Randy Holden

Randy Holden (born July 2, 1945) is an American guitarist best known for being a member of the West Coast acid rock group Blue Cheer and performance on their third album, New! Improved!. His solo album Population II (1970) is considered to be one of the earliest examples of doom metal. Holden is also a painter.

Biography Randy Holden was born in Pennsylvania and grew up on the move. He played in a number of bands, including the Iridescents (blues rock), the Fender IV (surf rock) and the Sons of Adam (surf rock/psychedelic rock). Holden relocated the Fender IV from Baltimore, Maryland, to Southern California and they eventually became the Sons of Adam. While playing in the Sons of Adam, Holden opened for the Rolling Stones at their first show at the Long Beach Sports Arena. Holden was heavily influenced by Keith Richards' guitar and amp set up, which helped change his own attitude towards equipment and tone. The Sons of Adam (specifically Holden) began experimenting with distortion and feedback, which pushed into psychedelic rock. Holden left the band frustrated with the lack of original material. He left the group during the recording sessions and the rest of the album was recorded with other musicians.

Frustrated with lack of control over the bands, Randy formed his next new band with drummer Chris Lockheed. Lockheed, also a keyboard player, uniquely played both drums and keyboard simultaneously in live performances.

In 2010, Holden began working with Randy Pratt (Cactus) and drummer Bobby Rondinelli (Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Blue Öyster Cult) on Population III, released by Ridingeasy Records on July 1, 2022. Pratt and Holden both composed the songs on Population III.

Personal life Randy is married to American artist Ruth Mayer. His son, Marlon Holden, is a photographer.

Discography

The Fender IV "Mar Gaya" / "You Better Tell Me Now" (1964 Imperial single) "Malibu Run" / "Everybody Up" (1965 Imperial single)

Blue Cheer New! Improved! (1969 side 2 only)

Lucifer Unreleased album (1969–1970)

Touch of Heaven Visions of You (2010 collaborative project with opera singer Jaclyn Guthrie)

Solo Population II (1970) Guitar God (1997) Early Works '64–'66 (1997 compilation of singles with Fender IV and Sons of Adam plus some demos) Guitar God 2001 (2001) Surf Guitar God 1963/2001 (2007 Fender IV compilation plus new music) Raptor (2007) Psychedelic Blue (2011 largely a covers album with some new material) Population III (2022)