If Music Could Talk

Heston wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:55am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:51am

matedog wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:35am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

11 Jun 2020, 11:53am

matedog wrote: ↑

11 Jun 2020, 11:51am

Posted to the fb group:


The June 1, 1980 show where George Butler of opening band Whirlwind played for the first 8 or so songs on the show.

Nice pic. Phil Hardy then Gary Hassett were the consecutive drummers with Whirlwind. Never heard of George Butler.

That's per discussions on the thread. It would explain the "Mister George" thank you Joe gives, but I can't find a lot of details on the band. It might be worth a deep dive.

Vocals Nigel Dixon
Drummer Phil Hardy replaced by Garry Bassett late 1978.
Lead guitarist Mick Lewis
Bassist Chris Emo

Maybe George was a roadie?

I think George was a jobbing drummer, probably called in by Whirlwind for the gig. It looks like him.

Google isn't giving me much beyond referring to the specific Clash gig. It would be a rough go to subbing in a for a drummer and have to sub in for another drummer during the same gig.

I found reference to a drummer George Butler from the band Lightning Raiders around this time. Here's the wiki entry. So there was a drummer by that name in a London band around that time with that name. Maybe he helped Whirlwind out?:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_Raiders

Maybe some photos of them would help.

matedog wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 10:05am

Heston wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:55am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:51am

matedog wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:35am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

11 Jun 2020, 11:53am

Nice pic. Phil Hardy then Gary Hassett were the consecutive drummers with Whirlwind. Never heard of George Butler.

That's per discussions on the thread. It would explain the "Mister George" thank you Joe gives, but I can't find a lot of details on the band. It might be worth a deep dive.

Vocals Nigel Dixon
Drummer Phil Hardy replaced by Garry Bassett late 1978.
Lead guitarist Mick Lewis
Bassist Chris Emo

Maybe George was a roadie?

I think George was a jobbing drummer, probably called in by Whirlwind for the gig. It looks like him.

Google isn't giving me much beyond referring to the specific Clash gig. It would be a rough go to subbing in a for a drummer and have to sub in for another drummer during the same gig.

I found reference to a drummer George Butler from the band Lightning Raiders around this time. Here's the wiki entry. So there was a drummer by that name in a London band around that time with that name. Maybe he helped Whirlwind out?:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_Raiders

Maybe some photos of them would help.

Reading the sleeve notes to my Whirlwind CD it says Gary Hassett injured his arm and groin just before a tour of Scotland which eventually forced the band to split. I assume this is when George stepped in. It also says at some shows the band had even grabbed audience members to play drums.

Re: Lightning Raiders I have their CD and the "Psychedelic Music" single that Paul Cook and Steve Jones play on. Lighting Raider Andy Allan was the original bass player for The Professionals and also played on the Pistols "Silly Thing".

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 11:20am

matedog wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 10:05am

Heston wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:55am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:51am

matedog wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:35am

That's per discussions on the thread. It would explain the "Mister George" thank you Joe gives, but I can't find a lot of details on the band. It might be worth a deep dive.

Vocals Nigel Dixon
Drummer Phil Hardy replaced by Garry Bassett late 1978.
Lead guitarist Mick Lewis
Bassist Chris Emo

Maybe George was a roadie?

I think George was a jobbing drummer, probably called in by Whirlwind for the gig. It looks like him.

Google isn't giving me much beyond referring to the specific Clash gig. It would be a rough go to subbing in a for a drummer and have to sub in for another drummer during the same gig.

I found reference to a drummer George Butler from the band Lightning Raiders around this time. Here's the wiki entry. So there was a drummer by that name in a London band around that time with that name. Maybe he helped Whirlwind out?:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_Raiders

Maybe some photos of them would help.

Reading the sleeve notes to my Whirlwind CD it says Gary Hassett injured his arm and groin just before a tour of Scotland which eventually forced the band to split. I assume this is when George stepped in. It also says at some shows the band had even grabbed audience members to play drums.

Re: Lightning Raiders I have their CD and the "Psychedelic Music" single that Paul Cook and Steve Jones play on. Lighting Raider Andy Allan was the original bass player for The Professionals and also played on the Pistols "Silly Thing".

I thought the bass on Silly Thing was unusually fluid for Steve Jones.

