Timeline
This timeline is meant to be as complete as possible, and will be based on the comings and goings of The Red Devils and Lester Butler and 13. Each item will link back to a source document or Web site, when possible. Others have been verified by nofightin.com or include information commonly found in web searches. This timeline will be a continuing work in progress.
Additions, corrections and amplifications are encouraged in the comments.
1988
Dec. 19: Jonny Ray Bartel and Blasters Bill Bateman and Greg “Smokey” Hormel begin the Monday night jam session at the King King at Sixth and LaBrea in Hollywood. The band was called the Blue Shadows, with Dave Alvin and Gene Taylor sometimes sitting in. SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE
1989
Summer: Lester Butler joins Blue Shadows, according to “The Greatest Music Never Sold.” SOURCE
Nov. 19: Lester Butler & The Blue Shadows play at the 1st Annual Blues Hall of Fame Festival honoring Little Walter at Spice in Hollywood. SOURCE
1990
March 18: Lester Butler of The Blue Shadows, on bill with Rob Rio and the Revolvers with Smokey Hormel and Cash McCall, Spice in Hollywood. SOURCE
May 27: The Blue Shadows with Dave Alvin at Blues ‘n’ B-B-Q/Sunday Blues Jam at Crawford’s in Lakewood, CA. SOURCE
June 4: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
June 9: The Blue Shadows open with The Wild Cards for The James Harman Band, “James’ Birthday Party Bash,” at Bogart’s in Long Beach, CA. SOURCE
June 11: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
June 18: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
June 25: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
July 23: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig (Bill Bateman, Dave Alvin, Jonny Ray Bartel, Dave Lee Bartel, Lester Butler, with guest Gene Taylor) SOURCE
July 28: The Blue Shadows at the 10th annual Sunset Junction Street Fair, Los Angeles. SOURCE
July 30: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig (Bill Bateman, Dave Alvin, Jonny Ray Bartel, Dave Lee Bartel, Lester Butler, with guest Gene Taylor) SOURCE
Autumn: Paul Size replaces Smokey Hormel in Blue Shadows. SOURCE
Oct. 19: The Blue Shadows with Dave Alvin at the Toes Classic Brews & Blues in Canoga Parks, CA. SOURCE
Dec. 3: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
1991
Summer & fall: Three live gigs recorded at King King club by Rick Rubin for band’s debut album, “King King” SOURCE
1992
Monday nights: The Blue Shadows (or Red Devils) continue as house band at the King King. Bruce Willis and others guest. SOURCE
Feb. 20: The Red Devils open for John Lee Hooker at the Variety Theatre in Los Angeles. SOURCE
March 6: Red Devils open for the Four Horsemen at the Marquee in Garden Grove, CA. SOURCE
May 18: Mick Jagger sits in with Red Devils at King King. SOURCE
May 23: Lightnin’ Hopkins tribute at King King, with Smokey Hormel and Lester Butler. SOURCE
May 25: Red Devils Monday King King gig. SOURCE
June 9: Red Devils win Best Blues Band at the Los Angeles Music Awards at The Mardi Gras, Long Beach, CA. SOURCE
June 17: Rick Rubin calls band, telling them to report to Studio B at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood at 10 a.m. next morning. SOURCE
June 18: Red Devils session with Mick Jagger (Jagger was in midst of recording “Wandering Spirit” album); the group cut 13 songs in about 13 hours. SOURCE
July 13: Bruce Willis and The Red Devils perform at Planet Hollywood in New York City. SOURCE
July 28: “King King” released on Def American. SOURCE | SOURCE
Aug. 16: Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ (Allmans) SOURCE
Aug. 18: Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY (Allmans) SOURCE
Aug. 19: Great Woods, Boston, MA (Allmans) SOURCE
Aug. 21: Stowe Mountain PAC, Mt. Mansfield, VT (Allmans) SOURCE
Aug. 23: Coliseum, New Haven, CT (Allmans) SOURCE
Sept. 1: Classic Amphitheatre, Richmond, VA (Allmans) SOURCE | REVIEW
Sept. 2: Trask Coliseum, Wilmington, NC (Allmans) SOURCE
