Red Guitars
Encyclopedia
The Red Guitars were an English
indie rock
band
active from 1982 to 1986. Based in Hull
, the Red Guitars' first single
"Good Technology" was a minor hit
, selling 60,000 copies. Their third single "Marimba Jive" reached number one
on the UK Indie Chart
in late 1984.
) met in 1979 at a Community Arts program in Hull. The two formed the short-lived project, Carnage in Poland. After several line-up changes, including the addition of Mark Douglas, the band changed their name to the Czechs, billing themselves as 'eastern European reggae'. After more line-up changes, including the departure of Douglas, the Czechs abandoned their name and reggae
sound, becoming the Red Guitars.
Playing a mixture of punk
, blues
, electrified folk
and African rhythms, the Red Guitars built a small but loyal national following, playing mostly benefit shows for left-wing
causes.
In 1982, the band recorded
their first single "Good Technology". In keeping with the band's anti-corporate ideology
, the Red Guitars released the single on their own record label
, Self Drive Records, selling 60,000 copies.
Constant touring to support follow-up singles "Fact", "Steeltown" and "Marimba Jive", added to the daily pressures of running a record label resulted in internal pressures in the Red Guitars, culminating in the departure of Kidd in 1984, two months after the release of debut album Slow to Fade
. The band continued on without Kidd for a further two years, bringing on Robert Holmes for vocals, but failed to achieve the previous critical or commercial success, although "Be With Me" also reached the top spot on the UK Indie Chart in May 1985. The Red Guitars disbanded in 1986, after their appearance at the Pukkelpop
festival
near Hasselt
, Belgium
. Two of the ex-band members, Hallam Lewis and Lou Howard, formed another group, The Planet Wilson
. They were joined by Grant Ardis (drum
s and ancillaries). Howard was still on bass
and Lewis on guitar and vocals. In 1988 they released the album In the Best of All Possible Worlds (on Virgin Records
) and in 1989 they released the album Not Drowning but Waving (on Records of Achievement). Jerry Kidd released a solo single "Petals and Ashes (a song for Emma Goldman)" in 1985 (on Self Drive Records), after leaving the Red Guitars: it had a mix
of "Crocodile Tears" on the b-side
. Lewis went on to run a recording studio
in Hull. Holmes released a solo album in 1989, entitled Age of Swing.
- "Remote Control"
- "Dive"
- "Astronomy"
- "Cloak and Dagger"
- "Crocodile Tears"
- "Shaken Not Stirred"
- "Sting In The Tale"
- "Marimba Jive"
- "Slow To Fade"
- "Sweetwater Ranch"
- "National Avenue (Sunday Afternoon)"
- "Be With Me"
- "Suspicion and Fear"
- "Love and Understanding"
- "Storyville"
- "House Of Love"
- "Trains On Time"
- "Marianne"
- "Baby's Got A Gun"
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
active from 1982 to 1986. Based in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, the Red Guitars' first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Good Technology" was a minor hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, selling 60,000 copies. Their third single "Marimba Jive" reached number one
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
on the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
in late 1984.
History
Jerry Kidd (born Jeremy Kidd, vocals) and Hallam Lewis (guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
) met in 1979 at a Community Arts program in Hull. The two formed the short-lived project, Carnage in Poland. After several line-up changes, including the addition of Mark Douglas, the band changed their name to the Czechs, billing themselves as 'eastern European reggae'. After more line-up changes, including the departure of Douglas, the Czechs abandoned their name and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
sound, becoming the Red Guitars.
Playing a mixture of punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, electrified folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and African rhythms, the Red Guitars built a small but loyal national following, playing mostly benefit shows for left-wing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
causes.
In 1982, the band recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
their first single "Good Technology". In keeping with the band's anti-corporate ideology
Anti-corporate activism
Anti-corporate activists believe that the influence of large business corporations poses a threat to the public good and democratic authority...
, the Red Guitars released the single on their own record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Self Drive Records, selling 60,000 copies.
Constant touring to support follow-up singles "Fact", "Steeltown" and "Marimba Jive", added to the daily pressures of running a record label resulted in internal pressures in the Red Guitars, culminating in the departure of Kidd in 1984, two months after the release of debut album Slow to Fade
Slow to Fade
Slow to Fade is the debut album by Hull, England band Red Guitars, released in 1984 on the singer Jerry Kidd's own Self Drive label. It reached number 3 in the UK Indie Chart, entering the chart in November 1984 and staying on the chart for six months...
