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Spirit
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Genre: Blues, Rock
Mitspieler:
Randy California, guit., voc. + verschollen, ertrunken
Jay Ferguson, guit. voc.
Mark Andes, bass
Ed Cassidy, drums
John Locke, key.
Chris Staehely, guit., voc.
Al Staehely, bass
Larry Fuzzy Knight, bass
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Spirit - die Familie von
Randy California
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1964 Gegründet
1967 in Los Angeles. Die Stilrichtungen aus denen die Musiker
kamen waren: Jazz, Blues, Rock, Folk und natürlich die
Oper. Mit diesen unterschiedlichen Stile wurde fleißig
experimentiert. Das entstandene Material kann nur mit Vorsicht
genossen werden.
Besser vor dem Kauf in die Scheibe reinhören.
Zwei der Gründungsmitglieder, Ferguson und Andes, trennten
sich 1971 von Spirit und verzichteten auf Experimente in
ihrer neuen Gruppe Jo Jo Gunne.
Hier wurde wieder gerockt. Spirit experimentierte im Studio und rockte auf der
Bühne. Randy California wurde stark von J. Hendrix beeinflusst. Seine
Versionen von All Along The Watchtower und Hey Joe erinnern an die von J.H.
Hörenswert sind 1984 (nach Orwell) und Animal Zoo.
Die Live Aufnahmen der deutschen Konzerte (u.a. aus dem Rockpalast) sind ein "Muss" für
jeden begeisterten Rocker.
Um Spirit gibt es zahlreiche Anekdoten:
Ed Cassidy (der Stiefvater von Randy) war Opern- und Jazztrommler. Er spielte
mit Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Ry Cooder und Taj Mahal. Bei einem Solo brach
er sich beide Handgelenke und gab das Oper- und Jazzschlagzeug auf um zum sanfteren
Rock zu wechseln.
Randy California bekam seinen Namen von Jimi Hendrix. Mit
ihm jammte er eine Weile in New York, die Band hatte den Namen "Jimi
James & The Blue Flames". Randy war damals 16 Jahre
alt! J.H. wollte ihn mit nach England nehmen um ihn in seiner
neuen Band "Experience" spielen zu lassen. Es gab
ein Problem, Randy war minderjährig und die bösen
Eltern verboten es.
Randy California ertrank Mitte der 90er Jahre auf Hawaii,
als er seinen Sohn aus dem Meer retten wollte. Der Sohn überlebte,
Randy California wurde nie gefunden. |
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REFLECTIONS OF SPIRIT
At age 16, Randy Wolfe got his first taste of music. During
1965 jazz drummer Ed (Cass) Cassidy was playing gigs with
Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal in a group called the Rising Sons
at the Ash Grove in Los Angeles. It was here that Cass and
Bernice Pearl met and were soon married. A year later Cass
took the family with him to New York City when he went to
play some jazz gigs. With high hopes they loaded up the 'ol
yellow Chevy which they called "The Yellow Submarine" and
headed across America.
When they arrived in New York City Cass discovered that
stepson Randy's guitar had been lost in shipping. Randy went
to Manny's Music to replace his guitar. He was only 15 when
he met Jimi Hendrix.
"Jimi was playing a Stratocaster in the back of the
store and our eyes met and there was instant spiritual contact" recalls
Randy. With the boldness of a teen, Randy asked Jimi (not
knowing who he was) if he could play that guitar. Jimi complied
and was so impressed he invited Randy to play with him at
his gig in the Village that night. The Marquee read "Jimi
James & The Blue Flames." For the next three months,
five sets a night, Randy played in the band. "It was
an incredible experience," says Randy. "A lot of
people don't know this about Jimi, but he was one of the
most gentle and generous people I've ever known."
To distinguish Randy from the other Randy in the band, Jimi
started calling him Randy California and the name stuck.
After three months Jimi was ready to go to England to put
together another band and he invited Randy along. His parents
refused to let him go...he was only 16 years old! This was
right before the Jimi Hendrix experience. Jimi never forgot
the friendship.
Randy California became West Coast guitarist to use Hendrix's
electronic feedback techniques to create sustained guitar
lines, to which he added a grace and lyricism very much his
own. The group produced several highly influential albums
during the 1960s and 1970s. Randy reappeared in the 1990s
with several new CDs under the W.E.R.C. CREW label.
In January 1997, Randy California went missing and presumed
dead after being sucked into the surf off the coast of Molokai,
Hawaii. Witnesses report that California pushed his 12-year-old
son, Quinn, out of the current, saving the boy's life, before
being dragged in himself. His body was never found.
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