Lightning Raiders were an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
pub rock band, with Johnny Hodge being the most prominent member of the group. During their lifetime, they released two singles, an
EP, and recorded an album that was not released until 2013.
Career
The Lightning Raiders formed in August 1977 with an original lineup featuring Johnny Hodge (known as Little John) on guitar, Andy Allan on guitar/vocals, ex-
Pink Fairies
Pink Fairies are an English rock band initially active in the London (Ladbroke Grove) underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug use, and anarchy, and often performed impromptu gigs and other stunts, ...
Duncan ('Danger Sun') Sanderson on bass/vocals, Jorge Panchito on drums and Michael Wilding on saxophone.
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."'' 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 ''
ogers (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."'' The EP was credited to 'Twink & The Fairies'. The band had a loose membership policy, at one time joining Larry Wallis and Duncan Sanderson onstage as The Pink Fairies with Little John and Jorge Panchito completely unrehearsed to fulfil concert obligations.
"Psychedelic Musik"
On 31 March 1980, a lineup including Little John on guitar, Andy Allan on Bass,
Paul Cook
Paul Thomas Cook (born 20 July 1956) is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He was also called "Cookie" by his friends on the punk music scene.
Early life and career
Cook was raised in Hammersmith and atte ...
on drums, and
Steve Jones on guitar released a 7" single, "Psychedelic Musik", on
Arista Records
Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...
.
The two members of the
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...
were never official members of the band - they were repaying a debt to Allan who played bass on the Sex Pistols single, "
Silly Thing
Silly may refer to:
Places
* Silly, Belgium, a town
* Silly Department, a department or commune of Sissili Province in southern Burkina Faso
Music
* Silly (band), an East German rock group from the 1970s
* The Sillies, an American punk roc ...
".
"Criminal World"
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
John Anthony Genzale (July 15, 1952 – April 23, 1991), known professionally as Johnny Thunders, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of the New York Dolls. He later played with ...
and the
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen Hynde (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band the Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alon ...
Band), Bruce Irvine on guitar (later with
Sean Tyla's Tyla Gang), and George Butler (ex-
Kilburn and the High Roads
Kilburn and the High Roads were a British pub rock band formed in London by Ian Dury in 1970. The band released one studio album in 1975, disbanding the same year. AllMusic credits the band with being "an undeniable influence on punk and new ...
) on drums.
In 1981, this lineup put out "Criminal World" with Revenge Records. They then recorded the Will Reid Dick produced 12" EP for
Island Records
Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...
(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 popular on the club circuit, playing in various clubs such as
Dingwalls
Dingwalls was a live music and comedy venue adjacent to Camden Lock, Camden, London, England. The building itself is one of many industrial Victorian buildings that were put to new use in the 20th century. The original owner of the building, ...
, the
Marquee Club
The Marquee Club was a music venue first located at 165 Oxford Street in London, when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts. Its most famous period was from 1964 to 1988 at 90 Wardour Street in Soho, and it finally closed whe ...
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
Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to:
Places Australia
* Chelsea, Victoria
Canada
* Chelsea, Nova Scotia
* Chelsea, Quebec
United Kingdom
* Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames
** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...
drummer Marc Rathbone. Another support act for the Raiders were long haired glam boys
Kitsch
Kitsch ( ; loanword from German) is a term applied to art and design that is perceived as naïve imitation, overly-eccentric, gratuitous, or of banal taste.
The avant-garde opposed kitsch as melodramatic and superficial affiliation with ...
(under the same management as the Raiders). Kitsch bass player
Paul Raven went on to join London cult band,
Killing Joke
Killing Joke are an English rock music, rock band from Notting Hill, London, England, formed in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (musician), Youth (bass).
Their first album, ''Ki ...
. The Lightning Raiders along with Killerhertz and former Raider Andy Allan, performed at the 1981
Stonehenge Free Festival. Little John went on to record briefly with Chelsea and play live with
Lena Zavaroni
Lena Hilda Zavaroni (4 November 1963 – 1 October 1999) was a Scottish singer and a television show host. At ten years of age, with her album ''Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me)'', she was the youngest person in history to have an album in the top ...
in her father's Kilburn pub.
Hodge left the band in February 1982, though the remaining members continued for a time. Duncan Sanderson and George Butler played with
Larry Wallis
Larry Wallis (19 May 1949 – 19 September 2019) was an English guitarist, songwriter and producer. He was best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.