Sept. 4: Paladium @ Carowinds, Charlotte, NC (Allmans) SOURCE | REVIEW
Sept. 5: Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA (Allmans) SOURCE
Sept. 6: Spirit Fest, Kansas City, MO (Bob Dylan) SOURCE
Sept. 8: Yacht Club, Iowa City, IA SOURCE
Sept. 9: Maintenance Shop, ISU, Ames, IA SOURCE
Sept. 10: Ranch Bowl, Omaha, NB SOURCE
Sept. 12: Buffalo Rose, Denver, CO SOURCE
Sept. 13: Tattoo Club, Aspen, CO SOURCE
Sept. 14: Boulder Blues Fest (@ McCabe’s), Boulder, CO SOURCE
Sept. 17: Tree’s, Dallas, TX SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 18: The Coyote Club, Wichita, KS SOURCE
Sept. 19: River Valley Music Festival, Lawrence, KS SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 20: Starwood Amphitheatre, Charlie Daniels Jam, Nashville, TN SOURCE
Sept. 21: The Blue Bird, Nashville, TN SOURCE
Sept. 23: Off Broadway, St. Louis, MO SOURCE
Sept. 24: The Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN SOURCE
Sept. 27: Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, IL SOURCE
Sept. 29: Graffiti’s, Pittsburg, PA (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Oct. 1: Memorial Hall, Dayton, OH (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Oct. 3: Empty Glass, Charleston, WV SOURCE
Oct. 13: Jake’s, Bloomington, IN SOURCE
Oct. 15: Peabody’s DownUnder in The Flats, Cleveland, OH SOURCE
Oct. 24: Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OK (Los Lobos) SOURCE | SOURCE
Oct. 28: The Varsity, Baton Rouge, LA (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Nov. 6: Carefree Theatre, West Palm Beach, FL (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Nov. 7: Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, FL (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Nov. 10: Myskyn’s, Charleston, SC (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Nov. 28: Texas Tornados and Red Devils at Slim’s in San Fransisco. SOURCE
Dec. 1: Becker Amphitheater, Fullerton, CA SOURCE
Dec. 4: Red Devils record “Morning Becomes Eclectic” for KCRW, San Diego SOURCE
Dec. 4: Palomino Club, North Hollywood, CA SOURCE
Dec. 5: Ventura Theater, Ventura, CA (with Texas Tornados and The Convertibles). SOURCE
Dec. 7: “Morning Becomes Eclectic” featuring The Red Devils, KCRW, San Diego SOURCE
Dec. 7: Red Devils Monday King King gig. SOURCE
Dec. 10: The Belly Up, Solana Beach, CA (with the The Texas Tornados and D.D. Wood) SOURCE | SOURCE
Dec. 30: Bruce Willis and the Red Devils (joined by John Oates) at the China Club in Aspen, CO. SOURCE
1993
Feb. 15: Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN (John Campbell) SOURCE
Feb. 19: Martini’s, Grand Rapids, MI (John Campbell) SOURCE
Feb. 20: Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON (John Campbell) SOURCE
March 6: The Red Devils and Rumble at Caravan of Dreams, Fort Worth, Texas SOURCE
Late March: London Borderline gig. Mick Jagger watches from audience. A few nights later, Devils play Roberto’s in Chelsea. Jagger joins in then. SOURCE
April 1: Jagger jams with The Red Devils at Roberto’s London, performing “Checkin’ Up On My Baby” and “Who Do You Love” SOURCE
April 11: The Red Devils perform on “Euro MTV Most Wanted” SOURCE
April 29: The Red Devils at De Haagse Koninginnenacht, Den Haag, The Netherlands SOURCE
May 1: Red Devils perform live at the Moulin Blues Festival, Ospel, The Netherlands SOURCE
May 2: The Red Devils at Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands SOURCE
May 3: Red Devils perform live on “2 Meter Sessies,” Bullet Sound Studios in the Netherlands. SOURCE
May 4: Red Devils at London’s Borderline. SOURCE
May 31: Red Devils perform at Pinkpop Festival. Later that evening, they perform at Doornroosje, Nijmegen, Holland SOURCE
June 13: Red Devils play John Paul De Joria wedding. SOURCE
June 14: Red Devils play last gig at King King club. Smokey Hormel sits in. SOURCE
July 2: Mississippi Blues Fest at Le Claire Park, Davenport, Iowa SOURCE
July 4: Red Devils at Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, Ore.
