| Show t Randy California of Spirit Beyond the Arena By Jeff Mackay Since their first appearance in inthis inthis inthis this area in 1967 Spirit has boasted a stronghold of popularity popular popular- ity in Salt Lake City This again was evidenced by an enthusiastic reception to their concert at the Terrace Ballroom Monday night December Spirit has always been a dynamic group musically but could never seem to break out of their underground status with mass record sales other than in regional areas This fact coupled with the departure late in 1970 of Jay Ferguson and Mark Andes led to the ultimate disintegration of the band But a few years ago guitarist Randy California and his stepfather ex-stepfather drummer Ed Cassidy took re-took the name Spirit and began the long road back to reclaim their lost territory Dont Don't sell them short This is not a band stagnated in their older material With the release of two new albums this year Spirit of 76 and Son of Spirit Randy California California California Califor Califor- nia has proven his considerable growth For not only has he maintained his mastery of the guitar but also developed skills as asa asa asa a producer and a songwriter contributing the bulk of the material to these albums Now with the very recent additions of original Spirit John Locke and bassist Mathew Andes they are once again a formidable band Speaking quietly with Randy California before their set revealed revealed revealed re re- re- re further insight into his personality and the driving force behind Spirit You look a little tired Do you ever get battle fatigue out on the road Sure Ive I've got it right now Randy answered Oh How long have you been out this time Three months How do you cope with it Deadpanning with Deadpanning with drugs and sex then breaking into a abroad abroad abroad broad grin Oh You win A pat answer for fora a question Laughter from both Its nice to see John Locke back in the band Yeah We decided to let him himI I back bank in the hand Oh John answered You know I save you rou ou every night Who saves who You cant can't play the piano Yeah and you cant can't play the guitar you need me exit John Locke laughing Im really excited about having John and Matt in the band now Were We're musically competent again and the next album will be bemore bemore bemore more of a group effort instead of things together me just piecing Im I'm very excited What happened to Barry Keane He couldn't cut it Musically So now weve we've got Matt to play bass Matthew Andes is the former lead guitarist for GoGo Game And his brother Mark Hes in Florida recording Is there any possibility that Jay Ferguson will rejoin the group No Jays Jay's doing his thing with witha a new band in L. L A. A Is there any bitterness between between between be be- tween you two Not at all Were We're good friends I like to jam and Jay likes things rigid See See in the old days Jay and andI I were the two main people in Spirit Jay liked things rehearsed and the same every night and I liked to jam so we split Is it true that you once played in a band with Jimi Hendrix Yes Jimi James and the Flames' Flames Did he influence you much We influenced each other It was a month 3 club gig in New NewYork NewYork NewYork York and I was playing mostly slide and Jimi doing lead Wed We'd jam all night and our styles influenced influenced influenced each other Why did you leave your producer Lou Adler He left us Oh Took all of our money and ran off with Carole King Would you go into that for forme forme forme me Well If that's touchy ground I dont don't want to pry Well the only thing I resent is Columbia Records they can take any nothing group and pour tons of money into them and have havethe havethe havethe the band zero-out zero in a year when wed we'd been around and were working hard and got no support Yea Im I'm bitter Look at Bruce now Hes He's good but they're playing him for a lot more than hes he's worth Were We're with Mercury now Thank you very much for talking with me Youre welcome and thank you Is there anything else you'd like to say to the people of Salt Lake City Buy our albums smiling Exit Randy California |
