Spirit (band)

Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967. The original lineup of the Los Angeles-based group was Randy California (guitars), Jay Ferguson (vocals), Mark Andes (bass), California's stepfather, drummer Ed Cassidy, and keyboard player John Locke. The new band was originally named the Spirits Rebellious (after a book by Kahlil Gibran) but was soon shortened 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 known as Jimmy James) for three months in 1966.

Related Topics:
Jazz - Hard rock - Psychedelic - 1967 - Los Angeles - Randy California - Jay Ferguson - Mark Andes - Ed Cassidy - John Locke - Kahlil Gibran - The Red Roosters - 1965 - Jimi Hendrix - 1966

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Ed Cassidy is notable as one of the most accomplished drummers in rock and was instantly recognizable by his shaven head and proclivity to wear black. He was considerably older than the rest of the group (he was born in 1923). His earlier career was primarily in jazz and included stints with Cannonball Adderley, Gerry Mulligan, Roland Kirk and Lee Konitz prior to joining Spirit, he was a founder member of Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder.

Related Topics:
Cannonball Adderley - Gerry Mulligan - Roland Kirk - Lee Konitz - Rising Sons - Taj Mahal - Ry Cooder

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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.

Related Topics:
Spirit - 1968 - The Family That Plays Together - Led Zeppelin - 1969 - Woodstock

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In 1970 Spirit released what is widely considered to be their best LP, the well-received Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus; produced by David Briggs (who also worked extensively with Neil Young), it was one of the first rock LPs to use the newly-developed Moog synthesiser, and is widely regarded as one of the finest albums ever recorded.

Related Topics:
1970 - Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus - David Briggs - Neil Young - Moog synthesiser

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The group 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, recorded the 1972 album Feedback and continued to play until 1973. In that year, California, who had previously been sidelined for some time by a riding accident, suffered a nervous breakdown and moved to Molokai, Hawaii.

Related Topics:
1971 - Jo Jo Gunne - John Arliss - Al Staehely - John Staehely - 1972 - Feedback - 1973 - Nervous breakdown - Molokai - Hawaii

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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 death of Randy California in a drowning accident off Molokai in 1997 effectively ended the band's career.

Related Topics:
1974 - Barry Keene - 1982 - 1984 - The Thirteenth Dream - 1997

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