July 9: Red Devils, two performances at Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Scène Labatt Blues and Spectrum de Montréal) SOURCE
July 10: Red Devils, two performances at Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Scène Labatt Blues and Spectrum de Montréal) SOURCE
July 16-18: Red Devils at Phoenix Festival at Long Marston Airfield (Stratford-Upon-Avon). Unclear what day band performed. SOURCE
Summer: Paul Size quits band, goes back to Texas. Band plays series of festivals in Europe. SOURCE
Aug. 27: The Red Devils are the house band at the “Ciao Def” party for American Recordings dropping “Def” from its name, at Shatto 39 Lanes in Los Angeles. SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 6: Red Devils (with Smokey Hormel replacing Paul Size) record with Johnny Cash at Ocean Way studios in Los Angeles. Immediately following the Cash sessions, the band recorded what would have been their sophomore album. “Blackwater Roll,” “She’s Dynamite” and “Louisiana Blues” were all tackled with guitarist Zach Zunis; it is assumed that this is the version of “Blackwater Roll” appearing on the 1994 EP of the same name. Author Dan Leroy also notes this was the last time the band would record with Lester Butler. SOURCE
Sept. 10: Red Devils perform two sets at San Diego Street Scene ’93. SOURCE
Nov. 15: The Red Devils at The Effenaar, Eindhoven, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 16: The Red Devils at Noorderlicht, Tilburg, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 17: Red Devils at Dutch VPRO radio 3 program: De Stompin’ Velden. SOURCE
Nov. 18: Red Devils at Zalen Schaaf, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 20: The Red Devils at Canix, Lottum, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 21: The Red Devils at Vera, Groningen, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 22: The Red Devils at Nighttown, Rotterdam, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 24: The Red Devils at Stadsschouwburg, Sittard, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 25: The Red Devils at Paard, Den Haag, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 26: The Red Devils at Doornroosje, Nijmegen, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 27: The Red Devils at De Lantaarn, Hellendoorn, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 28: The Red Devils at Tivoli, Utrecht, The Netherlands SOURCE
Nov. 29: The Red Devils at Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands SOURCE
Dec. 1: The Red Devils at The Garage, London SOURCE
Dec. 12: The Red Devils open Planet Hollywood with Bruce Willis, Bloomington, Minn. SOURCE
Dec. 31: The Red Devils, New Year’s Eve at Jack’s Sugar Shack, Los Angeles, Calif. SOURCE
1994
April 22: The Red Devils and Aerosmith open Hollywood House of Blues SOURCE
May 6: The Viper Room, Los Angeles SOURCE
May 21: At the House of Blues, West Hollywood, CA, with The Blazers and C.C. Adcock. SOURCE
July 16: Red Devils at Phoenix Festival at Long Marston Airfield (Stratford-Upon-Avon). SOURCE
Sept. 3: Bluesrock Tegelen festival (Lonnie Mack, etc.) SOURCE
Sept. 4: Red Devils at Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands SOURCE
Oct. 15: @ Jack’s Sugar Shack’s last show, with Thelonious Monster, Sister Double Happiness and more, Los Angeles, CA. SOURCE
1995
March 24: “Lester Butler & the Devils” open for The Blasters at the House of Blues in L.A. Bruce Springsteen is in attendance. SOURCE | SOURCE
April 23: BeachFest in Long Beach, CA. The Blues Meisters: Phil Alvin, Top Jimmy, Lester Butler, James Intveld, Rick Vito and other L.A. roots musicians. SOURCE
June 31: Lester Butler and the Devils perform at the Blue Cafe in Long Beach, CA. SOURCE
Nov. 22: Lester Butler, Guy Forsyth and the Radio Kings perform a Tribute to Little Walter at the Paradiso in Amsterdam SOURCE
Dec. 31: Red Devils play New Year’s Eve at Bar Deluxe, Los Angeles. SOURCE | SOURCE
1996
Aug. 21: The Blue Shadows, “formerly the Red Devils. Lester Butler on lead vocals and harmonica, Bill Bateman on drums, John Bazz on bass, plus special guests.” According to the link, the post-Devil Blue Shadows performed each Wednesday at the The Ashgrove, Santa Monica, Calif. SOURCE
Aug. 28: The Blue Shadows, the The Ashgrove, Santa Monica, Calif. SOURCE
Dec. 12: Hightone Records announces signing of 13 featuring Lester Butler for release in 1997.
