b. 29 September 1948, Tampa, Florida, USA. Guitarist Pinera first achieved recognition as a member of the Miami-based Blues Image. In 1970 he replaced Erik Braunn in the then popular Iron Butterfly, contributing to Metamorphosis (1970) before leaving for the ill-fated Mother's Milk. In 1972 Pinera surfaced in Ramatam, which also featured former Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell, before switching to the New Cactus Band in 1973. This itinerant musician then formed Thee Image, a promising unit which completed two albums, before he embarked on a lucrative career as a session mus...