ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER BY RANDY CALIFORNIA

Not only is Randy California’s loss immeasurable to his family and friends, but will surely be felt by millions of fans worldwide that have been touched by his songs and the music of Spirit for the past three decades. He was a songwriter of immense talent who wrote with substance (Nature’s Way, 1984, Toy Guns, Give a Life Take a Life, I Got A Line On You). His original material often had strong social and political commentary as well as strong spiritual overtones.

California was also a guitarist among guitarists. He could play like Hendrix or Clarence White, Roger McGuinn or Wes Montgomery and did so often within the framework of the same song.

More important than his incredible music talents, Randy California was a fine human being. He never pandered to the whims of record company executives that crave “commercial material” and never succumbed to the passing fads and trends that could easily of led him to super stardom. Instead, he stuck to his eclectic and visionary musical ideas and, as a result, leaves behind a musical legacy that few can match.
California also made several excellent solo albums in Europe, Euro-American and Shattered Dreams. He was a focal point and spiritual leader for many big name guitarists that toured as The Night of the Guitar roadshow, which featured such luminaries as the Door’s Robbie Krieger, Ten Years After’s Alvin Lee, Wishbone Ash’s Ted Turner and Andy Powell, Yes’s Steve Howe, Mountain’s Leslie West and the Climax Blues Band’s Peter Haycock. This collaboration resulted in an excellent video and a live CD. Prior to his death, Randy had been compiling material for a Kpt. Kopter Volume 2 release.