Kid Ramos tears it up in 1989 Blue Shadows videos

Back in December, Kid Ramos posted three very cool videos a version of The Blue Shadows from 1989 — Bill Bateman, Jonny Ray Bartel, Dave Lee Bartel, Lester Butler and, well, the first “Kid” on guitar. Well, videos of videos. Is this the earliest recording out there of the core of The Blue Shadows/Red Devils, beforeContinue reading “Kid Ramos tears it up in 1989 Blue Shadows videos”

Video: Red Devils live at King King Nov. 30, 1992

One of the treats hanging out with Mike Flanigin last year was watching vintage Red Devils video live from the King King more than two decades earlier. We watched half of the Nov. 30, 1992, video in his Austin living room. Essentially, we got the DVD commentary from one of the members of The RedContinue reading “Video: Red Devils live at King King Nov. 30, 1992”

Mike Flanigin on tour 1992 with The Red Devils: “We were a gang … mowed everybody down”

In the spring of 2015, Mike Flanigin opened his Austin, Texas, home and opened up about his time in The Red Devils. Flanigin became the band’s second guitarist during its critical club tour through the U.S. In 1992, replacing Dave Lee Bartel. But his connection to the band started before he was drafted one nightContinue reading “Mike Flanigin on tour 1992 with The Red Devils: “We were a gang … mowed everybody down””

The Drifter Speaks: Mike Flanigin remembers his time with The Red Devils

   [Above photo by Tina Hanagan; others courtesy mikeflanigin.com] A key time in The Red Devils’ history was their U.S. club tour through the U.S. Holding down guitar duties — and altering the Devils’ sound — was guitarist Mike Flanigin, filling in for rhythm guitarist Dave Lee Bartel. With Flanigin came Texas swagger, a third soloistContinue reading “The Drifter Speaks: Mike Flanigin remembers his time with The Red Devils”

Never heard, never sold

Unfortunately, most Red Devils press these days is of the “best band to never …” variety. The group is mentioned in another book with the focus again on the aborted Mick Jagger solo album. “The Greatest Albums You’ll Never Hear” by Bruno MacDonald covers much of the same ground as the essential “The Greatest Music NeverContinue reading “Never heard, never sold”