Silent Majority wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 12:12pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 11:20am

matedog wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 10:05am

Heston wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:55am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:51am

Vocals Nigel Dixon
Drummer Phil Hardy replaced by Garry Bassett late 1978.
Lead guitarist Mick Lewis
Bassist Chris Emo

Maybe George was a roadie?

I think George was a jobbing drummer, probably called in by Whirlwind for the gig. It looks like him.

Google isn't giving me much beyond referring to the specific Clash gig. It would be a rough go to subbing in a for a drummer and have to sub in for another drummer during the same gig.

I found reference to a drummer George Butler from the band Lightning Raiders around this time. Here's the wiki entry. So there was a drummer by that name in a London band around that time with that name. Maybe he helped Whirlwind out?:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_Raiders

Maybe some photos of them would help.

Reading the sleeve notes to my Whirlwind CD it says Gary Hassett injured his arm and groin just before a tour of Scotland which eventually forced the band to split. I assume this is when George stepped in. It also says at some shows the band had even grabbed audience members to play drums.

Re: Lightning Raiders I have their CD and the "Psychedelic Music" single that Paul Cook and Steve Jones play on. Lighting Raider Andy Allan was the original bass player for The Professionals and also played on the Pistols "Silly Thing".

I thought the bass on Silly Thing was unusually fluid for Steve Jones.

Yes Steve's bass playing was pretty much about just copying the root note of the guitar.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 10:02am

Heston wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:55am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:51am

matedog wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:35am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

11 Jun 2020, 11:53am

Nice pic. Phil Hardy then Gary Hassett were the consecutive drummers with Whirlwind. Never heard of George Butler.

That's per discussions on the thread. It would explain the "Mister George" thank you Joe gives, but I can't find a lot of details on the band. It might be worth a deep dive.

Vocals Nigel Dixon
Drummer Phil Hardy replaced by Garry Bassett late 1978.
Lead guitarist Mick Lewis
Bassist Chris Emo

Maybe George was a roadie?

I think George was a jobbing drummer, probably called in by Whirlwind for the gig. It looks like him.

Yes I just read Bakers web page and he states Topper was late and Mick had told Baker he would have to stand in as he had played along at rehearsals on the odd occasion. He said he was very nervous at the thought of playing in front of 1000's. Luckily George Butler stepped up at the last minute. I've got some Whirlwind stuff and never heard of George so maybe he was just a stand in for live shows.

I wish Baker would write a book everything I have read he has written has been insightful and well written.

101Walterton wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 3:59pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 10:02am

Heston wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:55am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:51am

matedog wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:35am

That's per discussions on the thread. It would explain the "Mister George" thank you Joe gives, but I can't find a lot of details on the band. It might be worth a deep dive.

Vocals Nigel Dixon
Drummer Phil Hardy replaced by Garry Bassett late 1978.
Lead guitarist Mick Lewis
Bassist Chris Emo

Maybe George was a roadie?

I think George was a jobbing drummer, probably called in by Whirlwind for the gig. It looks like him.

Yes I just read Bakers web page and he states Topper was late and Mick had told Baker he would have to stand in as he had played along at rehearsals on the odd occasion. He said he was very nervous at the thought of playing in front of 1000's. Luckily George Butler stepped up at the last minute. I've got some Whirlwind stuff and never heard of George so maybe he was just a stand in for live shows.

I wish Baker would write a book everything I have read he has written has been insightful and well written.

Agree. As far as I know Barry has only written a foreword for one Clash book.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 4:09pm

101Walterton wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 3:59pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 10:02am

Heston wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:55am

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:51am

Vocals Nigel Dixon
Drummer Phil Hardy replaced by Garry Bassett late 1978.
Lead guitarist Mick Lewis
Bassist Chris Emo

Maybe George was a roadie?

I think George was a jobbing drummer, probably called in by Whirlwind for the gig. It looks like him.

Yes I just read Bakers web page and he states Topper was late and Mick had told Baker he would have to stand in as he had played along at rehearsals on the odd occasion. He said he was very nervous at the thought of playing in front of 1000's. Luckily George Butler stepped up at the last minute. I've got some Whirlwind stuff and never heard of George so maybe he was just a stand in for live shows.

I wish Baker would write a book everything I have read he has written has been insightful and well written.

