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With Pure Meals and Drug Act, and John Mayall, guitarist Randy Resnick was a staple of the blues-meets-rock scene within the ‘60s and
Looking back, it’s clear that Resnick’s model, and particularly, his tapping, closely influenced the likes of Eddie Van Halen, and all that adopted within the ‘80s. However Resnick is sweating that now, and as an alternative focuses on creating new and ingenious music, whilst he approaches 80 years of age.
However Resnick does have phrases of knowledge for youthful gamers, telling ClassicRockHistory.com: “I inform youthful gamers that there are two issues that may allow you to achieve success in music… the primary is luck, which, by definition, you don’t have any management over.
“Second,” he provides. “Is socializing together with your friends. Networking is necessary as a result of each vital break I received was by way of others. I hung with, like, Paul Lagos and Larry Taylor. My remorse is that I didn’t do extra of that, as a result of I had alternatives to go to studios and such that I didn’t benefit from.”
Past that, Resnick feels that following one’s intuition is finest. “You probably have a sense for the guitar and hold at it, you’ll by no means remorse having the ability to play it, whether or not you play alone, for one particular person at dwelling, a couple of folks in a membership, or for 3,000. Preserve enjoying, pay attention and develop. I’m nonetheless doing that at 79.”
What are your first recollections of music in your life?
My father had a Hammond Organ, and I attempted to make chords on it and switch the Leslie on and off, nevertheless it wasn’t even near music! My brother Artwork Resnick grew to become a world-class jazz pianist, touring with Freddie Hubbard, Gary Bartz, and names large like that. He additionally recorded a number of albums. Artwork positively impressed me to play, however not jazz, rock.
What drew you to the guitar, and when did you resolve the kind of participant you wished to be?
Then, my uncle regifted me a pleasant Goya classical guitar. I performed it for a day or two and went to commerce it for a Silvertone guitar and amp. I messed round, and we had a rock band with Owen Husney (who found and developed Prince) and a few different highschool buddies.
I copied licks from what was on the radio and received ok to play with a working band, then received provided a bar gig. In these days, a membership would have a band for months at a time, three units of covers beginning at 9 PM till 12 or 1 AM. Individuals danced and have been followers of the band.
They got here to listen to a specific band. Then got here the twister, Jimi Hendrix. We listened to that first album, Owen, David Z, and I in somebody’s basement, and our minds have been blown! I’ll wager each guitar participant alive remembers the primary time they heard Jimi.
How did the scene you grew up in influence you as a participant?
I feel the necessary factor about rising up then was how straightforward it was to get collectively, hearken to information, and attempt to play these songs. There have been no less than 100 native bands within the Twin Cities, and most have been truly enjoying stay someplace.
A good participant may often get in a band and play out. In locations like L.A., the place I landed within the 70s, there have been in all probability ten occasions extra music issues occurring. Golf equipment, exhibits, concert events, and recording, too. So, you would truly make a residing in music as a sideman, for instance.
The ‘60s have been a wild time to return of age. How did that have an effect on you as you have been entering into issues?
Hendrix and bands like Led Zeppelin and Cream have been all so wealthy in musicality within the ‘60s. Most of us began entering into quite a lot of blues, too, as this was the place quite a lot of that got here from. The British Invasion, with the Beatles and the Stones, developed authentic sounds once they stopped copying Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Then bands like The Doorways, The Zombies, I feel I may title 50 bands with completely completely different sounds.
What led to the formation of Pure Meals and Drug Act?
My brother and I had a band out in Simi Valley, and we went by way of a couple of drummers till we discovered one which was proper for Artwork’s music. That was Paul Lagos, who had performed with Kaleidoscope. I had additionally been enjoying in a membership in Fresno, however once I received again to L.A., Paul known as me and stated, “I’m engaged on one thing. »
Paul was on a John Mayall tour with Sugarcane Harris, Larry Taylor, and Harvey Mandel. Paul assembled the group, The Sugarcane Harris Band, with Don [Sugarcane], Larry “The Mole” Taylor, and me. We performed a couple of golf equipment like The Troubadour, however they requested Harvey to affix for an even bigger sound and perhaps extra label curiosity.
Harvey had performed with Canned Warmth and Mayall and had his personal album [The Snake] out as nicely. Quickly after, The Mole give up, and I known as Victor Conte, who was in a Fresno band with me, to play bass with us. Victor was an incredible participant who went on to play with Tower of Energy and Herbie Hancock’s Monster Band.
As you talked about, you have been within the band with Harvey, who, whereas an incredible participant in his personal proper, has both taken or been given credit score for lots of methods you got here up with. What are you able to say about that?
