|
Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967 by Randy California, his stepfather Ed Cassidy, Jay Ferguson, Mark Andes and John Locke as the Spirits Rebellious (after a book by Kahlil Gibran). The name was soon changed simply to Spirit. All but Locke had been part of the band The Red Roosters in 1965. California and Cassidy had also played together with Jimi Hendrix (then knowned as Jimmy James) for three months in 1966.
The group's first album, Spirit, was released in 1968. Their only true hit was I Got a Line on You from their second album, The Family That Plays Together, also in 1968. They also went on tour that year, backed up by Led Zeppelin. In 1969 they were offered to open for Hendrix at Woodstock but turned down the offer. In 1970 Spirit released the well-received Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus but the group members to split in 1971, following a conflict between the members of what music to play, causing Ferguson and Andes to leave Spirit to form Jo Jo Gunne. John Arliss took Andes' place for about six months in 1971. California had a riding accident that disabled him for the next two years. Cassidy and Locke, together with Al Staehely and John Staehely, continued to play until 1973. In that year, California, suffering from a nervous breakdown, moved to Molokai, Hawaii.
Spirit was re-formed in 1974, consisting of California, Cassidy, Locke, Barry Keene and, for a brief period, also Mark Andes. They played sporadically for the next several years but with little attention. In 1982 the band was reorganized with the original members and there was a brief revival of popularity in 1984 with The Thirteenth Dream. The fact that Randy California drowned off Molokai in 1997 has, more or less, ended the band's career.
Original members
Further members
- Bob Arkin (bass)
- John Arliss (bass)
- Al Staehely (bass, vocals)
- John Staehely (guitar, vocals)
- John Fine (bass)
- Larry Knight (bass, vocals)
- Cozy Powell (drums)
- Stu Perry (drums)
- Scott Shelley (guitar, vocals)
- Donnie Dacus (guitar, vocals)
- Steve Olitzky (keyboards)
- Steve Ewards (guitar, vocals)
- Barry Keene (bass, vocals)
- John Turlep (bass, vocals)
- Tim Bogert (bass, vocals)
- George Valuck (keyboards)
- Steve Loria (bass, vocals)
- Scott Monahan (keyboards, vocals)
- Dave Waterbury (bass, vocals)
- Freeman James (bass)
- Mike Lewis (keyboards, vocals)
- Dave Waterbury (bass, vocals)
- Walter Egan (bass, vocals)
- Andrea Carol (percussion)
- Walter Egan (bass, vocals)
- Mike Nile (bass, vocals)
- Gary Bloom (keyboards, vocals)
- Tommy Beaumont (keyboards, vocals)
Albums
- Spirit (1968)
- The Family That Plays Together (1968)
- Clear (1969)
- Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (1970)
- Feedback (1972; Ed Cassidy, John Locke, Al Staehely, John Staehely)
- Kapt. Kopter and the (Fabulous) Twirly Birds (1972; Randy California, Clit McTorius (aka Noel Redding), Henry Manchovitz, Tim McGovern, Charlie Bundy, Roger Dollarhide)
- Spirit of '76 (1975; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Barry Keene)
- Son of Spirit (1975; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Barry Keene)
- Farther Along (1976; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Mark Andes, John Locke, Matt Andes, Steve Larrence, Robert Lee, Michael Temple, Ian Underwood, Ernie Watts)
- Future Games (1977; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Terry Anderson)
- Made in Germany (1978; live; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Larry Knight)
- The Adventures of Kaptain Kopter & Commander Cassidy in Potato Land (1981; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, John Locke, George Valuck, Mike Bunnell, Joe Green, Jeff Jarvis, Michael Lee, Robert Lee, Kari Nile, Chuck Snyder, Mike Thornburgh)
- The Thirteenth Dream/Spirit of '84 (1984; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Mark Andes, Jay Ferguson, John Locke, Matt Andes, Jeff Baxter, Neal Doughty, Bruce Gary, Alan Gratzer, Jerry Jumonville, Keith Knudsen, Joe Lala, Bobby LaKind, Howard Lesse, Gary Myrik, Curly Smith, Bob Welch)
- Rapture in the Chambers (1989; Randy California, Mark Andes, Ed Cassidy, John Locke, Curly Smith, Janet Wolfe)
- Tent of Miracles (1990; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Mike Nile)
- Live at la Paloma (1995; live; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, John Locke, Larry Knight, Steve Loria, Scott Monahan)
- California Blues (1996; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, John Locke)
|
