List of people in Sky Saxon’s life
People associated with Sky Saxon and The Seeds. Taken from liner notes and other sources.
This is an incomplete work-in-progress!
Bill ABERCROMBIE
Bass guitar on "Lonesome Prairie" from Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.
Ric ALBIN
Member of The Droogs. Sang background vocals on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Djin ANDERSON
Appears on the Dragonslayer (2008) LP.
Rick ANDRIDGE
Original drummer in The Seeds, 1965-1968.
Magician ATOMIC
See Tom AZEVEDO.
Tom “Atomic” AZEVEDO
Guitarist for Dragonslayers. Played on Just Imagine (1989) and Breakin' Through The Doors (1990), the latter under the name Magician Atomic. Also on the Dragonslayer LP from 2008 (as Tom ‘Atomic’ Azevedo).
Frank BEESON
Co-produced and co-mixed Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall, and sang background vocals. Credited as co-writer on all the album’s songs. Thanked in the liner notes of Takes & Glories (1987); may have been a driving force behind that LP.
Gary BENNETT
Friend of Darryl Hooper and Rick Andridge who became a Seeds road manager.
Alan BERMAN
Member of Imitation Life. Sang background vocals on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Mars BONFIRE
Real name Dennis Edmonton. Keyboard player and longtime, frequent Sky Saxon collaborator. Wrote "Born To Be Wild" for Steppenwolf, and frequently played with Sky Saxon. Played on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall (credited with “cheesey keyboards”) and was co-writer on all tracks. Appears on Takes & Glories (1987). Played on Just Imagine (1989) and (under the name Mars Bon Fire) Breakin' Through The Doors (1990) as a member of Dragonslayers. Contributed organ to "Flashback '66" on Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.
Chuck BRITZ
Engineer at Western Recorders Studios where The Seeds recorded their first album.
Neil BROCKBANK
Co-produced Transparency (2005) by Sky Saxon, with Sterling Roswell.
Peter CASE
Sang background vocals on "Starving For Your Love" and "Love Dog" from Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Greg CHAMBERLAIN
Credited with “Ugh!” on "Extra Extra" from Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.
? CHAZ
Co-wrote “Peace, Love & Flowers” from Down The Nile by Fast Planet (1994).
Mrs. CHEN
Brief spoken Chinese dialog on "East Meets West" from Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.
Rich COFFEE
Member of Thee Fourgiven. Played guitar on all songs from Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall. Co-writer on “Over-reaction/Hollywood Blvd”.
Malcolm COOPER
Camera operator for the DVD included in Sky Saxon’s Transparency (2005) CD.
Rob COYNE
Musician in Lighter, Sky Saxon’s band for Transparency (2005).
Honey DAVIS
Appears on the Dragonslayer (2008) LP.
Harry DEANSWAY
With Chris Hall, produced, directed, and edited the DVD included in Sky Saxon’s Transparency (2005) CD.
Chris DeMORSELLA
Guitarist for Fast Planet. Played on Down The Nile (1994) and co-wrote five of the songs.
Norman “Cooker” DESROSIERS
Guitarist for The Groupies, a New York band. Played guitar on The Seeds’ A Web Of Sound and A Full Spoon Of Seedy Blues.
Dennis EDMONTON
See Mars BONFIRE.
John EGIZI
Background vocals on "Flashback '66" from Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.
Vinnie FANELLI
An arranger at Universal Audio Recorders, a studio where The Seeds recorded part of their debut album and early singles.
Kenny FLOOD
Saxophone solo on "Extra Extra" from Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.
David FONTZLITZ
Thanked in the liner notes of the Takes & Glories (1987) LP.
Gordon FRASIER
Played guitar on several tracks from Down The Nile (1994) by Fast Planet, but not as a full member of the band.
Shelley GANZ
Member of The Unclaimed. Played guitar on part of Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall. Co-writer on “Over-reaction/Hollywood Blvd”.
Tommy GOODWIN
Multi-instrumentalist for Fast Planet. Played on Down The Nile (1994) and cowrote "Crying Heartbreak".
Carlos GUITARLOS
Appears on the Dragonslayer LP from 2008.
