Thank you very much for the great interview with Mark Andes. You forgot to mention he also played in the band " Jo Jo Gunne ", with his brother Matthew on guitar, and Jay Ferguson on vocals.
Spirit is one of the most under-appreciated bands ever, much like Quicksilver Messenger Service in that regard. My generation had the greatest music. RIP, Randy and Jimi, you live on in the music you created.
From Australia, I'm sure I've read an article where in 70 or 71 he filled in for Ritchie Blackmore when he took ill and for one night Randy was in Deep Purple , Peace from down under
Thank you for remembering Randy California. I"ve had the first 4 Spirit albums on vinyl, cassette and cd. "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus" especially was a masterpiece! They had a wide variety of talent in several genres. Even played a couple of tunes like "I Got a Line on You", etc. in a band long ago. Mark Andes was a big influence on my Bass playing. "Mr. Clean" stepfather on drums with 17 year-old stepson on guitar, jazz keyboardist, Jay Ferguson, Andes...Again, thank you!
Greetings from Down Under!........SPIRIT were the most under rated brilliant band of the late sixties....along with FAMILY from the U.K.......both bands were so musically sophisticated
I saw Spirit in Dallas at a free concert in the West End Marketplace back around 1989. Ed Cassidy and Randy California were in the band at that time and put on a great show. It was actually the first time I had heard of them, and I fell in love with the music. I was about 21 at that time, and only recognized one song I had heard on the radio. I found their greatest hits album in a music store and then got a few others on CD later. "12 Dreams" is a pretty solid album.
Thanks for this page of your "Rock History Book." Randy California along with Terry Kath were acknowledged by Jimi Hendrix as being great guitarist. I believe Hendrix claimed Kath was better than he was. California and Kath deserved more and Hendrix, so much more.
I remember that period very well, saw Spirit several times over the years first in 73 at Blackpool of all places.I remember Randy jumping in the river Thames because they'd had their equipment stolen.I remember the petitions to get Potatoland released. also saw JoJo Gunne in Manchester the day I bought my copy of Kapt Kopter. Sardonicus, which from all accounts was lucky to survive with the band breaking up and going their separate ways, was rescued by Producer David Briggs of NY&Crazy Horse fame, is the obvious Masterpiece it seemed an eternity waiting for the real follow up which came 5 years later in Spirit of 76. Randy California was truly one of the greatest guitarists and Spirit along with Nils Lofgren are probably the most underrated American Band ever. So many stories to tell..... Thanks for posting x
Another thing of note is Cheap Trick borrowing the opening chords of Spirit's NATURE'S WAY for their hit THE FLAME. I got heavily into Spirit in the early 90s. Randy was basically a one-man-band. No doubt had he lived, he would be making another album this year.
Always said that about cheap trick why didn't they sue for royalties instead of zeppelin? Greedy lawyers wanted a bigger payoff but the chords were played times before Mary Poppins for example. It's sad their legacy became greed and money they were a good group should have been bigger
John, please interview Jay Ferguson, please! I can even supply some questions, like what was it like working with Keith Moon on his solo album Two Sides Of The Moon I think from 75 or 76. Also, ask him about his friendship with Joe Walsh
I'm on record with Randy California . Randy recorded a version of Nature's Way on Mentor Records CD U.S Rock and Roll Anthology. It was recorded with Randy singing with Mick Fleetwood wife. It's a nice version.
I'm laying here in bed reading The Jimi Hendrix Story ( Innovator, Influencer, Icon) and my feed alerted me to watch your video. Interesting about the two Randys getting those names from Jimi. 🦓
Loved Randy's music Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus and Kapt. Kopter and the (Fabulous) Twirly Birds with Noel Redding are two of my favorite albums! And if you gotta go saving your child is as good as it could be in my opinion! And oh Fuck yeah Page ripped him off! Lol
The Taurus / Stairway intro progression has been around a lot longer than either Spirit or Led Zeppelin. It has its roots in classical music. Sure, Zep may have liked that progression when they heard it from Spirit. But where did Spirit get it from? “There’s nothing new under the sun.” It seems like Andes did it to get some money and recognition for Randy California, a noble and loyal pursuit. I think it’s worth noting that the estate of Randy California did not join the suit.
