By the summer of 1994, The Red Devils, as we knew them, were running on fumes.
The band was scattering, and limping toward a conclusion of already booked gigs, probably hoping to reclaim some of that magic the group possessed just 18 months earlier.
The Dutch blues magazine Block was there to the bitter end, and editor Rien Wisse was an eyewitness at two different gigs.
First up: The Red Devils at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague on July 9, 1994, where the boys closed the Statenhal stage, headlining over Irma Thomas and Bobby “Blue” Bland:
The key bits here, loosely translated, are ominous:
The Red Devils delivered a memorable performance, displaying the high level of musicianship for which they were known. As it later turned out, this was the last time they would perform in their familiar lineup. (See report from Tegelen)
Billy Boy Arnold had been promoted as a special guest, yet he was held back until The Red Devils’ encore and allowed to contribute to only a few songs. I felt he should have been given both more time on stage and greater respect.
The Red Devils (and we have heard conflicting reports on who “The Red Devils” were on this night) seemed to have the spark, even if key influence Billy Boy Arnold was a bit sidelined for Wisse’s taste. Lester Butler the year before performed with Arnold on his “Back Where I Belong” album on Alligator Records. So it’s not hard to imagine the encore being the Billy Boy classic “I Wish You Would,” “Shake Your Hips” from the Alligator CD, and maybe “She Fooled Me,” the template for The Red Devils’ “She’s Dangerous.”
But the real news is found in the tease “See report from Tegelen.”
Tegelen was the Bluesrock festival, where a version of “The Red Devils” would perform on Sept. 3, 1994.
After dispensing with some of the news and views of the day, such as the cancellation of BBM (a supergroup of Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Gary Moore) as well as performances by The Hoax (“Guitarist Jess Davey has not only adopted Stevie Ray’s wardrobe but has mastered the Texan’s style to perfection”) and The Guy Forsyth Band, Wisse gives a final verdict on the Devils:
The Red Devils closed the festival. Or so we thought. Because Lester Butler appeared on stage with three substitute musicians, including guitarist Kid Ramos (formerly of the Hollywood Fats Band, currently with Lynwood Slim).
The tightness — one of the original lineup’s chief weapons — was gone, and the departure of Bill Bateman and the Bartel brothers had stripped the band of its identity. The result was a dead ordinary, middle-of-the-road group. Unless Lester Butler quickly gets his act together, the band will probably collapse within six months.
Commercially, Blues Rock ’94 will be considered a success. More visitors, and a substantial saving on the budget thanks to replacing BBM and The Red Devils with cheaper alternatives. Artistically, however, the organizers face a serious challenge if they hope to present a much stronger lineup next year.
It would not be wrong to guess that The Red Devils of this gig were Ramos, likely Stephen Hodges on drums and possibly Willie J. Campbell on bass. Various permutations of that foursome would perform as Snake Snake or The Devils.
Of course, Wisse’s prediction came true, even faster than six months. After some time in the wilderness, Butler finally exorcised The Devils and set his eyes on what would eventually become 13.
No Fightin' 