Chris HALL
With Harry Deansway, produced, directed, and edited the DVD included in Sky Saxon’s Transparency (2005) CD.
Brian HOGG
Wrote the liner notes for the 1988 Seeds compilation Evil Hoodoo on Drop Out Records.
Daryl HOOPER
Original keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist in The Seeds, 1965-1970. Also played with Sky occasionally in ensuing decades.
Mark HOUGHTON
Co-mixed Down The Nile (1994) by Fast Planet and wrote the song "World Of Dreams".
Alan HOUSER
Camera operator for the DVD included in Sky Saxon’s Transparency (2005) CD.
“Lord Tim” HUDSON
British-born Los Angeles DJ and manager of The Seeds beginning in November 1966.
JAMES III (?)
Camera operator for the DVD included in Sky Saxon’s Transparency (2005) CD.
Ethan JAMES
Associate producer, engineer, and co-mixer (with Frank Beeson) on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
JOHNETTE
Member of Dream 6. Sang background vocals on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Lee JOSEPH
Member of Yard Trauma. Played bass on part of Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall. Co-writer on “Over-reaction/Hollywood Blvd”.
Horton JUPITER
Musician in Lighter, Sky Saxon’s band for Transparency (2005).
Toby KEIL
Member of The Moberlys. Played bass on part of Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Jimmy LAWRENCE
Real name James Rolleston. Co-wrote "No Escape" by The Seeds with Sky Saxon and Jan Savage. Also likely the bass player on the original recording from 1965.
Ray LEONG
Took the photos of the Seeds band members for the front cover design of A Web Of Sound.
Roy LONEY
Co-mixed Down The Nile (1994) by Fast Planet and sang backup on "Sometimes I Get The Feeling (Last Sunset)".
Mark LOVE
Guitarist and organ player for Fast Planet. Played on Down The Nile (1994).
Julie M.
Sang background vocals on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Peter MACKLIN
“Concept and compilation” of the 1991 Seeds compilation CD A Faded Picture. (He’s credited with two exclamation marks — “Peter Macklin!!”)
Jimmie MADDIN
Hollywood scenester and club owner, and one of the first to meet Sky Saxon around 1959 when the latter had come to Hollywood from his native Utah. Would become an important early advocate of The Seeds, playing the band’s first acetate for Gene Norman. Played saxophone on "The Other Place".
Patrick McCARTHY
Drummer for Fast Planet. Played on Down The Nile (1994).
Roy McDONALD
Member of The Things, and Redd Kross. Played drums on all songs from Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall. Co-writer on “Over-reaction/Hollywood Blvd”.
Tony MIKESELL
Did orchestral arrangements for "Wild Roses" from Just Imagine (1989) by Dragonslayers.
Mitch MITCHELL
Drummer for Jimi Hendrix. Appears on the Dragonslayer (2008) LP.
Eddie MUNOZ
Member of The Plimsouls. Played guitar on part of Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall. Given “deepest gratitude” in the liner notes, unlike the album’s other guitarists. Also played with Imitation Life, whose Alan Berman also appears on Destiny's Children.
Gene NORMAN
Head of GNP Crescendo, The Seeds’ main record label. (GNP = Gene Norman Presents)
Neil NORMAN
Gene’s son and current overseer of The Seeds’ music and releases.
Mike OAK
Frequent collaborator with Sky Saxon. Bassist for Fast Planet. Played on Down The Nile (1994) and cowrote three of the songs.
Alec PALAO
Archivist and researcher behind several extensive Seeds CD reissues for Big Beat beginning in 2011. Writer of the liner notes for each release.
? PANDOLFI
Co-wrote "Sometimes I Get The Feeling (Last Sunset)" from Down The Nile (1994) by Fast Planet.
Jimmy PHILLIPS
California-based artist who did the cover art for Down The Nile (1994) by Fast Planet.
Kirk PHILLIPS
Photography for the CD Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.
Mark PLATT
Member of The Real Impossibles. Sang background vocals on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
? PLUMBER
Co-wrote "Hijack" with Sky Saxon from Down The Nile (1994) by Fast Planet.
