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This day-by-day diary of The Other Half's live, studio, broadcasting and private activities is the result of three decades of research and interview work by Bruno Ceriotti and Mike Stax, but without the significant contributions of other kindred spirits this diary would not have been possible. So, we would like to thank all the people who, in one form or another, contributed to this timeline: Randy Holden, Geoff Westen, Danny Woody, Tom Lennon, Larry Brown (RIP), Ron Saurman, Craig Tarwater (RIP), Ross Hannan, Corry Arnold, Alec Palao, Mark Schroeder, Luis Futre, Michael Lazarus Scott, Gray Newell, Gary A. Schneider, Colin Hill, Michael Fennelly, Jeff Salisbury, Greg Prevost, Domenic Priore, Ugly Things, Broadside, Los Angeles Free Press, Cash Box, Billboard, Record World, Berkeley Barb, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Express Times, Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet.
1965
Undoubtedly one of the most underrated psychedelic garage rock bands of the 60s, the Other Half were formed in Los Angeles, California, by a young aspiring lead guitar player from Venice named Thomas Patrick 'Tommy' Lennon (b. Friday, March 15, 1946). The story begins when Tommy, a cousin of the famed Lennon Sisters, and his friend and wannabe drummer Tommy Russo (b. 1946), who he'd know since his school days in Venice, got a job at MGM Studios in Culver City working in the mailroom, early that year. There, they meet Jeffrey George 'Jeff' Pasternak (b. Sunday, November 25, 1945), an Hollywood rich kid (his father was film producer Joe Pasternark, while his mother was film actress Dorothy Darrell) who had ambitions of being a lead singer and harmonica player. The trio started "messing around" and soon after, with the addition of Jeff's friend John Branca, a keyboard player who also played a little guitar, and John's friend David Lacey on bass, the Other Half (Russo came up with the name) were officially born. The early group's repertoire consisted primarily of songs by the Kings, the Yardbirds, the Animals, and especially the Rolling Stones.
Undoubtedly one of the most underrated psychedelic garage rock bands of the 60s, the Other Half were formed in Los Angeles, California, by a young aspiring lead guitar player from Venice named Thomas Patrick 'Tommy' Lennon (b. Friday, March 15, 1946). The story begins when Tommy, a cousin of the famed Lennon Sisters, and his friend and wannabe drummer Tommy Russo (b. 1946), who he'd know since his school days in Venice, got a job at MGM Studios in Culver City working in the mailroom, early that year. There, they meet Jeffrey George 'Jeff' Pasternak (b. Sunday, November 25, 1945), an Hollywood rich kid (his father was film producer Joe Pasternark, while his mother was film actress Dorothy Darrell) who had ambitions of being a lead singer and harmonica player. The trio started "messing around" and soon after, with the addition of Jeff's friend John Branca, a keyboard player who also played a little guitar, and John's friend David Lacey on bass, the Other Half (Russo came up with the name) were officially born. The early group's repertoire consisted primarily of songs by the Kings, the Yardbirds, the Animals, and especially the Rolling Stones.
THE OTHER HALF #1 (1965)
1) Tommy Lennon lead guitar
2) Tommy Russo drums
3) Jeff Pasternak lead vocals, harmonica
4) John Branca keyboards, rhythm guitar
5) David Lacey bass
1) Tommy Lennon lead guitar
2) Tommy Russo drums
3) Jeff Pasternak lead vocals, harmonica
4) John Branca keyboards, rhythm guitar
5) David Lacey bass
1965
After a bunch of rehearsals in the rec room behind the Lennon family home on Superior Avenue in Venice, and supposedly only one gig together, Jeff Pasternak left the band because he wasn't good enough, and was replaced by another aspiring lead singer and harmonica player called Jeffrey Albert 'Jeff' Nowlen (b. Wednesday, May 12, 1943 - d. Tuesday, April 8, 1997), another Hollywood rich kid who worked with Lennon and Russo in the mailroom of MGM Studios at that time. Shortly after Nowlen joined, the group did a photo session on one of the MGM back lots, and printed up a flyer announcing: "BEWARE. The Other Half is coming,"
After a bunch of rehearsals in the rec room behind the Lennon family home on Superior Avenue in Venice, and supposedly only one gig together, Jeff Pasternak left the band because he wasn't good enough, and was replaced by another aspiring lead singer and harmonica player called Jeffrey Albert 'Jeff' Nowlen (b. Wednesday, May 12, 1943 - d. Tuesday, April 8, 1997), another Hollywood rich kid who worked with Lennon and Russo in the mailroom of MGM Studios at that time. Shortly after Nowlen joined, the group did a photo session on one of the MGM back lots, and printed up a flyer announcing: "BEWARE. The Other Half is coming,"
THE OTHER HALF #2 (1965 - 1966)
1) Tommy Lennon
2) Tommy Russo
3) John Branca
4) David Lacey
5) Jeff Nowlen lead vocals, harmonica
1) Tommy Lennon
2) Tommy Russo
3) John Branca
4) David Lacey
5) Jeff Nowlen lead vocals, harmonica
Early 1966: Brave New World, 7207 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
According to Tommy Lennon, their first "real" (i.e. paying) job was when they opened for the not yet famous The Doors at a private gay bar called Brave New World. The Other Half did a 40-minute set, then they stayed and watched The Doors' first several songs, and finally left the club and went to play at a local party somewhere in east Venice or West L.A.
1966: Pandora's Box, 818 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
1966
The Other Half replaced Tommy Russo with a more accomplished drummer from Venice named Danny Mark Woody (b. Friday, February 23, 1945), formerly of 1984 (a local rhythm 'n' blues band). Woody was a dear friend of Lennon and they used to play together as a rock 'n' roll and blues duo at some private parties down on Venice Beach when they were younger.
