Randy Stodola

[gwynnega]

I fell in love with the Alley Cats the first time I heard the opening guitar riff to their song "Too Much Junk" (which appeared on Yes L.A., the 1979 compilation LP that also included tracks by the Germs, X, and the Bags). I saw the Alley Cats every chance I got in 1980-81. Randy Stodola (who looked like a skinny young Martin Sheen) was my favorite guitarist in the whole Los Angeles scene.

The band never really made it outside LA the way X and the Go Go's did, though they did have a song in the film Urgh! A Music War (1982).

I was thrilled to have a chance to see Stodola play with his new band yesterday at Liquid Kitty, on a bill with my friends The Last. The years have clearly been hard on Stodola, who I've heard has been homeless. But the guy can still play. Wow, can he play! When he launched into the old Alley Cats songs, it was magical.

I do wonder what happened to the Alley Cats' bassist/singer Dianne Chai. She was awesome...

Comments

[gwynnega]

Music is good. :-)

::hugs::