Randy Rand Dies: Autograph Founding Bassist Who Played On ‘Turn Up The Radio’ Was 62
deadline.comRandy Rand, the founding bassist for Autograph, which had a hair-metal hit with “Turn Up the Radio” in the mid-1980s, has died.
The news was posting on the band’s social media pages, but no details were given.Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery“Although beyond devastated, we find some comfort and solace knowing the last couple of years have been some of his happiest as an artist and as a performer,” the group wrote on Instagram (see the full post below). “Randy was the consummate optimist and was so excited to see the new direction, creativity and renewed energy with the band.
You could feel his excitement – as it was quite palpable with his playing abilities, performances and the way he interacted with his beloved fans.”Also featuring singer Steve Plunkett, guitarist Steve Lynch, drummer Keni Richards and keys player Steven Ishram, Autograph arose from the late-’70s Los Angeles-area rock scene.
It got a baptism by fire when the group was picked to open for fellow Pasadena-based rockers Van Halen on its massive 1984 tour after David Lee Roth heard their audition tape.“We weren’t even a band yet,” Rand said in a 2020 interview. “We really thought we were going to get our ass kicked because it was like 15,000 people for your very first gig ever.”The exposure paid off as Autograph recorded its RCA Victor debut album Sign in Please at the Record Plant in Los Angeles during the first part of 1984.
Read more on deadline.com
