The Thyme

The Thyme was a psychedelic garage rock band originating in Kalamazoo, Michigan, locally popular in the late 1960s. Ralph Cole was the lead and also played sitar, Steve Vandenberg played guitar, Ed Linenthal played drums, and Al Wilmot on bass. Thyme often opened up Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Cream, and MC5 at venues such as the Grande Ball Room and The Union Street Station. Several members of The Thyme had previous or side bands that they played in. Al Wilmot had The Twang Brothers, Groove Monsters, Lighthouse, Road Runner, The Zooouts, and Love Sum (with Doug Wagner, Mark White, and Randy Underwood). Steve Vandenberg had Beyond (with Mike Rousch and Bob Reilly). Ralph Cole had The Hitch Hikers, which were the early The Thyme, back when they were in Kalamazoo. They recorded on Phalanx Records out of Portage. The band then turned Thyme and was signed to Ann Arbor based A-Square records for quite some time. Also found on A-Square are other 60s and 70s Michigan rock n roll bands such as MC5, Rationals, Scot Richard Case (SRC), Stoney And The Jagged Edge, and The Stooges.