THC Science

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]

History

Jerry Kidd (Vocals) and Hallam Lewis (Guitar) met in 1979 at a Community Arts programme 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.

Personnel

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

Reunion

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

Discography

Singles

Good Technology b/w Hearbeat Go! Love Dub (Self Drive Records) 1983
Steeltown b/w Within 4 Walls (Self Drive Records) 1984
Marimba Jive b/w Heartbeat Go! (Self Drive Records) 1984

Albums

Slow To Fade (Self Drive Records) 1984
Tales of the Expected (Virgin) 1986

Retrospectives and collections

Seven Types Of Ambiguity (The BBC Sessions, re-release) (RPM Records) 1993
Slow To Fade plus six bonus tracks (Cherry Red Records) 2002

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+The '''Red Guitars''' were a [[Great Britian|British]] [[indie rock]] band active from 1982 to 1986. Based in [[Kingston upon Hull|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.[http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/r.htm]
-{{about|the British music band|the Polish music band|Czerwone Gitary}}
-{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
-{{Refimprove|date=February 2016}}
-{{Infobox musical artist
-|name = Red Guitars
-|image =
-|background = group_or_band
-|alias =
-|origin = [[Kingston upon Hull]], [[East Riding of Yorkshire]], England
-|instrument =
-|genre = [[Indie rock]]
-|occupation =
-|years_active = 1982–1986
-|label = [[Self Drive Records]], [[PIAS Recordings]], [[Virgin Records]]
-|associated_acts =
-|website =
-|current_members =
-}}
-The '''Red Guitars''' were an English [[indie rock]] band active from 1982 to 1986. Based in [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], the Red Guitars' first single "Good Technology" was a minor [[hit record|hit]], selling 60,000 copies. Their singles "Marimba Jive" and "Be With Me" both reached [[record chart|number one]] on the [[UK Indie Chart]].<ref name="Lazell">{{cite book|author=Lazell, Barry|date=1997|url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/r.htm|title=Indie Hits 1980–1989|publisher=[[Cherry Red Records|Cherry Red]] Books|isbn=0-9517206-9-4|page=186|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010409223055/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/r.htm|archivedate=9 April 2001|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 ==History==
-Jerry Kidd (born Jeremy Kidd, vocals) and Hallam Lewis (guitarist) met in 1979 at a Community Arts programme 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redguitars.co.uk/blurb.html|title=JR's CD Notes : For those of us with dented pride who never reached the top... |accessdate=8 June 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216133853/http://redguitars.co.uk/blurb.html |archivedate=16 February 2006 }}</ref>
+Jerry Kidd (Vocals) and Hallam Lewis (Guitar) met in 1979 at a Community Arts programme 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.[http://www.redguitars.co.uk/blurb.html]
-Playing a mixture of [[punk rock|punk]], [[blues]], electrified [[Folk music|folk]] and African rhythms, the Red Guitars built a small but loyal national following, playing mostly benefit shows for left-wing causes.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}
+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 [[sound recording and reproduction|recorded]] their first single "Good Technology". In keeping with the band's [[Anti-corporate activism|anti-corporate ideology]], the Red Guitars released the single on their own [[record label]], Self Drive Records, selling 60,000 copies.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} The video to "Good Technology" was broadcast on the cult 1980s Channel 4 music TV show The Tube, as part of the show's Hull music special.
+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" (The John Peel Session version of which also featured on the ''Four Your Ears Only'' EP – an aural collection which included Luddites, [[Red Lorry Yellow Lorry]] and [[Party Day]]) and "Marimba Jive",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/t/theredguitars/ |title=Radio 1 – Keeping It Peel – The Red Guitars |publisher=BBC |date=14 July 1984 |accessdate=16 February 2016}}</ref> 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]]''.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|last=Larkin|first= Colin |year=1998|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave|publisher=Virgin Books|isbn= 0-7535-0231-3| pages=349–350}}</ref> 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 [[List of UK Indie Chart number-one singles of 1985|UK Indie Chart]] in May 1985.<ref name="Lazell" />
+Constant touring to support followup singles ''Fact'', ''Steeltown'' and their number 1 hit on the independent charts ''Marimba Jive''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/t/theredguitars/], 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.
+==Personnel==
