Chairman Ralph wrote: ↑30 Jun 2020, 5:08pm
I did see it, but I thought it might be interesting for anyone who wanted to see that whole story laid out -- the first time I saw the Lightning Raiders mentioned came in a special Kerrang! from the summer of '85, which claimed that Island had four LPs (!) of material under lock and key. Apparently not, since the reissue basically rounds up the two singles and one EP. Anyway, Mr. Butler did quite a lot in his lifetime, though he's one of those guys, as I mentioned, whose name pops up a lot, but not one you'd have given much thought to, unless you had one of those releases with him on it. That's all.
I bought the Psychedelic Music single in 1980 being a big Pistols fan I would buy anything related.
The Lightning Raiders were one of those band's that could've been contenders but somehow something always got in their way.
I've got the Punks from the Underground CD which has most of the info as to who plays on what completely wrong. All the players were regulars at the Speakeasy club and went to Island studios after a drinking session and recorded. Hot Rods and many others that ended up backing Johnny Thunders on his So Alone album.
Various Punks
‘Punks from the Underground’ CD
Rare, exclusive 1978 punk sessions arranged by Eddie & the Hot Rods manager at Island Studios
This 'obscure punk compilation' has an interesting back-story. Eddie & the Hot Rods manager ED HOLLIS together with producer/engineer STEVE LILLYWHITE invited their band friends and journalist mates to record at Island Records studio. Island wanted to get into the new punk scene that they didn't understand and thought Ed Hollis was perfectly positioned to form a new Island Records' punk label.
Tumbling out of the musicians late-night club The Speakeasy, along came: -
Two of the HEARTBREAKERS, members of THE ONLY ONES under the name SPEEDBALLS (previously mistakenly credited to Sean Tyla), famed NME journalist NICK KENT, famed late Sounds journalist GIOVANNI DADOMO’s Snivelling Sh!ts, THE LIGHTNING RAIDERS, various members of EDDIE & THE HOT RODS along with Southend musicians, their roadie Deeno as DEENO'S MARVELS, Ed's brother MARK HOLLIS in his pre-TALK TALK days (mistakenly credited to The Sh!ts), and various other guest stars from the London punk scene of the time.
Nick Kent's band THE SUBTERANNEANS were Peter Perrett, John Perry, Mike Kellie (all from THE ONLY ONES) together with Tony James (GENERATION X); all uncredited.
This CD is "misleadingly labelled and appallingly packaged" - but writer Simon Wright has made thorough investigations and interviewed many of the participants, and detailed the sessions and background in his 'Only Rock'n'Roll' blog. Google: 'Ed Hollis Speedball' and you'll find it - his article makes excellent sleeve-notes to accompany this CD.
The CD comes with a 12-page booklet with Japanese titles and English lyrics translated from the audio by Japanese - BUT very little info on exactly who was on these almost secret, London punk scene sessions! The real details are approximately these:-
Mark Hollis (later of Talk Talk) (mistakenly credited to The Sh!ts): I’m Flying;
The Sh!ts (Giovanni Dadomo, Pete Makowski & friends): I’m Waiting For My Crossroads;
Heartbreakers (Walter Lure, Billy Rath, Henri Paul Tortosa): Too Much Junkie Business;
Deeno’s Marvel (Southend band with Rods' roadie Deano): Oil City Rockers;
The Speedballs (Only Ones' John Perry & Mike Kellie): Speedball Jive;
Nick Kent: Switch-hitter Dub;
The Sh!ts: Bring Me The Head;
Nick Kent & The Subteranneans: Chinese Shadow;
The Lightning Raiders (Pink Fairies offshoot): DiDja;
Heartbreakers (Lure, Rath, Tortosa): Seven Day Weekend;
Vegetables (actually The Sh!ts): Vegetable Man;
The Phantoms (Henri Paul Tortosa & Steve Nichol): High School.
(12 tracks)
Other recordings from these sessions include Johnny Thunders & The Hot Rods EPs, recently released on Remarquable Records.
But I wasn't able to get my LR fix until a couple months ago -- but I think that reissue CD is really good. I can't think of a track on it I dislike, which is more than I can say for some others I've run across.