R.I.P. - Mark Randall Volman (April 19, 1947 – September 5, 2025) was an American vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter.

He was best known as a founding member of the 1960s rock band the Turtles, and, along with his bandmate and friend Howard Kaylan, a member of the 1970s rock duo Flo & Eddie, where he used the pseudonym Flo (short for The Phlorescent Leech). Volman also became a stand-out figure upon joining Frank Zappa's band, The Mothers of Invention.

Volman and Howard Kaylan were founding members of the Turtles, a popular band of the late 1960s. In December 1968, NME magazine reported that Volman had insured his distinctive frizzy hair for US$100,000 against fire, theft or loss due to illness. As their band folded, Volman and Kaylan discovered that the terms of their contract forbade them to use not only the name 'The Turtles', but also their own names. Kaylan and Volman were recruited by Frank Zappa, joining the Mothers of Invention, and they also worked together as Flo & Eddie in music, in film (they provided music and voices for animated films like Down and Dirty Duck), and in radio broadcasting. In 1971 Volman appeared on the soundtrack to Zappa's humorous pseudo-documentary film, 200 Motels.

In 2015, Kaylan and Volman celebrated their 50th year, touring and performing more than 60 concerts a year, billed as "The Turtles ... Featuring Flo & Eddie" with their Happy Together Tour, a classic revue-format show featuring some popular bands of the mid-to-late 1960s musical era. During this tour in 2015, Volman was diagnosed with throat cancer, but was declared cancer-free in 2016. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Volman and Kaylan have been "leading the charge against the uncompensated use of their music—and using state-based misappropriation, conversation and unfair competition claims because sound recordings only began falling under federal copyright protection in 1972."

With Kaylan's retirement due to health issues in 2018, Volman was the last original member of the Turtles who still performed with the band.

The Turtles - It Ain't Me Babe (1965)

The Turtles - Elenore - Live (1968)

The Turtles - I Cant Stop (1971)

 

The music of my childhood, and down they go one by one.

RIP Mark Randall!

 

RIP

 

Thanks Flo for all the tunes, rest in peace.

While I can't say I'm the biggest The Turtles fan (though I do like their tunes), I'm more than familiar with his work with Zappa and that's more credentials than anyone could wish for.

By all accounts a dude with a solid and healthy sense of humour which I can respect. While it's not by him, I highly recommend picking up "Shell Shocked" by Howard Kaylan, to read about all the weirdness and funny shit these two got up to.

 

The Turtles - Let Me Be

The Turtles - Can I Get to Know You Better

 

Last edited: Sep 6, 2025

The whole Filmore East '71 recording is excellent.

 

Music history
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOQLhlJjHpN/