Red Guitars
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Biography
The Red Guitars started life in Hull in 1979 as the heroically named Carnage in Poland when Jerry Kidd and Hallam Lewis first met. Later that year mild-mannered drummer Sean O’Brien was replaced by Matt Higgins and bass player Ian Halstead gave way to Hull’s only Rastafarian, Mark Douglas. The name was changed to the Czechs and they set about writing a set of material they described as Eastern European Reggae. Next to join was John Rowley on second guitar and when Mark left to form his own reggae band and was replaced by Lou Howard (Lou Barlow) the band had its final lineup and a new name, Red Guitars.
Famed far and wide for playing free benefit gigs for dodgy left wing causes the band had plenty of opportunity to hone their musical skills.
From the start the new material was exciting and different. Hallam was born in South Africa and his chiming, fluid, African-influenced style mixed strangely with the studied political lyrics of Jerry Kidd. The rest of the band drew on different musical influences from the Velvet’s to Punk and Blues but what Red Guitars all understood was the 3 minute pop song. So in 1982 they set about recording their first single Good Technology (5 minutes and 8 seconds).
Fiercely independent and suspicious of record companies the band decided to go it alone and created their own label Self Drive distributed by Red Rhino, part of the Cartel of independent record distributors. As with hundreds of bands over the years The John Peel show proved to be a major breakthrough, with Peel’s “I do think that’s an excellent record, I must say” typical of the hysterical over-the-top reaction to the single.
From the start the new material was exciting and different. Hallam was born in South Africa and his chiming, fluid, African-influenced style mixed strangely with the studied political lyrics of Jerry Kidd. The rest of the band drew on different musical influences from the Velvet’s to Punk and Blues but what Red Guitars all understood was the 3 minute pop song. So in 1982 they set about recording their first single Good Technology (5 minutes and 8 seconds).
Fiercely independent and suspicious of record companies the band decided to go it alone and created their own label Self Drive distributed by Red Rhino, part of the Cartel of independent record distributors. As with hundreds of bands over the years The John Peel show proved to be a major breakthrough, with Peel’s “I do think that’s an excellent record, I must say” typical of the hysterical over-the-top reaction to the single.
Tracks selected by this artist
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Good Technology
4:52 -
Fact
4:26 -
Steeltown
4:18 -
Slow To Fade
3:56
Tracks selected by this artist
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go63zx
cant belive it was so long ago
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WokeUpDreaming
National Avenue!
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hotkicka
damn sight better than any other!
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bruceisace
Good Technology, Fact and Steel Town are all great songs. Saw them support the Smiths in Manchester, great night!
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fluffmiao
Not heard that for ages. Damn fine song.
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