Biography and career Early bands
In 1968, he formed a ban ...
in a series of bands during the early 1980s, until the reformation of the Pink Fairies and, later,
The Deviants at which point George Butler was replaced by Russell Hunter (original Pink Fairy/Deviant). Little John Hodge recorded and performed with
Bert Jansch
Herbert Jansch (3 November 1943 – 5 October 2011) was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s as an acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter ...
for the latter's album, ''
Edge of a Dream'', which included the Hodge song "La Luna" inspired by
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley (; born Edward Alexander Crowley; 12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947) was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, painter, novelist, and mountaineer. He founded the religion of Thelema, identifying himself as the pro ...
. Jansch repaid the favour by appearing on Hodge's solo CD ''La Luna'' as second guitarist on a number of tracks.
''Sweet Revenge''
The 2013, a truncated version of the Lighting Raiders 'lost' album, ''Sweet Revenge''was released.
NYC reunion / ''Lost Rockers''
In 2009, Hodge visited New York to reunite with Gass Wild for two 'Lightning Raiders' reunion shows with guest American musicians, to promote a forthcoming documentary and book ''Lost Rockers'',. In the film
Lemmy
Ian Fraser Kilmister (24 December 1945 – 28 December 2015), better known as Lemmy Kilmister or simply Lemmy, was an English musician. He was the founder, lead singer, bassist and primary songwriter of the rock band Motörhead, of which he wa ...
of
Motörhead
Motörhead () were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead vocals, bass), Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums). Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a precu ...
praises the band.
Present day
Johnny Hodge died at home in Camden Town in 2012, George Butler and Duncan Sanderson have both died too. Andy Allan has been active playing with folk combo
Hank Dogs
Hank Dogs are an acoustic folk band from South London. The band members are Piano Pace, her ex-husband Andy Allan (formerly of Lightning Raiders and The Professionals), and his daughter Lily Ramona. Their music is considered to be in the English ...
,
releasing two CDs and touring with
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez (; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing more ...
. Gass Wild fronts a NYC band called The Love Pirates (a name borrowed from the Larry Wallis band of the 1980s 'Love Pirates of Doom').
Members
Early line-up
* "Little" John Hodge – lead guitar
* Andy Allan – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
* Duncan Sanderson – bass, backing vocals
* Jorge Panchito – drums, percussion
* Michael Wilding - sax
"Psychedelic Musik" line-up
* "Little" John Hodge – guitar, backing vocals
* Andy Allan – bass, lead vocals
*
Steve Jones – guitar
*
Paul Cook
Paul Thomas Cook (born 20 July 1956) is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He was also called "Cookie" by his friends on the punk music scene.
Early life and career
Cook was raised in Hammersmith and atte ...
– drums, percussion
1980-1982 line-up
* John Hodge – lead guitar
* Gass Wild – lead vocals
* Duncan Sanderson – bass, backing vocals
* Bruce Irvine - rhythm guitar
* George Butler – drums, percussion
2011-2012 line-up
* Johnny Hodge – lead guitar
* Gass Wild – lead vocals
* Randy Gregg – bass
* Fuz - rhythm guitar
* Tony Mann – drums, percussion
Discography
;LP:
*2013 – ''Sweet Revenge'' (Rock Candy Records CANDY 135)
(Originally recorded in 1980-1981.)
;Singles and EP:
*1980 – "Psychedelic Musik"
b/w "Views" (
Arista 341)
*1981 – "Criminal World" b/w "Citizens" (Revenge Records REVS 200)
*1981 – ''Sweet Revenge EP'' : "Sweet Revenge" / "Rowdies" / "Addiction" / "Soul Rescue"(Revenge Records RSS 39)
;Compilations:
*1980 – "Views" live track on ''The Moonlight Tapes'' compilation. (Danceville Records D1)
*1997 – "Sweet Revenge" bonus track on ''Son of Ham'' compilation. (UHCK 002)
*1997 – "Addiction" and "Rowdies" on ''Hogwatch - For a Few Rashers More'' compilation. (UHCK 003)
*2009 – "Didja" on ''Punks from the Underground'' compilation. (Skydog Records 62243-2)
References
{{Reflist
External links
Lightning Raiders - Discogs.comLightning Raiderson
Myspace
Johnny Hodgeon
Myspace
The Love Pirateson
Myspace
* Punk 7
Lightning Raiders
English rock music groups
Musical groups from London
Musical groups established in 1977
Musical groups disestablished in 1982
Musical groups reestablished in 2011
Musical groups disestablished in 2012