The Peanut Butter Conspiracy was an American psychedelic rock group formed in Los Angeles in August 1966 from the former folk‑rock band The Ashes. The lineup that became the Peanut Butter Conspiracy consisted of guitarist and vocalist John Merrill, vocalist Barbara “Sandi” Robison, bassist Alan Brackett, drummer Jim Voigt, and later guitarist Lance Baker Fent. The band’s first commercial appearance was the single "It's A Happening Thing" released in 1967, which peaked at number ninety‑three on the national pop chart. In March 1967 the group issued its debut album The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading under Columbia Records; the album reached number one hundred ninety‑six on the Billboard 200. A second Columbia release, The Great Conspiracy, followed in December 1967, though it failed to chart. The band later signed with Warner Bros. subsidiary Challenge Records and issued For Children of All Ages in 1969, after which the group disbanded in 1970. Post‑disbandment, members continued in the music industry: Brackett produced for Randy Meisner and contributed to film scores, while Merrill and Robison pursued other musical projects. In 2005 a comprehensive compilation Spreading From The Ashes was released, documenting the early years of the group and its members’ pre‑band work.
