Red Guitars

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The Red Guitars were a British indie rock band active from 1982 to 1986. Based in Hull, UK, 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 independent charts in late 1984.[1]

1 History
2 Personnel
3 Reunion
4 Discography

[edit] History

Jerry Kidd (Vocals) and Hallam Lewis (Guitar) met in 1979 at a Community Arts program in Hull, UK. The two formed the short-lived project Carnage in Poland. After several lineup changes, including the addition of Mark Douglas, "Hull's only Rastafarian", the band changed their name to the Czechs, billing themselves as "eastern European reggae". After more lineup changes, including the departure of Douglas, the Czechs abandoned their name and Reggae sound, becoming the Red Guitars.[2]

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 followup singles Fact, Steeltown and their number 1 hit on the independent charts Marimba Jive[3], 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. 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. The Red Guitars disbanded in 1986.

[edit] Personnel

Matt Higgins (Drums)
Lou Howard (Bass)
Jeremy Kidd (Vocals)
Hallam Lewis (Lead Guitar)
John Rowley (Rhythm Guitar)

[edit] Reunion

The Red Guitars played a one-show reunion at the Winterlude Festival in Hull on February 11, 2006.[4]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

Good Technology b/w Hearbeat Go! Love Dub (Self Drive Records) 1983
Fact b/w Dive (Live) (Self Drive Records) 1983
Good Technology b/w Fact (Self Drive Records) 1984
Steeltown b/w Within 4 Walls (Self Drive Records) 1984 #91 UK
Marimba Jive b/w Heartbeat Go! (Self Drive Records) 1984
Be With Me b/w Things I Want (One Way Records) 1985
National Avenue (Sunday Afternoon) b/w King And Country - Virgin Records 1986 VS832-12 #99 UK
America And Me 1986 b/w Marianne (Virgin Records) 1986 #93 UK
Blue Caravan b/w Suspicion And Fear (Virgin Records) 1986 UK

[edit] Albums

Slow To Fade (Self Drive Records) 1984

- 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) 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 Had A Gun