Rod Pappas (guitar/vocals), Laurie Vitt (guitar), Rob Rideout (drums), and Charlie Moss (bass) were Mantis, a hard-rocking four-piece from Tempe, AZ. The dual harmony guitar threat of Pappas and Vitt drove the band, which fused a Lynyrd Skynyrd-inspired Southern rock influence with the hard rock tendencies of Foghat. Mantis enjoyed their share of local notoriety throughout the mid-1970s. The band regularly packed bars with crowds rocking out to songs like “Omaha” and “Rat Race Rock and Roll.” Mantis booked time at the well-known Phoenix recording studio Audio Recorders of Arizona and recorded several sides. In 1974, Larvae Records issued the band’s first single, two Pappas-penned songs, “Insane” b/w “Country Cowboy.” “Country Cowboy” was a departure from their usual hard rock anthems but showcased the impressive fiddle work of Pappas, which was a fan favorite. Fervor Records acquired the band’s superb back catalog and is proud to perpetuate this nice slice of 1970s rock.