Issue 1.5
The Genius of Super Diamond
By Clint Catalyst
Pull out your favorite sequined shirt and dust off the shoulder-pads: there’s a Neil Diamond cover band making the rounds—and no, these gents do not play comedy clubs. Sure, a dose of irony is served by the masquerading American idols, though it’s as subtle as ice melting. Super Diamond sets out to thaw the most glacial of hearts.
Front man Randy Cordero got an early start on his affinity for the “Solitary Man.” As a child growing up in Humboldt County, California, his parents turned him on to Neil Diamond’s glittery tunes. In fact, his first 8-track was Neil Diamond’s Greatest Hits. That was 1976.
By 1990, Cordero’s fervor for the God of Fringe and Spangles was a known fact around his sun-bleached Arizona college town. A friend asked him to play all Neil Diamond covers at a party, and what began as a fluke fueled into a full band. However, it was not until Cordero moved to San Francisco that the Super Diamond project developed into a fine-tuned ensemble. First, he lent his vocal chords to other projects, including one entitled Simon’s New Blue Diamonds, a six-piece band with horns whose members dressed up as evil clowns.
Since focusing his efforts on Super Diamond, a collective of musicians who Cordero describes as “young, hip and [having] a sense of humor,” the band has played everywhere from state fairs to corporate parties to Los Angeles’s legendary House of Blues. Cordero’s Velveeta-laden alter ego, “the Surreal Neil,” has developed quite a devout following, drawing even the “Real Neil” to more than one of the band’s shows. And he didn’t just attend as an audience member. He actually joined them on stage.
“Neil D has seen us and sung with us twice,” says Cordero. “The first time, just coming to see us at the House of Blues, I asked him before the show if he’d like to sing a song. He graciously said yes, and sang his personal ‘I Am, I Said’ for the encore of a screaming sold-out crowd.
“The second time was also at the House of Blues for the premier party for the movie Saving Silverman. Neil, along with the cast—Jack Black, Amanda Peet, Jason Biggs, and Steve Zann—all came on stage with [Super Diamond] and sang ‘Cherry Cherry’ and ‘Forever in Blue Jeans.’ What a guy! There are photos [posted] on [our site].”
Fortunately, Cordero and his crew realize their own kitsch value. What could be a tragic tribute instead is irreverent and fun: a sped-up version of the original, with heavy drums. “I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be comfortable doing this if it wasn’t campy,” Cordero explains. “You shouldn’t take yourself seriously when you play someone else’s music. Neil D has a very wide variety of songs. Some are just great tunes: ‘Solitary Man,’ ‘Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon;’ and some are very campy: ‘Heartlight,’ ‘Song Sung Blue.’ The outfits are very campy, as well. [Then again], most outfits in the ‘70s were.”
Whatever an audience member’s take, one thing about Super Diamond’s sequined set is for sure: these guys keep the show in showmanship.
For CD and show information, check out www.superdiamond.com