Biography
During the 1980s numerous technically proficient hard rock bassists gained notice, among them Billy Sheehan and Stu Hamm at the forefront, together with other comparably adept but less widely recognized musicians such as Randy Coven. Coven shared Long Island, New York, the same hometown that produced two leading guitarists of the period, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Accounts also indicate that another respected bassist, Jeff Berlin, resided nearby and supplied Coven with early instruction. Coven first honed his instrument through performances in regional cover bands devoted to major hard rock acts of the era, including Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin; after completing high school he moved to Boston to enroll at Berklee School of Music. It soon emerged that Vai had likewise matriculated there. The pair promptly formed the local group Morning Thunder; although the band never released recordings, several of its compositions later surfaced on the debut solo albums of both Vai and Coven. Following the ensemble’s dissolution Coven joined the Canadian fusion outfit Orpheus (distinct from the late-1960s act sharing that name), which afforded the bassist his initial touring experience and recording credit on the group’s second release, Orpheus II, containing two tracks written by Coven. By the mid-1980s Coven had returned to New York and assembled his own ensemble, the Randy Coven Band. With guitarist Jim Hickey and drummer Todd Turkisher the trio issued its first album, Funk Me Tender, in 1985. The title track included a guest appearance by Coven’s former colleague Vai; once Vai attained prominence the following year upon joining David Lee Roth’s band, guitarists took renewed interest in Coven’s debut. A subsequent association with Guitar Recordings, the label operated by the magazine Guitar for the Practicing Musician, yielded further albums including Sammy Says Ouch! and C.P.R. The latter project united Coven with Alice Cooper/Megadeth guitarist and fellow Long Island native Al Pitrelli along with drummer John Reilly and additional guests such as Zakk Wylde, Vito Bratta, and Steve Morse. Coven also contributed to multiple Guitar Recordings compilations issued during those years and began writing a regular column for the magazine. In the 1990s Coven collaborated with noted guitarists Leslie West, touring within a reunited Mountain and appearing on West’s 1994 solo album Dodgin’ the Dirt, and Yngwie Malmsteen on the 1999 release Alchemy and its supporting tours. The early 2000s brought the 16-track compilation The Best of Randy Coven, Coven’s first proper solo album in a decade titled Witch Way in 2002, and a guest spot on the second album by Norwegian prog metallists Ark, Burn the Sun, also issued in 2002. Coven further intends to launch a new trio, M.C.M., featuring guitarist Alex Masi and drummer John Macaluso.
Albums