. The band continued on without Kidd for a further two years, bringing on Robert Holmes for vocals, but failed to achieve the previous critical or commercial success, although "Be With Me" also reached the top spot on the UK Indie Chart in May 1985. The Red Guitars disbanded in 1986, after their appearance at the Pukkelpop
Pukkelpop
Pukkelpop is an annual music festival which takes place near the city of Hasselt, Belgium in mid-to-late August. It is held within a large enclosure of fields and woodland—between a dual carriageway called Kempische Steenweg—in the village of Kiewit, approximately 7 km north of Hasselt...
festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
near Hasselt
Hasselt
Hasselt is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Two of the ex-band members, Hallam Lewis and Lou Howard, formed another group, The Planet Wilson
The Planet Wilson
The Planet Wilson were an indie rock band from Hull, that came from the break up of the Red Guitars. They were signed to Virgin Records and released two albums in the late 1980s.-Biography:...
. They were joined by Grant Ardis (drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s and ancillaries). Howard was still on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and Lewis on guitar and vocals. In 1988 they released the album In the Best of All Possible Worlds (on Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
) and in 1989 they released the album Not Drowning but Waving (on Records of Achievement). Jerry Kidd released a solo single "Petals and Ashes (a song for Emma Goldman)" in 1985 (on Self Drive Records), after leaving the Red Guitars: it had a mix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of "Crocodile Tears" on the b-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
. Lewis went on to run a recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in Hull. Holmes released a solo album in 1989, entitled Age of Swing.
Reunion
The Red Guitars played a one-show reunion at the Winterlude Festival in Hull, on 11 February 2006.Personnel
- Matt Higgins (drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s) - Lou Howard (a.k.a. Louise Barlow, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) - Jeremy Kidd (vocals)
- Hallam Lewis (lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
) - John Rowley (rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
) - Robert Holmes (vocals/guitar - replaced Kidd on lead vocals in 1985)
Singles
- "Good Technology" b/w "Heartbeat Go! Love Dub" (Self Drive Records) 1983 UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#8 - "Fact" b/w "Dive" (Live) (Self Drive Records) 1983 UK Indie #7
- "Good Technology" b/w "Fact" (Self Drive Records) 1984 UK Indie #4
- "Steeltown" b/w "Within 4 Walls" (Self Drive Records) 1984 UK Indie #2
- "Marimba Jive" b/w "Heartbeat Go!" (Self Drive Records) 1984 UK Indie #1
- "Be With Me" b/w "Things I Want" (One Way Records) 1985 UK Indie #1
- "National Avenue (Sunday Afternoon)" b/w "King And Country" (Virgin Records) 1986 VS832-12
- "America And Me" 1986 b/w "Marianne" (Virgin Records) 1986
- "Blue Caravan" b/w "Suspicion And Fear" (Virgin Records) 1986
Albums
- Slow to FadeSlow to FadeSlow to Fade is the debut album by Hull, England band Red Guitars, released in 1984 on the singer Jerry Kidd's own Self Drive label. It reached number 3 in the UK Indie Chart, entering the chart in November 1984 and staying on the chart for six months...
(Self Drive Records) 1984 UK Indie #3
- "Remote Control"
- "Dive"
- "Astronomy"
- "Cloak and Dagger"
- "Crocodile Tears"
- "Shaken Not Stirred"
- "Sting In The Tale"
- "Marimba Jive"
- "Slow To Fade"
- Tales of the Expected (Virgin RecordsVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
) 1986
- "Sweetwater Ranch"
- "National Avenue (Sunday Afternoon)"
- "Be With Me"
- "Suspicion and Fear"
- "Love and Understanding"
- "Storyville"
- "House Of Love"
- "Trains On Time"
- "Marianne"
- "Baby's Got A Gun"
Retrospectives and collections
- Seven Types Of Ambiguity (The BBC Sessions, re-release) (RPM Records) 1993
- Slow to FadeSlow to FadeSlow to Fade is the debut album by Hull, England band Red Guitars, released in 1984 on the singer Jerry Kidd's own Self Drive label. It reached number 3 in the UK Indie Chart, entering the chart in November 1984 and staying on the chart for six months...
plus six bonus tracks (Cherry Red Records) 2002 - Good Technology (1982-1984) Self Drive Records 2009
See also
- Bands and musicians from Yorkshire and North East EnglandBands and musicians from Yorkshire and North East EnglandThe following is a list of towns and cities in Yorkshire and the north east of England, each with the bands and musicians to have charted in them included...
- List of Peel sessions