There’s completely little question that Harvey noticed me tapping each evening and took that method for himself. At first, he claimed he began it on his personal. The creator of Van Halen 101 wrote me to ask about that, and I advised him the story. He talked to Paul and Victor, who confirmed it.
However I’ve by no means claimed to invent something. Everyone knows there have been guitarists utilizing the identical methods for many years earlier than Eddie Van Halen. In spite of everything these years, I’ve nonetheless not heard any guitarist utilizing tapping like I nonetheless do. I used to be impressed by African music.
The very first thing I did was to play one observe low on the neck, and faucet one different observe excessive up, an octave or extra, which you’ll be able to’t play some other manner. Then I discovered many different phrasings utilizing pull-offs and tapping. Everybody makes use of these methods, however once more, I feel what I do with them is far completely different.
What led to the top of Pure Meals and Drug Act and your becoming a member of John Mayall?
The 2 issues are unrelated. I left PFDA as a result of I wished to have the ability to solo extra. The connection to John Mayall got here by way of Larry, who’d achieved a number of Bluesbreaker excursions and information. After I first received to L.A., I met Jesse Ed Davis one evening on the Whisky.
He was enjoying there with Taj Mahal and was good sufficient to speak to me, wanna be guitarist, concerning the music scene. Jesse was imagined to do an album and a tour with the Bluesbreakers. With out entering into why, he couldn’t do the gig, so Larry advised me, and I went and auditioned. My dream had come true!
I’d recorded within the studio with Don and Harvey, however the Europe tour was like a film for me. I couldn’t consider it, it was like heaven, enjoying with greats gamers like drummer Soko Richardson, Larry on bass, legendary jazz saxophonist Purple Holloway, and John! Plenty of room to play on twelve gigs, principally improvised like blues or jazz. I even received applause after some solos.
The place did you go from there, and do you are feeling you’ve gotten extra recognition lately?
In 1975, I performed in a band with violinist Richard Greene [Seatrain], some sort of progressive rock, loopy stuff, very authentic, additionally with Larry, and native membership gigs with blues harp participant John “Juke” Logan. However the music scene was beginning to get actually sparse. Fewer golf equipment, not sufficient cash to stay on, so I did different issues. I left music completely for years at a time.
Have you ever stayed in contact with and/or made peace with Harvey?
I haven’t had an event to see Harvey for many years, however maintain no animosity for him. In 2012, I changed Harvey in Canned Warmth for 2 nights as he couldn’t come on that tour.
What’s been the important thing to your rig, and the place does it stand right now?
I’ve had many guitars after the Silvertone, a Fender Jazzmaster, a Les Paul, and a giant Guild hole physique, one thing like an Artist Award with one small quantity management. As soon as I began enjoying the Stratocaster, I caught with it.
My first Strat was stolen from my automobile, however I purchased a brand new one years in the past. I’ve tried quite a lot of impact pedals, however don’t use any now. If I play stay, I take advantage of a Roland Dice amp. I’ve had two Roland guitar synthesizers and performed the GR-55 extensively in Paris with my trio as “Randy Uncommon.”
On the time, once I performed with a piano sound, holding chords whereas enjoying a guitar solo over them, folks can be on the lookout for the pianist. Or I may play flute and piano on the identical time. I additionally had a Roland VG-8, a guitar and amp emulator with a number of nice sounds, utilizing the identical hex pickup because the GR-55.
At this time, I feel with artists who’ve sequencers or laptops onstage, nobody pays consideration to these synth options anymore.
What’s one thing about you as a musician—and listener—that may shock followers?
A number of years in the past, I began enjoying alto saxophone and now file rather a lot with alto and soprano saxes. Most of my recordings of the previous 5 years are with these or the Yamaha Digital Sax. I feel from the times of PFDA, I all the time wished to sound like a sax participant! Utilizing the guitar synths, I used to be enjoying with flute and horn sounds on a regular basis, so it was pure for me to need to go to the true factor.
What’s subsequent for you?
For the previous a number of years, I’ve been collaborating with folks everywhere in the world on recordings through Web file-sharing. I did a jazz and bossa album with Brazilian guitarist Marcio Riscado and one other with nation artist Robin Lee Discipline.
That kinda blew my thoughts as a result of I haven’t performed a lot nation music, and she or he liked what I did on that. My long-term undertaking, An Intercontinental Ja”, brings artists from 10 international locations beneath that title, on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music, and so on.
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An Interview with Randy Resnick of Pure Meals and Drug Act & John Mayall article printed on ClassicRockHistory.com© 2026
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