Pyewacket was the name of a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based rock band that existed from 1972 to 1975.
The band was formed originally after guitarist Pat Leone departed from the Three Rivers Blues Band in 1972. Leone was replaced by guitarist Steve Dudas and the newly christened Pyewacket (after the witch's cat from the movie "Bell Book and Candle") continued in the mold of a "Chicago"-style band, with trumpet, saxophone and trombone as well as bass, drums, guitar and keyboards. A lead singer "Cal" Levy was also added at this time. Levy was later replaced by Gary Heatherington. By the end of 1972, however, the rhythm section of the 8-piece band decided to explore a more rock/progressive rock direction without the horn section.
The stripped down five-piece quickly became a local favorite, covering songs by Yes, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and other rock or prog rock bands. Notable among its founding members was Dudas, then just 21, whose phenomenal guitar playing was unequalled in Pittsburgh at the time. The band was the only band in Pittsburgh at the time to carry a full modular Moog synthezier as well as a Mellotron. Other members were Dave Molter, bass; Joe DiSimone, drums; and Tim Bassett (deceased 2010), keyboards. This lineup recorded one single, "Boogie, Boogie, Boogie," b/w "Another Turn Around the Sun" that was released on the Western World Records label in 1973.
In mid-1973, DiSimone was replaced by George Suranovich (deceased, 1990), former drummer for Arthur Lee's Love. This lineup continued until December 1973, when Suranovich departed for California, where he played with Glen Campbell, Eric Burdon and others. DiSimone assembled a new version (with no other founding members) of Pyewacket in 1974 which continued to play Pittsburgh area clubs until 1975.
Most notable among the band's members is guitarist/writer/producer Steve Dudas, who most recently played with Ringo Starr and The Roundheads. Molter continues to play professionally in the Pittsburgh area.