a dose or two of Jesus-deflection too! The album ends with a touch of Led Zeppelin called I Was Told. In the absence of Jackyl, Rhino Bucket is a man’s best AC/DC fill 'er upper. - Ali “The Metallian”
RHINO BUCKET - THE HARDEST TOWN - ACETATE
I’ll be honest. Following the first three or four listens to The Hardest Town the new album by Los Angeles-based Rhino Bucket had less than a favourable impression on me. The album is short on up-tempo and upbeat songs. It all seemed - please read that last word again - bland, monotone and deadly mid-paced. Another three or four spins and The Hardest Town is a knockout. Seriously.
Odd, how a girl’s perceptions of an album transform with later listens. No more solely relying on the good looks and long manes of the members (Brian Forsythe is especially delicious) because The Hardest Town has everything any fan of bluesy hard rock boogie needs. This is a kick ass album. The first several songs are rock-solid and dependable cuts, but then comes No One Here and kicks. The lyrics are a real hoot. The song also hits a few of the same chords as Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet's Having An Average Weekend. Street To Street is sound, exciting and up-tempo. She’s With Me is the contagious refrain on this album. This one is surely one of the better songs with such a solid rhythm section and a solo and a real surprise that it occupies position number eight. Clearly, my favourites are not the band’s. You’re Gone is in position number nine and again another of those better songs.
Georg Dolivo does his best Bon Scott impression throughout own to a ‘t’ and stamps so much personality that there is little to be criticized. The lyrics are fun and interesting and written with a genuine sardonic intelligence. The strings are properly calibrated to deliver the right vibes and, of course, with Simon Wright on drums Rhino Bucket has a piece of AC/DC onboard.
There is absolutely no reason to not get this album if one has long hair, a beer in the hand and a love for AC/DC-style boogie. - Sheila Wes Det
RHINO BUCKET - WHO’S GOT MINE? - ACETATE
Some would say that Rhino Bucket is as dated as the photo on the album’s cover, but the truth is that this hard rock is as timeless as any other. More than that, there are still girls who like to rock, see men with long hair and stay far far away from hip hop, dance and raves. If that is you, then Rhino Bucket’s got yours.
The band’s brand of groove hard rock boogie is as fun as it ever was, but the same cannot be said about the songs. Solid, sure. Reliable, yes. But the tracks on this disc don’t have any craziness, zaniness, fun that one can find. Back To Nowhere begins with the same riff as Rick Springfield’s Jessie’s Girl, if that is something notable, and finally on the title track the band breaks into some soloing and jamming to ratchet up the excitement factor. None of this is bad by any means, but AC/DC and Bon Scott deserve a more lively impression. - Sheila Wes Det
Interviews
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