According to Tommy Lennon, their first "real" (i.e. paying) job was when they opened for the not yet famous The Doors at a private gay bar called Brave New World. The Other Half did a 40-minute set, then they stayed and watched The Doors' first several songs, and finally left the club and went to play at a local party somewhere in east Venice or West L.A.
1966: Pandora's Box, 818 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
1966
The Other Half replaced Tommy Russo with a more accomplished drummer from Venice named Danny Mark Woody (b. Friday, February 23, 1945), formerly of 1984 (a local rhythm 'n' blues band). Woody was a dear friend of Lennon and they used to play together as a rock 'n' roll and blues duo at some private parties down on Venice Beach when they were younger.
THE OTHER HALF #3 (1966)
1) Tommy Lennon
2) John Branca
3) David Lacey
4) Jeff Nowlen
5) Danny Woody drums
1) Tommy Lennon
2) John Branca
3) David Lacey
4) Jeff Nowlen
5) Danny Woody drums
1966
John Branca was “dismissed” from the Other Half because he was too young (15 or 16 year old) to play “over 18” clubs. At that point, Branca joined up with his former bandmate Jeff Pasternak to form a new band called the Mustard Greens, while the Other Half replaced him with a rhythm guitar player and backup singer named Jeffrey Robert 'Geoff' Westen (b. Sunday, May 26, 1946), another Hollywood kid who most likely came through Jeff Nowlen, and who was a former extra in several television shows since the 1950s, and a former guitar player in a short-lived rehearsal band called the Young Lovers. Anyway, the new lineup of the band continued to practice in the rec room behind the Lennon family house in Venice, and also continued to expand their repertoire of Stones, Kinks, and Yardbirds material, along with songs like 'Hey Joe' and possibly a few Byrds numbers.
John Branca was “dismissed” from the Other Half because he was too young (15 or 16 year old) to play “over 18” clubs. At that point, Branca joined up with his former bandmate Jeff Pasternak to form a new band called the Mustard Greens, while the Other Half replaced him with a rhythm guitar player and backup singer named Jeffrey Robert 'Geoff' Westen (b. Sunday, May 26, 1946), another Hollywood kid who most likely came through Jeff Nowlen, and who was a former extra in several television shows since the 1950s, and a former guitar player in a short-lived rehearsal band called the Young Lovers. Anyway, the new lineup of the band continued to practice in the rec room behind the Lennon family house in Venice, and also continued to expand their repertoire of Stones, Kinks, and Yardbirds material, along with songs like 'Hey Joe' and possibly a few Byrds numbers.
THE OTHER HALF #4 (1966 - MAY 1966 (?))
1) Tommy Lennon
2) David Lacey
3) Jeff Nowlen
4) Danny Woody
5) Geoff Westen rhythm guitar, backup vocals, tambourine
Sunday, unknown date, 1966: unknown hotel lounge, Palm Springs, Riverside County, California
After an afternoon gig at a hotel lounge in Palm Springs, The Other Half were approached by two guys who were in the audience named Don Otis and David Lawrence. Don and his assistant David, who were two makeup guys at KHJ Televion in LA, fell in love with the band and soon Don signed the band for his Don Otis Enterprises management company.
May 1966 (?)
David Lacey left the band and was replaced on bass by the late Larry Brown (b. 1943, Oakland, Alameda County, California - d. Friday, February 8, 2019, from heart attack after a Stent surgery), formerly of The Exiles. It was at that point that their manager Don Otis bundled the group off to a remote ranch house he owned up in Palmdale, in the Mojave Desert, for some intensive rehearsal sessions.
After an afternoon gig at a hotel lounge in Palm Springs, The Other Half were approached by two guys who were in the audience named Don Otis and David Lawrence. Don and his assistant David, who were two makeup guys at KHJ Televion in LA, fell in love with the band and soon Don signed the band for his Don Otis Enterprises management company.
May 1966 (?)
David Lacey left the band and was replaced on bass by the late Larry Brown (b. 1943, Oakland, Alameda County, California - d. Friday, February 8, 2019, from heart attack after a Stent surgery), formerly of The Exiles. It was at that point that their manager Don Otis bundled the group off to a remote ranch house he owned up in Palmdale, in the Mojave Desert, for some intensive rehearsal sessions.
THE OTHER HALF #5 (MAY 1966 (?) - AUGUST 11, 1966)
1) Tommy Lennon
2) Jeff Nowlen
3) Danny Woody
4) Geoff Westen
5) Larry Brown bass
1) Tommy Lennon
2) Jeff Nowlen
3) Danny Woody
4) Geoff Westen
5) Larry Brown bass
June 1966: Salty Cellar, 304 Ocean Avenue, Huntington Beach, Orange County, California
After a month or so in Palmdale, the Other Half were back in LA where their manager secured them a residency at a newly opened teen-oriented rock ‘n’ roll joint in Huntington Beach called Salty Cellar, located in the basement of Buzz Burger restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway, next door to that city's most famous concert venue, the Golden Bear.
Wednesday, July 6, 1966: ‘9th Street West,’ KHJ-TV Channel 9, KHJ TV Studios, 5515 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California (broadcast date)
Through their connections at KHJ, Don Otis and David Lawrence were able to get the group a spot on 9th Street West, a television teen dance show hosted by deejay Sam Riddle and aired from Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 8:30pm. The Other Half lip-synched a cover of The Rolling Stones, ‘Everybody Needs Somebody To Love,’ that they pre-recorded earlier that same day at the Nashville West Studios next door to KHJ TV studios. Also appeared: James Brown.
Friday, July 8 - Saturday, July 9, 1966: Rain Room, adjacent to Reseda Bowl, 6640 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California
The band was advertised as The Other Half Trio [sic]. The same newspaper ad also wrongly mentioned a Thursday night show which actually was added to the Rain Room schedule only a month later on August 18.
Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet (July 8, 1966)
The Other Half #5, Rain Room, Reseda Bowl, Reseda, California, July 1966
Friday, July 15 - Saturday, July 16, 1966: Rain Room, adjacent to Reseda Bowl, 6640 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California
Friday, July 22 - Sunday, July 24, 1966: Rain Room, adjacent to Reseda Bowl, 6640 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California
Started this week, the Rain Room added the first Sunday afternoon rock ‘n’ roll jam session from 2pm to 7pm. The Other Half played alone on Friday and Saturday night shows, but for the Sunday show they shared the bill with another unknown local rock band.
Friday, July 29 - Sunday, July 31, 1966: Rain Room, adjacent to Reseda Bowl, 6640 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California
The Other Half played their fourth and last week at the Rain Room. The following week they were replaced there by the Loved Ones, another rock band managed by Don Otis.
July 1966 (?): It's Boss, 8433 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
July 1966 (?): Dave Hull's Hullabaloo, 6230 Sunset Boulevard, downtown Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
July 1966 (?): Classic Cat, 8844 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Saturday, August 6, 1966: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California
The Other Half opened for The Rising Sons, and The Sir Douglas Quintet.
Thursday, August 11, 1966
Tommy Lennon got drafted that day, so he was forced to leaves the band. The Other Half replaced him very quickly with a way better and much more experienced lead guitar player named Randy Holden (b. Monday, July 2, 1945, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania). Randy was a former member of The Sons Of Adam, one of the most popular bands on the Sunset Strip, and perhaps The Other Half's favourite one. So, when Randy leaves that band four days earlier around the same time Tommy received a notice to appear before the draft board, The Other Half spread the world with some girls that they'd like to meet him. "They were groupies, they knew everybody. They said, 'There's a really cool little band you might dig. Go down and see what you think and maybe sit in with them'," Randy confirms in an interview with Mike Stax for Ugly Things magazine in 2018. "They were playing some little club. So I was invited to sit in and the first thing I did was I turned all their amps up. They had Dual Showmans too, which impressed me, but they were playing them on 3 or 4 and I played them on 6 or 7. So I turned everybody up and sat in, and it had a new feel to it. And they were writing their own songs and I liked that. So they wanted me to join up, so I did." At that point, the new lineup started rehearsing together, cracking it loud as on stage, 5 days a week, from 11:00am to 6:00pm, at Randy's mother in law's home on Canyon Dell Drive in Altadena, Los Angeles County. "I provided rehearsal place for the band for close to a year at my mother in law's home, which is where the music was written," Randy also confirms in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011. "She actually fed the whole band during that entire time, cooking up a store. We even wrote a song called 'Mrs Wong's Kitchen' (didn't record it, it never fully came together as a song. Was a novelty, probably should have pursued finishing it. Had a good humor to it). Her name was Francis Wong, from her marriage to Wilson Wong, a Chinese scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Human Factors Division. He was a brilliant man. He taught me to play chess. I became quite good. He was the step father to my wife Georgene Luskovar, whose biological father was Croatian decent. An extraordinarily beautiful woman. We would visit her mother's home every Sunday, when Wilson would teach me chess. It took many months before I could even approach his level. Eventually I was able to best him. He and I use to follow the chess matches and moves published in every Sunday's Newspaper."
THE OTHER HALF #6 (AUGUST 12, 1966 - JULY ??, 1967)
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Danny Woody
3) Geoff Westen
4) Larry Brown
5) Randy Holden lead guitar, backup vocals
The Other Half #6, Los Angeles, 1966/67 - from left: Jeff Nowlen, Larry Brown, Randy Holden, Danny Woody, and Geoff Westen
The Other Half #6, 1966/67 - from left: Larry Brown, Randy Holden, Jeff Nowlen, Geoff Westen, and Danny Woody
The Other Half #6, 1966/67 - from left: Randy Holden, Geoff Westen, Danny Woody, Jeff Nowlen, and Larry Brown
The Other Half #6, 1966/67 - from left: Jeff Nowlen, Randy Holden, Danny Woody, Larry Brown, and Geoff Westen
Wednesday, August 17, 1966: Nashville West Recording Studios Inc., 5505 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Don Otis and David Lawrence secured for the band a one-off deal with G.N.P. Crescendo Records, a Hollywood independent record label, and that day The Other Half recorded their debut single in the same studio where a month or so earlier they recorded their Stones cover for the 9th Street West television show. "We recorded in some small seriously lacking studio in Hollywood," Randy Holden recalls in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011. "I don’t remember the name of it, nor who the engineer was. I remember having such a difficult time trying to play the guitar I had (a Fender Jazzmaster - worst guitar I ever had), that the entire session was a disaster in my mind. I was not in to it at all. I blocked most of it from my mind. As I think back on it, I really had terrific difficulty trying to get that ax to do anything. It was a serious struggle. I can even feel what I felt then. What a horrid feeling. Like trying to make a dump truck perform like a Ferrari… no chance in hades… it actually hurt, emotionally - psychologically, that may even be part of the aversion I have always had about the Other Half." The session was produced by the late Richard Delvy, drummer of The Challengers, a surf band who recorded for G.N.P. at the time, with Charles Underwood as sound engineer. Four songs were tracked that day: 'Mr. Pharmacist', 'I Know', and 'It's Too Hard (Without You)', credited to Jeff Nowlen, although the other members made significant contributions, and 'I've Come So Far' credited to Geoff Westen who also sang lead on it.
Friday, October 7, 1966: Western Recorders, 6000 Sunset Boulevard, downtown Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
The Other Half's song 'I've Come So Far' received an electric piano overdub today at Western Recorders.