Dec. 28: House of Blues, Hollywood, CA. 10th Annual Little Walter Tribute featuring: Billy Boy Arnold, Lester Butler, King Ernest, Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson, Rusty Zinn and more. SOURCE | SOURCE
1997
March 18: “13 featuring Lester Butler” released. SOURCE
April 10: 13 record release party at Bar Deluxe in Hollywood SOURCE
June 6: 13 at Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ SOURCE
June 23: 13 in the Braskoer on Terschelling SOURCE
June 24: 13 in Rotown in Rotterdam SOURCE
July 15: 13 at the Continental Club, Austin, TX SOURCE
July 22: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at Lynagh’s, Lexington, KY
July 23: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at the Wild Beet, Bloomington, IN
July 26: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN SOURCE
July 27: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at Grand Emporium, Kansas City, MO SOURCE
July 31: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at Brendan’s, Denver, CO SOURCE
Aug. 7: 13 at Boondocks Lounge, Tucson, AZ SOURCE
Aug. 8: 13 (listed as guitarist Alex Schultz, drummer James Intveld and bassist Mark Goldberg) at Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ SOURCE
Aug. 9: 13 (listed as guitarist Alex Schultz, drummer James Intveld and bassist Mark Goldberg) at Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ SOURCE
Aug. 29: 13 at 7th South Blues Festival, Tamines, Sambreville, Belgium SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 5: 13 with Alex Schultz @ Paradiso, Amsterdam. SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 6: 13, Boogie Boy, Guy Forsyth, Sy Klopps and The Seatsniffers perform at a blues-rock festival in Tegelen, Limburg, the Netherlands. SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 7: 13 at Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 9: 13 at Tivoli, Utrecht, The Netherlands. SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 10: 13 at Nighttown, Rotterdam, Holland SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 11: 13 featuring Lester Butler Decision Dutch tour at the Lantern in Hellendoorn, the Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 13: 13 at Crossing Border festival, Den Haag, Netherlands FESTIVAL | STORY | SOURCE
Sept. 17-28: 13 at Chesterfield Cafe, Moscow SOURCE
Oct. 1-12: 13 at Chesterfield Cafe, Madrid SOURCE
1998
Jan. 29: 13, Doornroosje, Nijmegen, Holland SOURCE
Jan. 30: 13 at Het Bolwerk, Sneek, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE
Jan. 31: 13 with Poppa Chubby, Den Haag, Holland SOURCE
Feb. 1: Blues festival with 13 Featuring Lester Butler, Poppa Chubby, The Urn and Lamar Trice McQueen, Tilburg, Nijmegen, Holland SOURCE
Feb. 14: 13 (listed as guitarist Alex Schultz, drummer James Intveld and bassist Mark Goldberg) at Smokin’ Johnnies, Studio City, CA. SOURCE
March 3: Lester Butler, Eddie Clark, Chris Masterson and unknown bass rehearse “Business in the Streets” at Yo studios, Los Angeles. SOURCE
March 27: 13 at Blue Cafe, Long Beach, CA SOURCE | SOURCE
April 4: 13 at the Rhythm Room, Phoenix, Arizona SOURCE | SOURCE
May 1: 13 feat. Lester Butler, Boogietown Festival, Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE
May 2: 13 at Moulin Blues Festival, Ospel, The Netherlands. This is Butler’s last concert; a DVD of the show is available. SOURCE
May 3: Nofightin.com reader Jeroen notes that Lester Butler sat in with the Paladins at a concert in de Effenaar in Eindhoven, NL; this gig has not been confirmed by nofightin.com. SOURCE
May 9: Lester Butler dies at age 38. SOURCE
January 8, 2010 at 9:15 am
September 9, 1997: 13 at Tivoli, Utrecht, The Netherlands
It was a great show!
February 18, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Went to the Feb 15,’93 show at the Cabooze in Minneapolis. John Campbell was unable to perform that night,but the Devils put on an amazing show,one of the best I’ve ever seen at this venue.
February 18, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Thanks for the info, mahogma. Anything other details you remember about that show, let us know — we’d love to hear about it!
June 24, 2010 at 2:43 am
Correction to 1988 & “Summer 1989″ timeline: Bill Bateman & I started Blue Mondays at the King King together. I named the band the Blue Shadows after a great Dave Alvin-Blasters song. So, I didn’t join in the Summer of 1989, I was there the first night in ’88. Love your site. Very thorough to say the least.
Salute !
~ Jonny Ray Bartel
June 24, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Welcome aboard, Jonny, glad to have you here!
Thanks for the correction; we’ll get it fixed. We’ve tried to source everything on this site as best we can. But you can probably find all kinds of little fixes, because you were there!
Feel free to jump anytime. Take care.
J.J.
June 25, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I’m proud to say that I was in the audience back in ’88-89. These were some of the best shows around.
I arrived at this page from a Google search for the Blue Shadows after Chas Smith mentioned Jerry “Skeeter” Mascot in an old photograph of the Radio Ranch Straight Shooters. I mistakenly thought Skeeter had played bass in the Blue Shadows back in the day. It was Bill Bateman on drums. 30 years can muddle things a bit.
