Randy Rand was the founding bassist for hair metal band Autograph, known for their hit “Turn Up the Radio.”
Autograph and more
Rand got his start as a professional musician playing in the 1970s band Wolfgang along with future Autograph lead singer Steve Plunkett. Wolfgang was invited to tour as an opening act for Van Halen, and brought in other musicians and established the name Autograph. Their 1984 debut album, “Sign in Please,” included their most successful single, “Turn Up the Radio.” It climbed the charts and became an enduring anthem of ‘80s rock. Autograph released two other albums before disbanding in 1989. Rand formed his own business making handcrafted leather goods, which he continued for more than 20 years. Autograph reformed in 2013 with a new lead singer, releasing new music and touring. As other original members left the band in recent years, Rand became the last remaining original member in Autograph.
Notable quote
“You know how everyone in their life says, ‘If I had a wishlist, this is what I would want.’ In my life, I wanted to get to be on American Bandstand and got to do that. I wanted to play Madison Square Garden, got signed there as part of the Van Halen tour. I wanted to get a song in the top 20. It’s like, ‘Whoa. How many times do you really get everything you wanted as a kid?’ It’s kind of cool.” —from a 2020 interview for Antihero
Tributes to Randy Rand
Full obituary: Ultimate Classic Rock