November 1966
The Other Half's debut single, 'Mr. Pharmacist / I've Come So Far' (GNP 378X), was released only in the US. Sadly it was not a big seller, so the group's relationship with G.N.P. Crescendo ended soon after. Anyway, the single was reissued on November 6, 2019, by a UK label called Harlem Shuffle Records.
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2019 UK reissue
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Cash Box (December 3, 1966)
2019 UK reissue
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Friday, December 9 - Saturday, December 10, 1966: Losers South, 1500 Almaden Road, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California
Also on the bill: Sounds Of Us.
January 1967
The Other Half's first and only EP, 'Mr. Pharmacist / I Know / It's Too Hard (Without You) / I've Come So Far' (Vogue INT. 18112), was released only in France. The extend play was re-issued (and re-mastered) only in Germany in 1982.
France 1966 cover
France 1966 label
Germany 1982 cover
Germany 1982 label
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France 1966 back cover
France 1966 label
Germany 1982 back cover
Germany 1982 label
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Friday, January 6 - Saturday, January 7, 1967: 'Dance Concert', Avalon Ballroom, 1268 Sutter Street at Van Ness Street, San Francisco, California
Also on the bill: The Steve Miller Blues Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service. Lights by Ben Van Meter and Roger Hillyard. These shows, which lasted from 9:00pm to 2:00am each day, were promoted by the Family Dog, a production company founded a year earlier by Big Brother and The Holding Company's manager, the great late Chet Helms. By the way, Randy Holden was invited to jam on-stage with The Steve Miller Blues Band on at least one set in each of the shows.
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Tuesday, January 17 - Sunday, January 22, 1967: Bido Lito’s, 1608 North Cosmo Street, downtown Hollywod, Los Angeles County, California
January 1967 (?)
The Other Half parted company with Don Otis Enterprises. Apparently the managers wanted them to go in a more commercial pop direction, something that was never going to happen, especially now that Randy Holden was holding the musical reins. Anyway, the band found a new management deal soon after with Jim Pettinotti and Joe Koistra of the local PaK Artists Management company and, also around the same time, while they were rehearsing at some house in Laurel Canyon, LA, they were discovered by chance by two veteran producers named Larry Goldberg and Hank Levine, who were at somebody's house not too far away and they kept hearing them so they drove around until they discovered the band exactly.
February 1967 (?): Western Recorders, 6000 Sunset Boulevard, downtown Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
The Other Half recorded their second single under the production of Larry Goldberg and Hank Levine. They tracked down two songs, 'Wonderful Day' written by Randy Holden, and 'Flight Of The Dragon Lady' written by the entire band. The producers then placed the songs with the Acta label, a newly-formed division of Dot Records.
Early/Mid March 1967
The Other Half's second single, 'Wonderful Day / Flight Of The Dragon Lady' (Acta 45-801), was released only in the US. 'Wonderful Day' was written by Randy Holden, while 'Flight Of The Dragon Lady' was written by all the five members of the band.
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45 promo insert
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Sunday, March 26, 1967: ‘An Offering to the City of Los Angeles - Easter Sunday Love-In’, Elysian Park, 835 Academy Road, Central Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: The Steve Miller Blues Band, Clear Light, The Daily Flash, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Rainy Daze, The Factory, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Flamin’ Groovies, Sopwith Camel (canceled), Iron Butterfly, The Turtles, The Nazz, Grateful Dead, The Seventh Son, Firesign Theatre, New Generation, The Kings Verses, West Coast Branch, Kim Fowley, Smokestack Lightning, The Yellow Brick Road, The Yerba Buena Blues Band. One free show, from 6:00am to 9:00pm, with approximately 30,000 people in attendance. "One hundred thousand people showed up," remembers Randy Holden, "painted, freaking out, all stoned out of their bloody minds. It was a madhouse of chaos, and I didn’t want to play, because nobody was conscious!" he laughs. "I was pretty angry. It wasn’t a love-in for me, it was more of a ‘hate-in’!"
Randy Holden at the 'Love-In'
Geoff Westen at the "Love-In"
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Geoff Westen at the "Love-In"
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April 1967 (?): The Cheetah, 1 Navy Street, Santa Monica (actually just over the line in Venice Beach), Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Things To Come.
Friday, May 19, 1967: Valley Music Theatre, 20600 Ventura Boulevard, Woodlands Hills, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Iron Butterfly, Peanut Butter Conspiracy. The show, which started at 8:30pm, was presented by Yesterday.
Los Angeles Free Press ad (May 19, 1967)
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Monday, May 22 - Saturday, May 27, 1967: 'Save Bido Lito's Week', Bido Lito’s, 1608 North Cosmo Street, downtown Hollywod, Los Angeles County, California
The Other Half, Sons Of Adam, Love, Factory, Divine Comedy, and Iron Butterfly, generously donating their time and services to keep Bido Lito's open this week. Lights by Maze Light Show.
Los Angeles Free Press (May 19, 1967)
Sunday, May 28, 1967: 'Love-In', Merry-Go-Round area, Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Feliz, Central Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Tuesday, June 6, 1967: Western Recorders, 6000 Sunset Boulevard, downtown Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
The Other Half recorded five tracks today: 'I Need You', 'No Doubt About It', 'Morning Fire', 'Fly Away', and 'I Love You'. The session was again produced by Larry Goldberg and Hank Levine. 'I Need You' written by Randy Holden and his former Sons Of Adam's bandmate Mike Port, and 'No Doubt About It' written by Jeff Nowlen (although according to Randy he co-wrote it, and he has no idea why he was he was omitted from the writer credits and copyright of this song), where released as the band's third single a month later. 'I Need You' was also included, together with 'Morning Fire' (credited only to Jeff, although again Randy recalls he co-wrote it), on their debut album the following year. Sadly 'Fly Away' and 'I Love You' remain unreleased so far.
