Rabbitt is a South African pop rock band formed in Johannesburg in 1972, originally consisting of Trevor Rabin, Duncan Faure, Ronnie Robot (Ronald Friedman), and Neil Cloud. Known for their blend of rock, pop, and progressive elements, Rabbitt was of the South Africa's most popular bands in the 1970s, sometimes referred to as that country's version of The Beatles or Bay City Rollers due to their enthusiastic fan base. Their 1976 single "Charlie" reached the top of the South African charts.
History
The members of Rabbitt were first in the teen rock band The Conglomeration, which formed in the late 1960s, but moved toward more mature and polished music by transitioning to the name Rabbitt in 1972. Rabin and Faure both provided lead vocals, guitar, and keyboards, with Robot on bass and Cloud on drums. They sought to combine progressive rock influences from groups like Yes and Genesis with accessible pop melodies. The band worked closely with producer Patrick van Blerk.
Starting in 1975 they released three albums on the Jo’Burg label: Boys Will Be Boys!, A Croak and a Grunt in the Night, and Rock Rabbitt; with two of those also released in the United States by Capricorn Records. Their 1976 single "Charlie" became a nationwide hit in South Africa and gained them a fervent fab following that was dubbed "Rabbittmania" by the media."
The band disbanded in 1978 when Rabin left to pursue a solo career; he would later join Yes. Faure also embarked on a solo career and later recorded three albums with Bay City Rollers. Faure, Robot, and Cloud reunited for nostalgic performances in 2024.
