Founding Autograph bassist Randy Rand has died. The band launched a press release on their social media platforms saying the information. He was surrounded by his spouse, Regina Rand, and his household on the time of his demise.
“It’s with nice sorrow and heavy hearts to announce the surprising passing of our cherished buddy and founding member of Autograph, Randy Rand,” the band wrote. “Though past devastated, we discover some consolation and solace understanding the final couple of years have been a few of his happiest as an artist and as a performer. Randy was the consummate optimist and was so excited to see the brand new route, creativity and renewed vitality with the band. You may really feel his pleasure — because it was fairly palpable along with his enjoying skills, performances and the best way he interacted along with his beloved followers.”
“Collectively within the final couple of years with this formation, we spent quite a few hours that changed into one thing magical whereas creating an unbreakable bond few bands are lucky sufficient to ever expertise. We had that… and with that, we’ll proceed to honor Randy Rand, as he would need us to and honor our musical commitments and preserve his legacy alive,” they added.
Learn the complete assertion under.
Rand first began enjoying in bands within the Sundown Strip space within the mid-’70s. He later shaped Autograph in Pasadena, Calif. in 1984 alongside vocalist Steve Plunkett, guitarist Steve Lynch, keyboardist Steven Isham and drummer Keni Richards. Their debut album Register Please, which was launched later that yr, featured their one and solely hit single “Flip Up the Radio.” The tune’s recognition helped push the album into the Prime 30 of the Billboard 200, and it was finally licensed gold.
Autograph put out one other two albums afterward — 1985’s That is the Stuff and 1987’s Loud and Clear — earlier than disbanding in 1989. Rand determined to pursue a profession in making leather-based equipment afterward.
“When the band broke up we knew it was time to maneuver on. The grunge scene took over the rock world, plus I used to be uninterested in chasing success when it simply wasn’t enjoyable anymore. Simply the scent of a bus generator working makes me sick now,” the rocker informed Legendary Rock Interviews in 2012.
“It didn’t take lengthy to determine what I needed to do, I had been doing leather-based equipment in my spare time so I simply put my complete vitality into that. Earlier than I knew it, I used to be promoting my stuff on Melrose, then EASYRIDER took me on as a vendor for his or her shops and their retail catalog. I bumped into my competitor Steve and we shaped a enterprise collectively which is a excessive finish canine collar firm known as “Woof Put on,” and that’s what I’m nonetheless doing 12 years later.”
Punkett initially reformed Autograph with an entire new lineup within the early 2000s and launched a single album known as Buzz earlier than disbanding once more. Nonetheless, in 2013, Rand, Lynch and Richards determined to reunite Autograph, although with out Plunkett, as he was not . Vocalist Simon Daniels was recruited to take Plunkett’s place after they found him on YouTube, after which Marc Wieland joined the next yr on drums rather than Richards.
They launched Louder in 2016 and Get Off Your Ass the next yr, after which Lynch left the group. On the time of Rand’s demise, he’d been the one authentic member remaining.
Loudwire sends our condolences to Rand’s family members and followers. Relaxation in peace.
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