Editor’s note: This story was originally published on April 10, 2012. It was updated on May 5, 2025, with a new translation and minor edits.
The introduction page of the April/May/June 1998 issue of Dutch blues magazine Block read, “Daarbij kwam het schokkende nieuws rond het overlijden van Lester Butler, een week na diens spirituele optreden in Ospel.” (“Then came the shocking news of the death of Lester Butler, a week after his spiritual performance in Ospel.”)
The magazine pages have come from our friend Feelgood. The translation — rough as it is — from Google Translate with some contextual editing.
In memoriam: Lester Butler
On Saturday 2 May, the Moulin Blues festival was closed with the most sizzling and impressive jam I have experienced since North Sea ’83.
Lester Butler ruled with a firm hand members of his group 13, half of the James Harman Band, ex-Red Devil Paul Size, Joe Louis Walker and Billy Branch. He sang and played as if he were possessed by the devil.
It must have been Lester’s last performance, because in the night of Friday 8 to Saturday 9 May he died in his hometown of Los Angeles under rather dubious circumstances.
The final days of Lester Butler
Twenty-five years after the death of Lester Butler, No Fightin’ tells the story of those last days, using archival interviews, court documents and new sourcing.
Keep readingWhen he was in Ospel, Butler had just finished a drug detox. Everyone who knew him knew that he was a lover of drink and drugs, something he himself never made a secret of.
After returning to Los Angeles he got in touch with some old “friends,” who in fact turned out to be his former heroin suppliers. They allegedly administered a speedball (a mix of heroin and cocaine) to Lester, with or without his consent, after which he lost consciousness. The friends, a married couple, then drove around aimlessly with him in Lester’s van for some time and also administered some cocaine to him.
His condition then worsened and he was dumped on the doorstep of ex-Red Devils and ex-Blasters drummer Bill Bateman. Because all those involved had a history with drugs, no ambulance was called for fear of the police. Eventually a roadie took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Those closely involved in the case report that Lester could have been saved by an emergency admission to a hospital. Three people have been taken into custody in connection with the case. They were initially charged with murder.
Lester Butler and his Red Devils, founded in 1988 as a session band, gained fame when their debut CD “King King” was released in 1992. The band was formed more or less by chance from jam sessions in a club that was located in the former Chinese restaurant King King.
In addition to Lester, the brothers Jonny Ray and Dave Lee Bartel and drummer Bill Bateman played in it and the band was called The Blue Shadows. When Paul Size from Austin switched from bass to guitar and exchanged Austin for Los Angeles, the band was complete and the name changed to The Red Devils. Butler wanted the old Chicago band sound, as can be heard on records by Muddy and Wolf. That same year, the band recorded a blues CD with Mick Jagger, which after much wrangling was only released as a bootleg.
A CD recorded with Johnny Cash for Def American also never came out of the vault. But the tone for success had been set.
In ’93, the band toured intensively through Western Europe, closed Moulin Blues and opened Pinkpop. Exactly one year later, the band, after having performed with Billy Boy Arnold at North Sea ’94, was on its last legs. Another mini-CD was released, recorded with guest musicians, and Lester played with a hastily assembled line-up — including Kid Ramos — at Bluesrock-Tegelen ’94.
It turned out to be the swan song of The Red Devils. In early ’96, Butler formed the band 13 together with ex-Mighty Flyer Alex Schultz (gtr), among others. The CD “13 featuring Lester Butler” recorded for Hightone brought an even more unpolished sound than we were used to from The Devils. In addition to playing new Butler compositions, the band put its stamp on classics by Wolf, Muddy, Dr. Ross and Big Joe Williams. The band seemed destined to become successful, but Lester’s death brought its existence to an abrupt end.
Lester Butler was 38, a year older than his great example Little Walter, and leaves behind a 6-year-old niece and two wonderful CDs.
— Rien Wisse
No Fightin' 
Thanks for this, very interesting as always.
Now, what’s going on here? I’m the only person who leaves a comment these days…it’s getting lonesome.
I’m intrigued that Lester was, quote, spiritual at the Ostel gig and yet ‘possessed by the devil’ at the Moulin festival. I’d say it was spiritual both times, although it’s a fine line: darkness has to exist in music otherwise it starts to sound ‘New Age’ – and we can’t have that! There is no devil in any case…but you folks know that.
Before I go, here’s my VERY late review of the King King CD, which I just acquired, definitely better late than never!
Here goes: This album is not so much an album as an event – a monumental event. It is just astonishing. If you haven’t got a copy, if you have only heard Lester Butler & co on YouTube, then go get the CD or the limited edition red vinyl L.P. right now!
Best wishes to all
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R.I.P Lester , Such a nice album: king King :), I’ts tradiy what happend with him,!So may the blues play futher with him in soul/body
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