As much as I LOVE Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page had a habit of nicking other artists ideas. Jimi Hendrix wasn't A fan because of this but was a huge Bonham fan I read. Jimmy took Bert Jansch's "Back Waterslide" into "BronYr" melody and another instrumental but never gave credit to Bert Jansch as the inspiration. Randy never got involved any idea of a lawsuit from an interview I saw he didn't want to talk about it and just didn't entertain the idea of suing...his estate did many years after his death. Yeah the beginning had classical leanings but name me two others songs besides "Taurus" with that intro. Zep had to have heard their albums before touring with them. I can see great underappreciated guitarist, Davey Graham playing something similar but still wouldn't get credit because Zep's management was freaking ruthless at that time.
Randy was the man - the Kaptain. I got to hang out with him after the show at My Father's Place in the mid 70s. Spirit invented SKA without even knowing it.
Spirit is the most underrated band of the 60s. Way better than the outdated silliness of the flower power era. Mechanical World is their best. The potential was there for them to carry over to 70s success, but I guess we'll never know.
Thanks John, I k ow Taurus sounds like Stairway. I don't feel like it is the same song. But I wanted to say that I heard Mark play with Dan Folgerberg one time it was a fantastic show.
When l was kid in the early seventys l love spirit natures way mr. Skin and l remember that song that sounded like led zeppelin and at the time l thought they we're ripping zeppelin off. Well a great musician and song writer and remember there's no greater love than one who sacrifices himself for another.
How ironic it is that Randy California wrote the song Give A Life Take A Life about a ship sinkin' and someone sacrificin' his own life to save another. Randy saved his son from drownin' but gave his own life in the process..."Who has the right to take my life away..."
Need to do an episode of Hair Metal. Get the 50...60. ... Guys giving their life story. Not that big fan of hair. But did enjoy the ballads...... It was what was in middle 80s. Myself a Prog guy. But I think you would get huge conversation. Even if you have done it before.....
Randy got screwed... LZ should have offered something to him at least an acknowledgement, but greed gets in the way. Personally, I don't find much difference if a newer band re-does an older song and make its even more successful and loved by new fans. LZ made it famous world wide, but it did come from Randy's music originally. Again, LZ should have offered something.
You can't copyright a chord progression , what is copyrighted is the melody . If you could actually copyright a chord progression there would be thousands of law suits , Santana used the chord progression that starts Stairway in Soul Sacrifice , the Classics IV used it in traces , and the Beatles used it as did jazzers , and pop artists of the time .... its a line cliche and lends itself to melodic development. All this being said, Randy was a gifted and talented guitarist who died way to young , Spirit " Feedback " was a great album " Dr. Sardonicus" a psychedelic masterpiece . I got a line on you was one of the first songs I learned on guitar , rock and roll!!
Hi John I think I have a neat idea for a live chat. Have the people in the chat decide if if the person is rock star or musician (example) Steve Howe vs joe perry.
I thought Steve Edwards fits in here. Maybe not. Too many bands and replacements. Did you ever hear the LP "False Start?" Arutur Lee recorded Hendrix 3 mths before he died. I don't know where the lp is.
I have been a fan of spirit since the beginning and it never occurred to me that stairway to Heaven was Taurus but there is no doubt that Jimmy page stole all his music from all over the world but he made it uniquely his it definitely does not sound like blues anymore lol if you slow down his lead you can find elements of Chinese music I don't think Jimmy page ever denied it and he was always very proud of it he said he was inspired to make stairway to heaven after living in Alister Crowley's house
I just listened to that Taurus song and I say Zeppelin deserves to win....thoses 3 to 5 seconds of chords were a direct rip off, which came in maybe 3 times the whole song !!! DIRECT RIP OFF......but PETTY AS FUCK, CONSIDERING THE 7 MINUTE OPUS THAT ZEPPELIN CREATED !!!!!....I Rest My Case !!
Never understood why Led Zeppelin was so popular. Robert Plant was not a good Vocalist. He could hit high notes, but his timing and melodic sensibilities were inconsistent. Compared to other bands that were their peers, Led Zeppelin sounded dated for 1969 . Heartbreaker sounded like it was from 1966. JEFFERSON Airplane 🛬 had Heavier songs than Led Zeppelin. Other than the Immigrant Song( 2 minutes of brilliance 😂 😂)was and is the most overrated band in the history of music. Half the material sounded like outakes and demos. They would have been a decent soft Rock band. Considering that the only decent songs that they did were Thank You, Tangerine, Battle of Evermore, Stairway to California, and All of My Love. Got to admit that the Disco album In Through the Outdoor was a huge improvement over the rough Garage Rock Blues free form Jam band songs from the first 2 albums. Squeeze My lemon till the juice runs down my leg, if you disagree