-The Red Guitars disbanded in 1986 after their appearance at the [[Pukkelpop]] [[music festival|festival]] near [[Hasselt]], Belgium.  Two of the ex-band members, Hallam Lewis and Lou Howard, formed another group, [[The Planet Wilson]].<ref name="Larkin" /> They were joined by Grant Ardis (drums 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).<ref name="Larkin" /> 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 [[remix|mix]] of "Crocodile Tears" on the [[A-side and B-side|b-side]]. Lewis went on to run a recording studio in Hull. Holmes released a solo album in 1989, entitled ''Age of Swing'',<ref name="Larkin" /> and has released a series of recordings since 2015 on [[YouTube]] under the title "Robert Holmes Channel Two"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWCQZ1bhYIBWoSAalqwLjqw |title=LaLa La La |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date= |accessdate=4 November 2016}}</ref>
+*Matt Higgins (Drums)
+*Lou Howard (Bass)
+*Jeremy Kidd (Vocals)
+*Hallam Lewis (Lead Guitar)
+*John Rowley (Rhythm Guitar)
 ==Reunion==
+The Red Guitars played a one-show reunion at the Winterlude Festival in Hull on February 11, 2006.[http://www.hullrockagainstracism.co.uk/winterlude.htm]
-Amongst other tracks, the band performed "Paris France" at [[The New Adelphi Club]] in Hull on 14 February 1998.<ref name="RG">{{cite web|url=http://www.redguitars.co.uk/videoParisFrance.php |title=Red Guitars perform Paris France at the New Adelphi Club, Hull, Saturday 14 February 1998 |website=Redguitars.co.uk |date= |accessdate=16 February 2016}}</ref> The Red Guitars played a one-show reunion at the Winterlude Festival in Hull, on 11 February 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hullrockagainstracism.co.uk/winterlude.htm |accessdate=8 June 2006 |url-status=dead |title=Winterlude|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20060212123432/http://www.hullrockagainstracism.co.uk:80/winterlude.htm |archivedate=12 February 2006 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
-==Personnel==
-*Matt Higgins (drums)
-*Lou Howard (a.k.a. Louise Barlow, bass)
-*Jeremy Kidd (vocals)
-*Hallam Lewis (lead guitar)
-*John Rowley (rhythm guitar)
-*Robert Holmes (vocals/guitar – replaced Kidd on lead vocals in 1985)
 ==Discography==
 ===Singles===
-* "Good Technology" b/w "Heartbeat Go! Love Dub" (Self Drive Records) 1983 [[UK Indie Chart|UK Indie]] No.&nbsp;8<ref name="Lazell" />
+* Good Technology b/w Hearbeat Go! Love Dub (Self Drive Records) 1983
-* "Fact" b/w "Dive" (Live) (Self Drive Records) 1983 UK Indie No.&nbsp;7
+* Steeltown b/w Within 4 Walls (Self Drive Records) 1984
-* "Good Technology" b/w "Paris France" (Self Drive Records) 1984 UK Indie No.&nbsp;4
+* Marimba Jive b/w Heartbeat Go! (Self Drive Records) 1984
-* "Good Technology" b/w "Fact", "Paris France" (Self Drive Records 12-inch) 1984 UK Indie No.&nbsp;4
-* "Steeltown" b/w "Within 4 Walls" (Self Drive Records 7-inch & 12-inch) 1984 UK Indie No.&nbsp;2
-* "Marimba Jive" b/w "Heartbeat Go!" (Self Drive Records) 1984 UK Indie No.&nbsp;1
-* "Marimba Jive (Extended Survival Mix)" b/w "Heartbeat Go! (Extended 'Pinky-Work' Mix)" (Self Drive Records 12-inch) 1984 UK Indie No.&nbsp;1
-* "Be With Me" b/w "Things I Want" (One Way Records) 1985 UK Indie No.&nbsp;1
-* "Be With Me" (longer version) b/w "Things I Want" (One Way Records 12-inch) 1985 UK Indie No.&nbsp;1
-* "National Avenue (Sunday Afternoon)" b/w "King And Country" (Virgin Records) 1986
-* "National Avenue (Sunday Afternoon)" b/w "King And Country", "Things I Want" (Virgin Records 12-inch) 1986
-* "America And Me" b/w "Marianne" (Virgin Records) 1986
-* "America and Me", "Marianne" b/w "America and Me (12-inch version)" (Virgin Records 12-inch) 1986
-* "Blue Caravan" b/w "Suspicion And Fear" (Virgin Records) 1986
-* "Blue Caravan" b/w "Blue Caravan (Acoustic)", "Suspicion And Fear" (Virgin Records 12-inch) 1986
-===Compilation EP===
+===Albums===
+* Slow To Fade (Self Drive Records) 1984
-* "Steeltown" (John Peel Session Version), part of ''Four your Ears Only'' ([[PIAS Recordings]]) 1984
+* Tales of the Expected (Virgin) 1986
-===LPs===
-* ''[[Slow to Fade]]'' (Self Drive Records) 1984 UK Indie No.&nbsp;3<ref name="Lazell" />
-**"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 Records]]) 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 (United Kingdom)|RPM Records]]) 1993
+* Seven Types Of Ambiguity (The BBC Sessions, re-release) (RPM Records) 1993
-* ''[[Slow to Fade]]'' plus six bonus tracks ([[Cherry Red Records]]) 2002
+* Slow To Fade 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 England]]
-*[[List of Peel sessions]]
-==References==
-{{reflist}}
-{{Authority control}}
+{{UK-rock-band-stub}}
-[[Category:English rock music groups]]
-[[Category:English indie rock groups]]
+[[Category:Rock music groups]]
-[[Category:English new wave musical groups]]
-[[Category:Musical groups from Kingston upon Hull]]
-[[Category:Musical groups established in 1982]]
-[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1986]]
-[[Category:1982 establishments in England]]

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