| Lightning Raiders | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | punk rock, pub rock, psychedelic rock |
| Years active | August 1977–1982 |
| Labels | Arista, Island |
| Associated acts | Pink Fairies The Sex Pistols Killerhertz Kitsch |
| Past members | |
| John Hodge Andy Allan Gass Wild Duncan Sanderson Bruce Irvine George Butler |
|
Lightning Raiders is an English rock band.
Contents |
The Lightning Raiders formed in August 1977 with an original lineup featuring John Hodge (known as Little John) on guitar, Andy Allan on guitar/vocals, ex-Pink Fairies Duncan ('Danger Sun') Sanderson on bass/vocals, Jorge Panchito on drums and Michael Wilding on sax.[1]
In February 1978 ex-Pink Fairies drummer/singer Twink released an EP called "Do It '77" with the help of band members Sanderson and Hodge. Twink had already recorded his intended single with his regular band but "Chiswick Records didn't like the track and I jammed "Do It" with the Lightning Raiders, which they preferred."[2] Sanderson recalled, "Twink came round my house and dragged me down the studio while I was still asleep one morning, and Little John Hodge just came along to deliver a guitar. Twink had us jam through "Do It", so we did it. Kid [Rogers (guitar)] and John hadn't even heard the flaming song before. At the end he jumps up and says 'That's it, thanks lads!' We didn't even know it was being taped!" Twink's comment on this was that "A second take of "Do It" is a contradiction in terms."[3] The EP was credited to 'Twink & The Fairies'.
On March 31, 1980, a lineup including Little John Hodge on guitar, Andy Allan on Bass, Paul Cook on drums, and Steve Jones on guitar released a 7" single on Arista Records ("Psychedelic Musik" b/w "Views"). The two members of the Sex Pistols were never official members of the band - they were repaying a debt to Allan who played bass on the Sex Pistols single, "Silly Thing".
In the next lineup, formed in November 1980, Hodge and Sanderson were joined by Gass Wild on lead vocals (who later drummed with Johnny Thunders and the Chrissie Hynde Band), Bruce Irvine on guitar (later with Sean Tyla's Tyla Gang), and George Butler (ex-Kilburn & the High Roads)[4] on drums.
In 1981 this lineup recorded the Will Reid Dick produced 12" EP for Island Records (under the Revenge label), which included the songs "Sweet Revenge", "Rowdies", "Addiction", and "Soul Rescue". This was to be a preview of the forthcoming LP Sweet Revenge, but in December 1981 they were dropped by the label, making the soon deleted EP very rare.
This lineup was very popular on the club circuit, playing famous / infamous clubs such as Dingwalls, the Marquee Club, the Music Machine, The Venue and many more, often with support from heavy rock trio Killerhertz consisting of Hugo Mallett (guitar) Doug McArthur (bass) and former Chelsea drummer Marc Rathbone. Another support act for the Raiders were long haired glam boys Kitsch (under the same management as the Raiders). Kitsch bass player Paul Raven went on to join London cult band, Killing Joke. The Lightning Raiders along with Killerhertz and former Raider Andy Allen, (Andy Allens future) performed at the 1981 Stonehenge Free Festival.
Hodge left the band in February 1982, though the remaining members continued for a time. Duncan Sanderson and George Butler played with Larry Wallis in a series of bands during the early '80s, including reformations the Pink Fairies and the Deviants.