Early July 1967
The Other Half's third single, 'I Need You / No Doubt About It' (Acta 45-806), was released only in the US.
Thursday, July 13 - Sunday, July 16, 1967: Avalon Ballroom, 1268 Sutter Street at Van Ness Street, San Francisco, California
Also on the bill: The Charlatans (13-16), The Youngbloods (13-15), Emerald Tablet (13-16), Arlo Guthrie (15) (?), The Wildflower (16). Lights by The North American Ibis Alchemical Company. These shows, which lasted from 9:00pm to 2:00am each day, were promoted by the Family Dog. Danny Woody's last gigs with the Other Half.
July ??, 1967
Back in Los Angeles, the Other Half, or Randy Holden actually, fired Danny Woody [he went to play with Hearts and Flowers, then he played bongos on the title track of Jefferson Airplane's Crown Of Creation album, then he played with a lot of artists such as Louis Prima, Johnny Tillotson, Fats Domino, CK Strong, One Man's Family, and Seals & Croft]. "The drummer I fired, I really enjoyed him as a person, outside of music," points out Randy Holden in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011. "He loved playing soft jazz, and hated playing hard hitting… that was an obvious oil & water mix. It just didn’t work out playing music with him… it was extremely frustrating for both of us." To replace Woody, Randy hired a drummer he knew very well and that he thought could be the right choice for the band, the late Randy Carlisle (d. Monday, February 14, 2011, due to a liver failure which then spread to his kidneys), formerly of the Sons Of Adam.
THE OTHER HALF #7 (JULY ??, 1967 - AUGUST 20, 1967)
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Geoff Westen
3) Larry Brown
4) Randy Holden
5) Randy Carlisle drums
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Geoff Westen
3) Larry Brown
4) Randy Holden
5) Randy Carlisle drums
Thursday, August 17 - Sunday, August 20, 1967: Avalon Ballroom, 1268 Sutter Street at Van Ness Street, San Francisco, California
Also on the bill: Quicksilver Messenger Service (17-20), Melvyn Q (17, 20). Lights by The North American Ibis Alchemical Company. These shows, which lasted from 9:00pm to 2:00am each day, were promoted by the Family Dog. "I'd broken my foot at a previous gig a few days before," recalls Randy Holden in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011. "I just came off stage from doing my solo thing and nearly destroyed my foot, only able to hobble. Janis Joplin was in the dressing room and I sat down beside her. She put her hand in my hair and fluffled it all around telling me what a great show I'd just done and she was very motherly, seeing my pain and gave me a Demerol for the pain saying, 'don't you have anything for the pain?' and I didn't, she said 'here, this will help you'. She was a kind little girl." By the way, the Other Half debuted their new drummer Randy Carlisle during these shows. "Carlisle rehearsed at least a month before playing live," also recalls Randy in the same interview. "In rehearsal he was incredibly good, spectacular, exactly what I wanted, but when we played lived gigs with him at the Avalon Ballroom, the moment he went on stage, he totally froze up, and just screwed the show. It was incredible. He played like he had no clue what he was doing." "There was nothing on earth or in heaven that could stop Carlisle from freezing into stone cold ice on stage life," continues Randy. "Yet he just kicked serious ass in rehearsal, loose, alive, powerful, inventive, perfect meter, complex fills. Yet once he stepped on stage all of it disappeared, he could barely keep a beat. Totally unbelievable, never saw anything like it. As I understand he remained that way!" Apparently the band, or actually Randy Holden again, fired Randy Carlisle right after the last Sunday night show, and they replaced him right there on the spot with a drummer who was by chance in the audience that night, named Ron Saurman (b. Queens, New York City, New York), formerly of the Jayhawkers (aka Jay Walker and the Pedestrians).
Also on the bill: Quicksilver Messenger Service (17-20), Melvyn Q (17, 20). Lights by The North American Ibis Alchemical Company. These shows, which lasted from 9:00pm to 2:00am each day, were promoted by the Family Dog. "I'd broken my foot at a previous gig a few days before," recalls Randy Holden in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011. "I just came off stage from doing my solo thing and nearly destroyed my foot, only able to hobble. Janis Joplin was in the dressing room and I sat down beside her. She put her hand in my hair and fluffled it all around telling me what a great show I'd just done and she was very motherly, seeing my pain and gave me a Demerol for the pain saying, 'don't you have anything for the pain?' and I didn't, she said 'here, this will help you'. She was a kind little girl." By the way, the Other Half debuted their new drummer Randy Carlisle during these shows. "Carlisle rehearsed at least a month before playing live," also recalls Randy in the same interview. "In rehearsal he was incredibly good, spectacular, exactly what I wanted, but when we played lived gigs with him at the Avalon Ballroom, the moment he went on stage, he totally froze up, and just screwed the show. It was incredible. He played like he had no clue what he was doing." "There was nothing on earth or in heaven that could stop Carlisle from freezing into stone cold ice on stage life," continues Randy. "Yet he just kicked serious ass in rehearsal, loose, alive, powerful, inventive, perfect meter, complex fills. Yet once he stepped on stage all of it disappeared, he could barely keep a beat. Totally unbelievable, never saw anything like it. As I understand he remained that way!" Apparently the band, or actually Randy Holden again, fired Randy Carlisle right after the last Sunday night show, and they replaced him right there on the spot with a drummer who was by chance in the audience that night, named Ron Saurman (b. Queens, New York City, New York), formerly of the Jayhawkers (aka Jay Walker and the Pedestrians).
