Spirit came together in Los Angeles in 1967, showcasing the effects-heavy guitar work of Randy California, who had played with Jimi Hendrix, and Ed Cassidy's jazz-tinged drumming. Their first record, Spirit, was released in 1968 and reached #31 on Billboard's charts, remaining on the list for over eight months. They toured in support of Led Zeppelin, who were influenced by the group and covered "Fresh Garbage" (from the first album) in their early shows; Jimmy Page used a guitar passage from "Taurus" in their hit "Stairway to Heaven."
