THEM CHANGES......

BUDDY MILES
September 5, 1947 – February 26, 2008

On October 26th, 2007 I had the pleasure of seeing one of my musical heroes. Buddy Miles. Buddy has a long rock and roll history, starting with a bang playing for The Delfonics and Wilson Pickett, then in the seminal rock/funk/psychedelic blues band Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield, his own band The Buddy Miles Express, through his time in Hendrix's Band of Gypsies.












After Jimi passed away, Buddy worked succsessfully with Bootsy Collins, Carlos Santana, and many others till his luck ran out in the late 70's due to addictions and bad decisions and he ended up doing some time until the mid 80's.

He regrouped and got some gigs in advertising, most notably the lead vocal job in the highly successful California Raisins ads.

Recently, Miles reunited with Billy Cox (of the Band of Gypsys) to re-record songs from the Band of Gypsys live album, with various of guitarists filling in for the late Hendrix. "The Band of Gypsys Return," was released in 2006.



















Last October, Buddy played at my friend's club the Sebastian Beach Inn, in Sebastian Florida. He spent the night meeting folks, taking pictures and signing autographs and telling stories. A real sweet man. Then Buddy and the band put on an awesome (but slightly disjointed) set, featuring a great guitarist - Randy Pavlock. Obviously tired, the show was to end, but the crowd chanted for my favorite Down By The River. Completely drained, Buddy relented, because he obviously and truly adored his fans. They kicked into an extended, haunting, and painfully beautiful cover of the Neil Young classic.

Buddy then said good night. I say goodnight now too. Rest In Peace kind soul.

















photos by Java John

Buddy is survived by his partner, Sherrilae Chambers.
DONATONS FOR BUDDY and FAMILY www.myspace.com/buddymilesband

Last week (Feb. 25, 26 and 28) Eric Clapton and Stevie Winwood performed 3 Concerts at Madison Square Garden... their first official full concerts together in nearly 39 years, since Blind Faith! During one of those shows, they paid tribute to their old friend Buddy Miles.
Enjoy:

Clapton and Winwood 08 - Them Changes

them changes - clapton winwood.mp3

Down by The River

buddymiles-DownbytheRiver.mp3

Buddy Miles and Carlos Santana

BuddyMilesCarlosSantana-ThemChanges.mp3

Buddy Miles and Billy Cox

CoxMiles_ManicDep.mp3

BUDDY MILES

JIMI HENDRIX

SEBASTIAN BEACH INN

RANDY PAVLOCK

SPIRIT

WELCOME TO THE ANIMAL ZOO

When it comes to my "first" rock concert....I have a few. In the very early `70's at the Dade County Youth Fair over several years I saw Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, Johnny Nash, The Grass Roots, and even Tanya Tucker (on her first tour, age 13 ). Being that at the time I was around the same age, at all of these shows I was accompanied by family.

Later, in 1975, my first Arena Concert was Alice Cooper with Suzy Quatro opening!

BUT, I've always concidered the first time I saw SPIRIT live to be my first "concert". Novemeber 1974, with opening acts Hammersmith, and Hydra. At the Atlantis Beach Lodge Ballroom in Cocoa Beach.

Probably the main reason I consider it my first real concert is because a) I was allowed to go alone. and b) the place was parting like hell!..contact buzz at the turnstile!

I'll never forget that night, or that band...one of the great underrated L.A. bands of the `60's, by the way. The Doors stole all the thunder, but spirit could hold their own. That night they were down to the one again/off agin trio line-up, featuring Randy California, (his uncle) Ed Cassady, and Larry "Fuzzy" Knight. If I remember correctly, they played all the classic Spirit hits: "I got a line on you", "1984", "Nature's Way", "Fresh Garbage", and the monster "Mr.Skin" with it's extended drum solo (Mr. Cassady was amazing, and had one of the largest drum kits ever!). They were also playing tracks off the (then) soon to be released "Tampa Jam/Electro Jam" album, which included Dylan & Hendrix covers. Randy, once in a band with Jimmy (Jimi James and the Blue Flames), he idolized his bro, and performed the most righteous cover of his songs - ever. Jimi even gave Randy his stage name...he was born Randy Craig Wolfe.

Over the years I ended up seeing Spirit more than any other band...Coca Beach `74, Miami `76 & `78 (two shows), Hialeah early eighties, Ft. Lauderdale `91, Sebastian Beach `94 & `95. There may have been one or two more.

By the last two shows, I was becoming a familiar face, and became friendly with Randy. At the `94 show he asked if I wanted to sell their T-Shirts & CDs, sure! The next year they called me in advance to ask if I could be there for them. After that we talked a few times, telling him in `96 that my wife and I would soon be opening our own venue and would like them to play. We opened in early `98....sadly, Randy never got to play for us at Kool Beanz. On January 2, 1997 he drowned in the while rescuing his twelve-year-old son from a rip current off the shore of Molokai, Hawaii. As he pushed his son Quinn towards the shore a strong undercurrent sadly pulled him away forever. I'm sure he's up there with Jimi again - Heaven Jam/Electro Jam!

We never forgot him at Kool Beanz, and found a prominent postition for my `95 portrait of the band to hang behind the coffee bar.

I just found out that there is a NEW Spirit triple CD with live and studio material from 1974
"SPIRIT- SALVATION...SPIRIT OF '74"...can't wait for that one. E-mail: info@randycaliforniaandspirt.com for info on that one.




my blacklight portrait signed by the band

from the CD live a la paloma

Like A Rolling Stone.mp3

SPIRIT (official)

TENT OF MIRACLES (unofficial)