The Brain Police
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Founder | Rick Randle, Norman Lombardo |
| Headquarters | Chula Vista, California , United States |
| Products | Psychedelic rock music |
The Brain Police was a psychedelic rock ensemble originating from Chula Vista, California, established in 1968. The group was spearheaded by songwriters Rick Randle and Norman Lombardo, gaining a dedicated following within the West Coast psychedelic movement. Although they toured alongside prominent 1960s artists and produced both a single and an album's worth of tracks, they were unable to obtain a contract with a major record label. Their 1968 demo recordings eventually saw official release during the 1990s after years of unofficial circulation.
History
The Brain Police came together in 1968, with key songwriters Rick Randle (guitar, vocals) and Norman Lombardo (bass), accompanied by Randle’s brother David (lead guitar) and Tony Johnson (drums). Prior to recording sessions, Johnson departed and was succeeded by Sid Smith. Occasionally, the soul ensemble known as the Soul Patrol provided live support for their performances.
Before forming the Brain Police, Randle and Lombardo were part of the Man-Dells, an early garage rock outfit that issued the rockabilly-inspired single "Bonnie" between 1964 and 1965. After rebranding as the Other Four, they released three additional singles from 1965 to 1966, one of which was distributed through the national label Decca Records. Music historian Richie Unterberger described their style as reminiscent of the Monkees "at their most hard-edged" combined with influences from the Beach Boys.
As one of the limited number of psychedelic rock groups in San Diego, the Brain Police regularly performed throughout California alongside peers such as Jefferson Airplane, Buffalo Springfield, and Strawberry Alarm Clock. In 1968, they recorded a demo album featuring original compositions in La Mesa, California, aiming to secure a deal with a major record company. Despite these efforts, no contract materialized, leading to the band’s breakup following a Southwest tour supporting Steppenwolf.
These previously unreleased recordings were made available in 1997 when music historian Clark Faville issued them through Rockadelic Records; since 2012, the album has been accessible via multiple labels. In 2000, Shadoks Music compiled and reissued material from both the Man-Dells and the Other Four for the first time under the title San Diego's Only Psychedelic Cops.