David "Rock" Feinstein started early, he picked up the trumpet at 7 years and later drums. 18 years old he was in a band called The Cindells that played a mix of folk and covers of Cream, Rolling Stones and Beatles - even releasing a few singles. The band did however split in 1967, and his cousin, Ronnie Dio asked if Dave (who at the time barely played the guitar) could replace the guitarist in Ronnie Dio and the Prophets. He accepted, and later handled the strings in Electric Elves, Elves and Elf. Then Feinstein left music and went into the wilderness, working for wildlife conservation department in upstate New York and buying himself a cottage free of anything remotely luxorious - such as electricity and running water. He couldn't live like that, and together with Joey Demaio and Carl Canedy a band called David Feinsten's Thunder was formed, and recorded a track for a Buddy Holly tribute and a single called 'Midnight Lady', released under the Dave Feinstein moniker. While playing live with David Feinstein's Thunder Joey Demaio had an accident that was close to cost him his musical career. During a bass solo, a set of flash and smoke bombs set fire on his costume - giving him severe burns that hospitalised him for two months and needing long time to get his playing skills back. Those playing skills were however deemed to be at odds with Feinsten's bluesier delivery so Demaio had to go elsewhere. Which he did - in forming Manowar. Feinstein and Canedy teamed up with bassist Steve Starmer and formed The Rods.