David PROVOST
Member of The Droogs. Sang background vocals on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Greg PSOMAS
Drummer for DDT, a punk band from Atlanta. Played drums on some tracks from Down The Nile (1994) by Fast Planet, but not as a full member. Died of a heroin overdose before the album was released; it was dedicated partially to his memory.
Yon QUELLIEN
Musician in Lighter, Sky Saxon’s band for Transparency (2005).
Sterling ROSWELL
Musician in Lighter, Sky Saxon’s band for Transparency (2005). Co-produced the album with Neil Brockbank.
Greg ROM
Played drums on "Crashing Thunder" from Down The Nile (1994) by Fast Planet.
Jan SAVAGE
Original guitarist in The Seeds, 1965-1968.
Paul SCHOFIELD
Drummer for Dragonslayers. Played on Just Imagine (1989) and Breakin' Through The Doors (1990).
Russ SERPENT
Played guitar for The Seeds for the first few weeks of the band’s existence in 1965, and occasionally went to early studio sessions. Co-wrote "Out Of The Question".
Harvey SHARPE
Played bass on many Seeds studio sessions — usually uncredited, as Sky Saxon tended to get credit for bass on Seeds records, though he didn’t play.
Dana SMITH
Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who instigated Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.; he also co-wrote all the songs, and co-produced and co-mixed the CD.
Roderick SMITH
Engineered Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.
Gary STERN
Bassist for Dragonslayers and other projects. Co-produced and played on Just Imagine (1989) and Breakin' Through The Doors (1990). Also appears on the Dragonslayer (2008) LP. Thanked in the liner notes of Takes & Glories (1987), and presumably plays bass on part of the album.
Greg STEWART
Member of Threw The Lookinglass. Played bass on part of Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Tony THEWLIS
Musician in Lighter, Sky Saxon’s band for Transparency (2005).
Jennifer TIANGCO
Background vocals on some tracks from Flashback (1991) by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A.: "East Meets West", "Ring Of Lords", and "Extra Extra".
Julie WALKER
Sang background vocals on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Dan WEST
Member of Threw The Lookinglass. Played guitar on part of Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Judy WISHART
Drew the cover art on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Steve WYNN
Member of The Dream Syndicate. Sang background vocals on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Tracy ZIEGLER
Sang background vocals on Destiny's Children (1986) by Fire Wall.
Daryl Hooper did a stint, a few years ago , as a special guest Keyboardist with The Chocolate Watchband. He currently has his own version of The Seeds , featuring Alec Palao (Also a current member of the Watchband.).
Jan Savage played in the embryonic version of Sky Saxon and The Seeds , ca. Late 90’s.
Ethan James (nee Ralph Burns Kellogg.) is best known for his recording studio , Radio Tokyo in L.A. , where he recorded several prominent LA Punk bands, but , he also played Keyboards for Blue Cheer from 1969 – 72 , and appeared on all their Phillips LPs barring their legendary debut, “Vincebus Eruptum”.
Peter Case was the Lead Singer and frontman for The Plimsouls , who reformed and toured a few years ago. Sky is (VERY) visible , along with Johnny Legend , in audience shots in ” The T.A.M.I. Big T.N.T. Show”. Petula Clark takes his hand and sings a bit to him.
Sky and Arthur Lee remained friends up until their later years. As noted elsewhere , they may have recorded together in The 90’S.
Sky told Rodney Bingenheimer that The Seeds were slated to open for The Rolling Stones at The Hollywood Bowl ( That honor went to The Standells and The McCoys , The Stones’ tourmates.), but were dropped from the bill “Because we would have blown The Stones off The Stage.”.
My sister Janet Abbott aka Cleopatra 1986 played with Sky and I think she wrote some songs on an album or sang backups and she played at the Summerfest 1986 with Mitch Mitchell. I have some great photo of that concert.
I’d like to see the photos. I was a friend of Cleopatra’s and got to play with her on several occasions.i hope that she is doing well and you too.
The liner notes to the French LP Bad Part Of Town (Eva 12019) say that in 1969 at the Santa Monica Civic Centre The Seeds played Pushin’ To Hard with Neil Young. Can anybody shed a light on this?