Complex sentence: Concurrently, Young placed Whitten on retainer in the fall of 1972 with a view toward including the guitarist in his new touring band, the Stray Gators; following his poor performance in rehearsals, the band pressured Young to dismiss him.
Split into simpler sentences: Concurrently, Young placed Whitten on retainer in the fall of 1972 with a view toward including the guitarist in his new touring band, The Stray Gators. However, following his poor performance in rehearsals, the band pressured Young to dismiss him.