Ep524: Population II - Randy Holden’s Enduring Legacy

2025-11-17

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Guitar pioneer Randy Holden reveals how record label incompetence destroyed his 1970 masterpiece Population II, leading to depression, exile in Hawaii, and eventual vindication through cult status. Get Population II and III at Riding Easy Records or preorder Population II reissue at Noble Records online Topics Include: Randy Holden is surprised Population II remains influential after recording it in 1970 He knew it would be big—there was nothing like it musically then Population II was r...

Guitar pioneer Randy Holden reveals how record label incompetence destroyed his 1970 masterpiece Population II, leading to depression, exile in Hawaii, and eventual vindication through cult status.

Get Population II and III at Riding Easy Records or preorder Population II reissue at Noble Records online

Topics Include:

Randy Holden is surprised Population II remains influential after recording it in 1970
He knew it would be big—there was nothing like it musically then
Population II was ready to release with Sun Amplifiers sponsoring monthly magazine ads
National promoters wanted to book shows but needed the album released first
Hobbit Records delayed release for eight or nine months, destroying Randy's career
The label wouldn't release the record or let Randy out of his contract
Owner Leonard Poncher's background was Latino music and auto parts wholesaling
Randy was creating a new form of music that became known as heavy metal
Poncher's lawsuit with MCA distribution completely tied up the album's release
Recording Population II went smoothly with Randy overdubbing all bass parts himself
He used four to eight amps recording through a Fender Jazz Bass
Engineer Hank Cicalo placed three mics at different distances for guitar tone
Randy pioneered mixing through car speakers instead of massive studio monitors
His original mix had full dynamics with sweeping highs and lows
Mastering engineers destroyed the mix, cutting frequencies to prevent needle skips
Randy joined Blue Cheer replacing Dickie Peterson but left over musical differences
Blue Cheer wanted shorter songs while Randy pursued extended musical compositions
He formed Population II with Chris Lockheed on keyboards and organ bass pedals
The name meant two people creating massive sound usually requiring four musicians
Randy's guitar journey began with Fender IV, then Sons of Adam
The Other Half featured Randy's early heavy guitar work before Blue Cheer
He recorded Guitar God album in 1997 after decades away from music
Nobody knows the original Population II pressing number
Recent remasters by engineers in New York and Smokey Taylor improved the sound
Randy's broken ring finger now prevents him from playing guitar properly
He manipulated audiences' emotions playing solos through walls of amps for thousands
Randy considers music like movies—"Land of the Sun" is theatrical drama
Playing live was his reason for living, creating heavenly musical moments
His legacy continues through reissues on Riding Easy Records reaching new generations