Biography

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

They were on the short list of bands to be invited to the legendary Monterey Pop Festival in June of 1967. Unfortunately, after Zal Yanovsky was arrested and deported back to Canada for marijuana possession, which resulted in his being forced to leave the band, the band was forced to decline the invite.

When the show that eventually became The Monkees (1965) was being pitched to NBC, The Lovin' Spoonful was considered to star on the show. However, the producers wound up deciding to have actors portray the band.

The group's original lineup consisted of Steve Boone (bass and vocals), Joe Butler (drums), John Sebastian (vocals), and the late Zal Yanovsky (guitar and vocals).

Mark Sebastian was not a member of The Lovin' Spoonful. In fact, he shared composition credits of the song "Summer In The City".