Agree. As far as I know Barry has only written a foreword for one Clash book.

I’m sure I read in an interview with him that he said he wouldn’t do one. He started the blog years ago when he wrote about the early days at Rehearsals but from memory he only wrote 1/2 articles but they were great.

101Walterton wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 4:15pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 4:09pm

101Walterton wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 3:59pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 10:02am

Heston wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 9:55am

I think George was a jobbing drummer, probably called in by Whirlwind for the gig. It looks like him.

Yes I just read Bakers web page and he states Topper was late and Mick had told Baker he would have to stand in as he had played along at rehearsals on the odd occasion. He said he was very nervous at the thought of playing in front of 1000's. Luckily George Butler stepped up at the last minute. I've got some Whirlwind stuff and never heard of George so maybe he was just a stand in for live shows.

I wish Baker would write a book everything I have read he has written has been insightful and well written.

Agree. As far as I know Barry has only written a foreword for one Clash book.

I’m sure I read in an interview with him that he said he wouldn’t do one. He started the blog years ago when he wrote about the early days at Rehearsals but from memory he only wrote 1/2 articles but they were great.

I love Barry's blog it's a brilliant read.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 4:27pm

101Walterton wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 4:15pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 4:09pm

101Walterton wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 3:59pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 10:02am

Yes I just read Bakers web page and he states Topper was late and Mick had told Baker he would have to stand in as he had played along at rehearsals on the odd occasion. He said he was very nervous at the thought of playing in front of 1000's. Luckily George Butler stepped up at the last minute. I've got some Whirlwind stuff and never heard of George so maybe he was just a stand in for live shows.

I wish Baker would write a book everything I have read he has written has been insightful and well written.

Agree. As far as I know Barry has only written a foreword for one Clash book.

I’m sure I read in an interview with him that he said he wouldn’t do one. He started the blog years ago when he wrote about the early days at Rehearsals but from memory he only wrote 1/2 articles but they were great.

I love Barry's blog it's a brilliant read.

Has he updated it? Last time I looked it didn’t have snything new in ages.

101Walterton wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 5:13pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 4:27pm

101Walterton wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 4:15pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 4:09pm

101Walterton wrote: ↑

15 Jun 2020, 3:59pm

I wish Baker would write a book everything I have read he has written has been insightful and well written.

Agree. As far as I know Barry has only written a foreword for one Clash book.

I’m sure I read in an interview with him that he said he wouldn’t do one. He started the blog years ago when he wrote about the early days at Rehearsals but from memory he only wrote 1/2 articles but they were great.

I love Barry's blog it's a brilliant read.

Has he updated it? Last time I looked it didn’t have snything new in ages.

Don't think so. Maybe since Dec last year.

https://thebaker77.wordpress.com/

Newly unearthed colour photo of Joe running 1983 London Marathon.

FarawayTowns wrote: ↑

30 Jun 2020, 4:08pm

Newly unearthed colour photo of Joe running 1983 London Marathon.

Great pic love it.

I was half tempted to get that 'do since the barbers have shut.

BitterTom wrote: ↑

30 Jun 2020, 4:25pm

I was half tempted to get that 'do since the barbers have shut.

Do it!

Going back to the June 1980 pic with Mr. Butler -- I'm surprised that nobody mentioned the Pink Fairies connection, for which he as likely best known, though he wasn't part of the original lineup...but he came around later, for the many '80s-era regroupings and satellite projects (such as the Human Garbage album of 1984, which also features Wayne Kramer -- he's the drummer on that, plus that "Cocaine Blues" CD, which documents part of WK's '79 comeback show).

Butler also played on Larry Wallis's solo album, Death In The Guitarfternoon (2001), and was part of the Lightning Raiders, which is pretty well laid out here: https://worddisk.com/wiki/Lightning_Raiders/. Their stuff's pretty good, too, in my estimation -- "Criminal World" seems more timely than ever, in light of who's sitting in the White House!

You can find more credits here: https://www.discogs.com/artist/1002253-George-Butler-3, and here: http://www.45cat.com/record/bf1471, and lots of little tidbits, like his credit for the Stiff Records slogan, which I didn't know, assuming it's true...anyway, seems to have been one of those guys that didn't get a lot of attention in his own right, but he always managed to pop up somewhere.