THE OTHER HALF #8 (AUGUST 21, 1967 - MARCH or APRIL 1968)
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Geoff Westen
3) Larry Brown
4) Randy Holden
5) Ron Saurman drums
The Other Half #8, Los Angeles, 1967/68 - from left: Ron Saurman, Jeff Nowlen, Larry Brown, Geoff Westen, and Randy Holden
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The Other Half #8, Los Angeles, 1967/68 - from left: Randy Holden, Ron Saurman, Jeff Nowlen, Larry Brown, and Goeff Westen
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The Other Half #8, Los Angeles, 1967/68 - from left: Ron Saurman, Jeff Nowlen, Larry Brown, Geoff Westen, and Randy Holden
August or September 1967: The Cheetah, 1 Navy Street, Santa Monica (actually just over the line in Venice Beach), Los Angeles County, California
According to Ron Saurman, his debut gig with the Other Half maybe have been at The Cheetah. "Ron Saurman was good in rehearsals," recalls Randy Holden in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011, "but he'd take LSD before going in stage live, and he'd turn into complete garbage, unable to keep time, forgot every song, and thought he played great… I fired him!" [Note: Although Randy is pretty sure that he fired Ron Saurman too at one point, no one else in the band remembered it, and no proof surfaced that a scenario like that really happened].
Friday, September 15 - Sunday, September 17, 1967: 'Dance Concert', Avalon Ballroom, 1268 Sutter Street at Van Ness Street, San Francisco, California
Also on the bill: The Youngbloods, Mad River. Lights by The North American Ibis Alchemical Company. These shows, which lasted from 9:00pm to 2:00am each day, were promoted by the Family Dog.
Friday, September 22 - Saturday, September 23, 1967: The Western Front, 895 O'Farrell Street at Polk Street, San Francisco, California
Also on the bill: Freedom Highway (22-23), Peace (22-23), Illusionary Experaments By Dr P.H. Martin's Magic Medecine Show (22-23), The New Dehli River Band (23), and Mad River (23).
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Tuesday, September 26 - Sunday, October 1, 1967: The Matrix, 3138 Fillmore Street, Marina District, San Francisco, California
Also on the bill: The Charlatans (29-30, 1), Frumious Bandersnatch (29-30, 1). Lights by Chance.
Thursday, October 5, 1967: Golden State Recorders, 665 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California
Larry Goldberg brought the Other Half in the studio to begin work on their eponymous debut album (The Other Half of the Other Half was floated as a possible title). Sadly, no info about what song or songs they recorded today. "As I recall the album was done in a week. Little time was spent, budget was an issue," Randy Holden recalls in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011. "I just had a bad experience recording with the Other Half," Randy adds in another interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2019. "I utterly despised the album. My sound in the studio was utterly horrid: it was an embarrassment to me. I’ve blocked most of the experience from my mind, it was just too painful. It almost made me forget how good the band was live." By the way, no one remembers Larry Goldberg being present for the subsequent sessions (Hank Levine appears to have only been involved in the earlier LA sessions), so for most of the time the producer role was taken by Leo De Gar Kulka, aka 'The Baron', who was the owner of the studio and also acted as sound engineer.
Monday, October 16 - Tuesday, October 17, 1967: Golden State Recorders, 665 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California
The Other Half recorded four tracks over the course of these two days: 'Introduction' (written by Nowlen and Westen), 'Feathered Fish' (written by Arthur Lee of Love) , 'Bad Day' (basics) (written by Westen), and 'Love You Baby.' The latter song, which did not appear on the album, could be an original title for 'Introduction', so those two songs may be one and the same.
Thursday, October 19, 1967: Golden State Recorders, 665 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California
The Other Half complete the recording of 'Introduction', 'Feathered Fish', and 'Bad Day', and also recorded two new songs: 'Oz Lee Eaves Drops' (written by Nowlen and Westen) and 'What Can I Do For You' (credited only to Nowlen and Westen, although Holden recalls he co-wrote it too).
Friday, October 20 - Saturday, October 21, 1967: The Western Front, 895 O'Farrell Street at Polk Street, San Francisco, California
Also on the bill: Blue Cheer, The Wildflower, Eric Announcing. Lights by Clear Light Drive.
Tuesday, October 24, 1967: Golden State Recorders, 665 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California
The Other Half mixed a song titled 'Flight Of The Dragon Lady' written by Randy Holden, Geoff Westen, Larry Brown, Jeff Nowlen, and their old drummer Danny Woody.
Tuesday, November 7 - Wednesday, November 8, 1967: Family Dog, 1601 West Evans Street, Denver, Colorado
Also on the bill: Jefferson Airplane. Lights by Diogenes Latern Works. These shows were promoted by the Family Dog. "We sounded like crap," recalls Randy Holden in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2019. "The acoustics were dead. Jorma [Kaukonen, JA lead guitar player] had upgraded from a single 100 watt Twin Reverb, to 4 Twin Reverbs. His sound was far louder than mine. The 2 Dual Showman’s I used were only 200 watts, and their new large cabinets were just garbage. I was terrifically depressed that my sound sucked so badly. Jorma’s 4 Twin Reverbs with Open Back small cabs and 12” speakers cut through the dead sounding room. As I left the stage I threw my guitar at my amps, I was so pissed off how bad my guitar and amps were. On way upstairs to dressing room Jorma and Jack [Casady, JA bass player] we’re sitting at a table doing lines of coke and invited me to join then in it, but I declined. I thought it bizarre to be doing that. Jorma complimented our show, and I remarked 'it was a lot of noise'. He replied saying 'there is something to say for noise'. I just went on to our dressing room, plagued about my sound, and unable to do anything about it, having no money."
Friday, November 10 - Saturday, November 11, 1967: Family Dog, 1601 West Evans Street, Denver, Colorado
Also on the bill: The Sons Of Champlin. Lights by Diogenes Latern Works. These shows were promoted by the Family Dog.
Saturday, November 11 - Tuesday, November 14, 1967: Golden State Recorders, 665 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California
The Other Half mixed 'Introduction' and 'Love You Baby.'
