Spirit Stories Page 4

Myself and the guys in the 4 piece band that we played in went to see

Cream at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California.  The opening

band was Spirit!  At that time none of us had ever heard of Spirit.  Spirit

opened with Fresh Garbage and we were all just blown away.  Since then

we have all been huge Spirit fans and our band made Fresh Garbage our

centerpiece.  Now 30 some odd years later, whenever the old guys get

together we still play Fresh Garbage.  We use to catch Spirit when they

would come down to the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach.  I now live in

Orlando, Florida and in the late 80's Spirit came through town and

played. Only Randy California and Ed Cassidy from the original group were with

the group but that was a real treat.  I had a chance to talk to Randy and

tell him that I had seen Spirit all those many years ago.  I ask him if he

still had his "custom" guitar (Sears Silvertone body, Fender Telecaster neck

and Humbucking pick-ups) but he said that no he did not but he wished he

had kept it.  I was truly saddened to hear of Randy's death just a few

years later.  I always enjoyed his guitar work and his songwriting.  May his

Spirit live on forever!

Rex

It was 1968 in my bedroom in Kent, England and John Peel played

Straight Arrow from the first album. What a great track, forcing me to buy the

album. Hooked from that time I have bought every vinyl album plus CD since.

With obvious duplications. Spirit have been and will always be my favorite band and their music

 transcends all the decades since the sixties. 

I am now 50 and have never seen the band, even on tape. 

My memories are just the music. 

I would have loved to have seen them and am so sad that Randy is no

 longer with us. Ed! You are the greatest and thanks for keeping it going!

 You are truly the master musician.

Bradford

It was the late 60's (68?) and my best friend in high school and I had a  

"garage band ", as did many kids our age during that time.  We went to a small 

auditorium in Minneapolis - don't even remember the name of the place.  Saw 

Spirit and was hooked;  I went out the next day and bought The Family That 

Plays Together album on 8 track no less, and yes, I still have it.   If  I 

recall correctly,  Spirit was the opening act for Johnny Winter that night - 

it was one of the more memorable concerts I went to back 'in the old days'. 


Steve Nelson

I have been a hungry spirit fan since 1968.  What  I mean by that is--over the years I've purchased and enjoyed almost everything Spirit produced, and I was always wanted more.

In the early 70's there was only one other music group that gave me anywhere near to that feeling...a southern California band called Joyous Noise.  All I have to remember them by is a worn out LP "Wandering Man".  Thank God that you haven't moved off the map like they did.  In the 70's there was so much Great music to choose from (especially compared to the present day), but in my mind and my heart and wherever my "muse" is located, the music of Spirit rose above the music of Led Zep, Beatles, Iron Butterfly, stones, Tull, and almost all others.  To be honest, the James Gang (Joe Walsh), and   Mason Proffit made a close 2nd. & 3rd. place as far as getting personal and close to my heart..  I got just the right amount of music from them to be satisfied with what they were doing.

But Spirit demonstrated so much versatility...dozens of different paths the music could take (a versatility that could be matched only by the Beatles) that my hunger for more from each of those paths just kind of set in permanently. A couple songs come to mind right now...."Jewish" and "Dream within a Dream"...what amazing songs.   Jewish had that incredible guitar sustain and those tasty subtle jazz drum riffs and that perfect use of electric piano.  All I could think when I first heard those songs..."Rock 'n'roll has sure come a long way."

I never got to be at a live performance of Spirit.  In my last couple days of my Navy enlistment (Aug.15, 1975) Spirit was to have a gig at the Golden Bear at Huntington Beach.  I had the time to go, but no money to get up from San Diego.  But I got me a poster anyway.

Thanks to the History of Spirit video I have kind of made up for some of what I missed though.   I really liked "Tent of Miracles" CD and plan to get my spirit collection updated.  Anyway, Mr. Cassidy, here's wishing you many more great years, and may the action in your drumming arms stay as strong as what's in your heart.  Thank you for the music!

Larry Sykes

I only saw Spirit perform once. It was in St.Louis at Keil Auditorium

On Valentine's Day, 1982. Local Rock Radio Station KSHE 95 hosted their

5th annual St.Valentine's Day Massacre featuring, John Kay & Steppenwolf,

with special guest, Spirit. They performed as a 3 peice band, 

and I remember the incredible sound they had as a 3 peice band. 

They were just as well received by the crowd as Steppenwolf was, and brought back for two encores. 

I read a review of that show in a St.Louis newspaper where the writer-critic pretty well

put both bands down. He ended his review by saying, "Neither

Steppenwolf or Spirit has a new album out, so the attendance of about 8,000 is

somewhat surprising."

Jim Davenport

First heard "Elijah" on WABX (the very first real FM station) in

Detroit shortly after the first album was released.  Have been a huge fan ever since.