There were a lot of good times to be had back then. The Radio Ranch, The Blasters, The Blue Shadows, Trailer Park Casanovas and so many others. Thanks for this timeline, J.J. It brings back a lot of fond memories.
October 11, 2010 at 9:42 am
Red Devils were the opening act at Pinkpop festival (the biggest annual festival in Holland) on May 31, 1993. See http://www.pinkpop.org/1993.htm. The text reads:
“De kick ass-rock & roll van The Red Devils krijgt de slaapdronken meute waarachtig al in beweging waarna een straalbezopen Bob Forrest, na bijna een doodsmak van het podiumdak te hebben gemaakt, conform de verwachting het optreden van Thelonious Monster naar de filistijnen helpt.”
or
“The Red Devils kick ass rock & roll veritably manages to get the sleepdrunk crowd in motion after which a p*ssed Bob Forrest, after nearly killing himself by falling off the stage roofing, meets expectations and ruins the Thelonious Monster gig.”
Later that evening, the Red Devils performed at Doornroosje, Nijmegen. I attended the concert myself, and I can confirm on behalf of the venue. You can add this gig to your timeline.
January 12, 2011 at 10:07 am
28-01-1997 -> Hof Ter Loo in Antwerpen, Belgium.
07-11-1998 -> Madrid, Spain.
29-09-1997 -> Tamines Festival, Belgium
January 16, 2011 at 9:16 pm
@Jasper: Hey, I’ve not seen these dates before. Do you have fliers or links for them? Thanks!
February 22, 2011 at 1:27 pm
The March 24th 1995 date at House of Blues opening for The Blasters, I’m not sure if it’s correct. I know we performed at HOB on Sunset Strip the weekend it opened. Kid Ramos was on guitar, James Intveld on bass, myself on drums, and Lester on harp. The Hollywood Fats reunion band opened for us with Jr Watson on guitar, Fred Kaplan on Piano, Al Blake vocals and harp, and Richard Innes on drums. Don’t remember Springsteen being there but maybe. This would be the first inception of 13.
February 24, 2011 at 12:22 am
@Johnny: Hope you’re doing good man! Have fun at the tribute gigs (we’ll be blogging on those soon).
Check here for the ticket stub for the 1995 HOB gig w/ The Blahsters: http://nofightin.com/2009/12/23/show-souvenirs/
Also, I’d been sitting on an article about the Hollywood HOB 1994 opening, so might as well get that one up, too: http://nofightin.com/2011/02/23/red-devils-open-house-of-blues-1994/
Would love to hear more about those early 13 shows sometime.
February 28, 2011 at 11:41 am
Hey guys,
In the first place I want to say you made a brilliant site for the best bluesband and harmonica player in the last 4 decades ! Last time I saw Lester Butler perform live was in ’97 Nighttown Rotterdam , Holland. September 10th. The support act that night was Drippin’ Honey, a Dutch blues band influenced by The Paladins, Stevie Ray Vaughan and of course The Red Devils. The band’s lead guitar player/singer was Sander Kooiman and I thought the harmonica player was Kim Snelten. Listen to their first album called Drip Drip! and I think you’ll like it.
I’ll keep in touch,
Greetings from Martijn den Besten
March 1, 2011 at 8:02 am
Hello again,
I can tell you that The Red Devils did a promotional instore gig at Tower Records, Picadilly Circus, London on friday 16th july 1993. I was on holiday with a friend of mine when we saw the announcement posters. We went there after first seen them on Pinkpop a couple of months earlier. Again we were completely blown away by them. There were about 25 people watching them in the corner of the basement. After the gig we talked for quite a long time with the guys and we had a good time with them.
Greetings,
Martijn den Besten, Holland
March 1, 2011 at 10:24 am
@Martijn: Thanks for the info. You wouldn’t happen to have a flier or any pics from that gig you’d like to share?
August 10, 2011 at 11:28 pm
REGARDING FEBRUARY 14th 1998 SMOKIN’ JOHNNIE’S GIG:
The personel that night were Eddie Clark on Drums, Michael Hightower on Bass, and Dave Melton on guitar. Alex must have been out of town or something so I got the call. That was the last time I saw Lester. I have a tape….
August 11, 2011 at 11:00 am
@Dave: Thanks for the info. I knew you’d done some gigs with Lester around that time, so glad to have the facts to add to the timeline. Hope you’re doing well.
November 30, 2011 at 9:23 am
15/11/1993 The Effenaar, Eindhoven, Netherlands
http://www.effenaar.nl/agenda/2711