1967 (?): unknown venue, unknown city, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: The Doors. "I remember we did a gig with The Doors out in the San Fernando Valley, and I don't recall what the place was," Randy Holden recalls in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011. "It was fairly lage as I remember. I seem to remember it was not a full house, but a fairly small to medium audience. I remember being surprised about that. Anyway, we did this gig and someone in the band said 'let's rent a limousine, and pull up to the gig being stars. So they did it but I wasn't into it at all. It felt like phony cheap trick hustler crap. The limo had all these clown horns rigged up, so it felt like Bozo the Clown arrived. I was embarrassed as hell, and worse, there was hardly anyone there, and I overhead someone say something demeaning about us, thinking we were stars, and I felt like crawling in a whole, because I felt it was phony showmanship. Jesus I still get pissed off thinking how stupid it made me feel! You know, it wasn't like we were top bill act in a giant arena that was people stacked 10 deep halfway around the place, where a limo does. Get you in and out of those circumstances, but we were not in those circumstances, but the attitude within the band was like that all the time, I was miserable playing in the middle of a wannabe band, and that's how I felt. I never has a reason to be a wannabe, I never faked anything emotionally. As you can see, all this negative depressing crap just starts pouring out of me, when I become sucked back into memories I felt no self respect in."
1967 (?): Pacific Park Ballroom (?), unknown city, Los Angeles County (?), California (?)
Also on the bill: The Doors. "We also played another gig with The Doors at the Pacific Park Ballroom," Randy Holden recalls in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011. "I'm not sure if that's the name of the ballroom or not. There were a few old ballrooms on the beaches, another was called the Rendezvous Ballroom, but I'm not sure. It's getting longer ago with each passing minute."
Friday, January 12, 1968: Golden State Recorders, 665 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California
The Other Half mixed the version of 'Bad Day' that was released as a single later that year.
January or February 1968: Spectrum 2000, 8433 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
The Other Half appeared, lip-synched 'Oz Lee Eaves Drops' and a short snatch of 'Bad Day', in the opening a go-go club scene (filmed in early '68 at the Spectrum 2000) of the first episode titled The Teeth of the Barracuda, of the 60's classic cop television show The Mod Squad, that premiered nationally on ABC network on Tuesday, September 24, 1968. For whatever reason, the cameraman / editing didn't have their singer Jeff Nowlen in it, so he actually wasn't seen on the aired scene! "As I recall, the producer of the show saw the band play, and asked us to be on the show," says Randy Holden. "I don’t remember much about it. I do remember you spend a lot of time on a set waiting. Typically twelve hours a day, waiting. A bit boring - and all the worse because you aren’t really playing, you are lip syncing, so you have to feign excitement, if there is any. Usually I didn’t know what was going on, e.g. when we were filming or when we weren’t in the scene, yet we lip synced over and over and over, which can really get dull. In retrospect I probably should have jumped up in the air and down on my knees, and all the showbiz stuff, but then the producer probably would have thrown me off the set," he laughs. "And I don’t know how many times my knees could have taken it - probably not long enough to last the day!"
Early/Mid February 1968
The Other Half's fourth single, 'What Can I Do For You / Bad Day' (Acta 45-819), was released only in the US.
March ?, 1968
The Other Half's debut and only album, 'The Other Half' (Acta A-38004; Side A: '1. Introduction / 2. Feathered Fish / 3. Flight Of The Dragon Lady / 4. Wonderful Day / 5. I Need You / 6. Oz Lee Eaves Drops - Side B: 1. Bad Day / 2. Morning Fire / 3. What Can I Do For You, First Half / 4. What Can I Do For You, The Other Half'), was released in the US. The album was also released in South Africa in 1968, and in Germany in 1969 (as 'The Other Half Of Underground'). The album was re-issued in the US and in the UK in 2004, and then only in the UK in 2012. "I’ve been surprised after all the years people like the album," Randy Holden reflects in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2019. "I think those who like it view it as a kind of punk rock band. My objective was to build a super heavy rock band. Had there been a good recording, it could have been sooo much better. We also had really stupid record deals. A 6 month record deal is nothing but non-committal Trash. No promotion, no tour support, while managers pocketed any front money, which was paltry. Management in the US, especially LA, is nothing but two bit hustlers only interested in what they can get, and always chump change. And not committed with any belief in a band. It’s a horrible place to try to work for success. I could go on for hours about that, but it’s a horribly depressing subject."
The Other Half #8, 1967/68, rejected proposed cover for their debut album - from left: Ron Saurman, Larry Brown, Randy Holden, Jeff Nowlen, and Geoff Westen
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Broadside (July 31, 1968)
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US cover
US label
German cover
German label
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US back cover
US label
German back over
German label
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March or April 1968
Randy Holden parted ways with The Other Half because he didn't like the direction of the band at that point. There was a lot of conflicts, personal conflicts, too. "I put a lot of energy in the Other Half," Randy recalls in an interview with Bruno Ceriotti in 2011. "I was providing all the resources for the band to even exist. I think I was really pissed off with what seemed to me to be an artificial ego in a few of the band mermbers, as if they were faking it, rather than being genuine, and it always embarassed me. It just didn't feel real enough to me! On top of that, I literally hated the guitar I had. It played like crap, and I disliked my amps as well. The whole period was one massive struggle for me. Let's end it here, I don't like to spend so much on negative emotion. It gets really complicated. At the same time, the band was pretty damn good lived. See, you got me going off again, but caused me to sense something I had never thought of before. For me, emotionally, the Other Half was a bit like a limbo state. Something I was doing between things, and at the same time going through all kinds of emotional changes, trying to decide how to get to where I wanted to go. It was a transition band for me, although that wasn’t how I thought about it at the time. Its just what it became. As I look back (which you persuaded me to ponder), I was angry pretty much the entire time I was with the Other Half. My perspective on the world was just very different than what theirs was. We shared little to nothing in common. (Although, outside of music, and away from the hip pot smoking thing, I very much liked the bass player, Larry Brown. He was a guy who you could count on to be there when it was important, and I respected that!)." At that point, Geoff Westen also leaves the band after becoming disillusioned about their future. Strange but true, Randy and Geoff even attempted to form a new band together, but it just didn't work out at all, so they parted ways and Geoff joined CK Strong, while Randy joined Blue Cheer. Meanwhile, after some discussion, the remaining members of The Other Half decided to continue and moved permanently to San Francisco. There, Tom Hundley, who'd played with Saurman in The Jayhawkers, came out from Michigan to play lead guitar. The new four-piece lineup then moved to Mill Valley, Marin County, and started working on new material.