Spirit played often in the Detroit area in the late 60's and I got to see them

every time they played here. Being a guitar player and only two years younger than

Randy, I tried to emulate everything he did -- I still own an Echoplex --

Although keeping it running is a full time job.  Randy, Mark and Ed played at a place in

East Lansing, MI. (Michigan State University) in 1974.  After the show, me

and my buddies had a chance to "meet and greet" the band -- fortunately one of us had

a camera and I have quite a few photos of that night.  The next day we took them to the

airport -- talk about guy groupies. 

In 1993, Randy, Mike and Ed played here (Detroit area) at a place 

called Mr. B's -- a friend manages it and got me 

hooked up for dinner with "Spirit" and I was able to sit in with them later that night.  

(Mike, you probably don't remember me, but now I have the 

pleasure to be able to tell people I played with Randy)

Anyway, we did "All along the Watchtower," 

I think we did "It's all the Same" and something else.  It went by all too fast.  Thanks. 

Rick Yardley

I met Randy more than 30 years ago at a festival we all played at in,

I think, Minneapolis (I think Buddy Miles 

was on the bill, too.. but he's another subject huh!).  I again visited with 

Randy just outside Chicago in the early 90s at a club whose name I don't recall.  

We spoke of music, life and times. I raised my two daughters performing

 in my show as a single dad, and I can understand the connection you an Randy

 must have enjoyed when you were "official" family and beyond.  I found out about Randy's 

death only about a year ago.  I was trying to reach him over some biz thing,

 at the time. I was shocked.  Such a tragedy.  I think of him often, adding him to my

prayers. Randy's life and death demonstrate we are more than entertainers; he

lived and died proving we are regular people who have some extraordinary gifts to

share. Randy was, without a doubt, one of the most incredible, creative and influential guitarists,

 writers and producers of our time.  His "signature" ,

 what I call "singin guitars", is within so much of today's music.  

I point to Randy's influence almost daily

 in my discussions with my daughters and their 

musicians (they are both monster players in their own right, now). 

And you, Sir, are a consummate Player.  Your influence on many of us 

growing as musicians in the 60s and 70s was profound.  I haven't seen you play

in 30+years, but I will remember your chops and performance forever.  I have often told my 

drummers over the years how remarkable you are, 

and to study your work. All the best.  Travel in the Light, on the Level.

Mojo

I loved "Spirit". Owning all their albums, I looked forward to 

seeing them in concert an in 1971 saw them play in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

That night will live in my memory forever - into eternity. While tripping on acid

to Animal Zoo I looked up onto the stage and vivid 

transcendent beings or spirits manifested behind each of the performers. They were large, horrid

man/beast-like entities. Each band member had an entity standing behind them

or more exactly the band members were within the beast-like presence's. Each

9'+ beast was playing the same instrument as the band member and seemed to

possess them. I was freaked and asked my friends if they saw what I was

seeing on stage. Of course they did not and I was 

sobered beyond straight. I was changed person from that night on. I truly believed in a "Spirit" 

world but did not believe that the entities I saw manifested on stage that 

night were "good or Godly spirits". I knew they were evil and that 

the band had been possessed by demons.

I know that this is not the story that you were looking for but my life was

a disaster at that time and I was crying out to God to help me. I believe

that God did hear my prayers and showed me the "spirit world" that night.

These demons of darkness do not want anything good for us. There is a God

who loves us and desires good things for us. He has Angel's that care for

us and He desires to know us in a personal way. It took me several years

of searching to find a truth that gave me peace but I believe that night

was the beginning of the journey. I have not thought of "Spirit" in many 

years but my son introduced me to Napster and I felt led

 to look up the band again. I then found this

web site. I am here to tell you there is eternal life. We will have to account for our actions

and face God in judgement. I know this as a truth and have no fear of this.

I have asked Jesus Christ to be my Savior - "spirit guide" and have no

doubts that He is the one true God. My Heavenly Father showed me the demonic

world on stage at the "Spirit" concert and asked me to make a decision. 

I remember the Lucite double drum set that Ed Cassidy played that night.

(He was awesome and I was blown away.) I was also horrified to see that the

band was unknowingly serving several 

demonic entities. So, that is my experience with "Spirit". 

They were given an incredible talent but did their life 

serve God in a righteous and positive manner? Did they live happy and 

fulfilled lives? I don't know the answer to these 

questions as I never listened to them again after that night but I doubt

they are peaceful and contented people. Post this testimony if you dare or care. 

CZ

Hey CZ…

most Spirit members that are still around

 sleep pretty good at night. 

Anyone

who knew Randy would tell you he 

was one of  the most spiritual people

on the planet.  

I think it was a good idea you got off the drugs.

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