THE OTHER HALF #9 (MARCH or APRIL 1968 - 1969)
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Larry Brown
3) Ron Saurman
4) Tom Hundley lead guitar
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Larry Brown
3) Ron Saurman
4) Tom Hundley lead guitar
Early/Mid May 1968
The Other Half's fifth and final single, 'Oz Lee Eaves Drops / Morning Fire' (Acta 45-825), was released only in the US.
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Thursday, January 16, 1969: 'Support The Oakland 7! Benefit Rock Dance', Pauley Ballroom, Student Union Building, UC Berkeley (University of California at Berkeley) campus, 2475 Bancroft Way at Sather Road, Berkeley, Alameda County, California
The band was advertised as Better Half [sic] in the Berkeley Barb newspaper. The show, which started at 8:00pm and was sponsored by Stop The Draft Week Defense Committee, was a benefit for the so-called 'Oakland 7', a group of anti-Vietnam War activists arrested for allegedly conspiring to organize an illegal demostration in October 1967 (they were acquitted in March 1969). Also on the bill: Sons Of Champlin, Mad River, Steve Miller Band, Mint Tattoo, Frumious Bandersnatch, Allmen Joy, Little John, The Lamb, Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band, Chet Helms (MC). Lights by Optics Illusion.
San Francisco Express Times (January 14, 1969)
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Berkeley Barb (January 10, 1969)
Berkeley Barb (January 10, 1969)
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Friday, January 24 - Saturday, January 25, 1969: Winterland, 2000 Post Street at Steiner Street, San Francisco, California
Also on the bill: Moby Grape, It's A Beautiful Day, Tim Hardin. Lights by Jerry Abrams Head Lights. These shows, which lasted from 9:00pm to 2:00pm each day, were presented by the Family Dog.
1969
Tom Hundley leaves the band and returned to Michigan. The band replaced him with a crazy lead guitar player of which no one remember the name!
THE OTHER HALF #10 (1969 - SEPTEMBER 1970 (?))
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Larry Brown
3) Ron Saurman
4) ? lead guitar
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Larry Brown
3) Ron Saurman
4) ? lead guitar
September 1970 (?)
The crazy lead guitar with no name disappeared somewhere, and The Other Half came down to Los Angeles in search of a new and better one.
The crazy lead guitar with no name disappeared somewhere, and The Other Half came down to Los Angeles in search of a new and better one.
THE OTHER HALF #11 (SEPTEMBER 1970 (?) - OCTOBER 1970 (?))
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Larry Brown
3) Ron Saurman
1) Jeff Nowlen
2) Larry Brown
3) Ron Saurman
October 1970 (?)
The Other Half never did find a guitar player they wanted, so they came back up to Mill Valley and soon after they disbanded for good. Jeff Nowlen disappeared from the music scene. Ron Saurman continued to play music with various bands, then ran a couple of recording facilities, and today he works as an electrician and project manager in the San Francisco area. Larry Brown played for a while with Black Kangaroo, and in recent years he settled in Hemet, California, where he played with a cover band called the Illegal Sweedes until he sadly passed away on February 8, 2019, from heart attack after a Stent surgery.
1982
The Other Half's anthology album, 'Mr. Pharmacist' (EVA 12003; Side A: '1. Introduction / 2. Feathered Fish / 3. Flight Of The Dragon Lady / 4. Wonderful Day / 5. I Need You / 6. Oz Lee Eaves Drop / 7. I've Come So Far / 8. Mr. Pharmacist / Side B: 1. Bad Day / 2. Morning Fire / 3. What Can I Do For You, First Half / 4. What Can I Do For You, The Other Half / 5. No Doubt About It / 6. It's Too Hard (Without You) / 7. I Know'), was released only in France (both in vinyl and compact disc format).
The Other Half never did find a guitar player they wanted, so they came back up to Mill Valley and soon after they disbanded for good. Jeff Nowlen disappeared from the music scene. Ron Saurman continued to play music with various bands, then ran a couple of recording facilities, and today he works as an electrician and project manager in the San Francisco area. Larry Brown played for a while with Black Kangaroo, and in recent years he settled in Hemet, California, where he played with a cover band called the Illegal Sweedes until he sadly passed away on February 8, 2019, from heart attack after a Stent surgery.
1982
The Other Half's anthology album, 'Mr. Pharmacist' (EVA 12003; Side A: '1. Introduction / 2. Feathered Fish / 3. Flight Of The Dragon Lady / 4. Wonderful Day / 5. I Need You / 6. Oz Lee Eaves Drop / 7. I've Come So Far / 8. Mr. Pharmacist / Side B: 1. Bad Day / 2. Morning Fire / 3. What Can I Do For You, First Half / 4. What Can I Do For You, The Other Half / 5. No Doubt About It / 6. It's Too Hard (Without You) / 7. I Know'), was released only in France (both in vinyl and compact disc format).
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