Tag Archives: alex schultz

Bukowski, drug busts and blues: Inside Lester Butler’s ‘lost year’ (1995)

In 1995, Lester Butler found himself picking up gigs and living with a “family” of bohemian creatives in Sherman Oaks. Rob Neighbors takes us inside.

From Screamin’ Jay to Icepick James to 13 … the birth of a ‘Plague’

The recent health news of James Harman has reminded me, again, of the cyclical nature of the blues, and the passing down of music from one to another. Lester Butler was (in)famous for partaking in this tradition. What many probably don’t know is that the most notorious song on “13 Featuring Lester Butler” is notContinue reading “From Screamin’ Jay to Icepick James to 13 … the birth of a ‘Plague’”

1997 Tamines bootleg given mainstream release

Lester Butler is back — sort of — on the above-board release of the long-bootlegged Tamines show from Aug. 29, 1997, at the 7th South Blues Festival in Belgium. The two-disc set “Lester Butler featuring 13 Live at Tamines 1997” comes from RockBeat Records, the same folks who reissued “13 featuring Lester Butler” more than fourContinue reading “1997 Tamines bootleg given mainstream release”

Classic Rock: Fear and loathing in The Red Devils

From their amazing music to the devastating effects of drugs, The Red Devils’ story is told this month in a compelling piece by writer Paul Rees in the new issue of Classic Rock Magazine. Issue #195, with Queen on the cover, is out in the UK and in digital editions now. Rees has done aContinue reading “Classic Rock: Fear and loathing in The Red Devils”

Alex Schultz on 13: “The songs were Lester Butler”

It’s clear that his time with 13 and Lester Butler has had an impact on guitarist Alex Schultz. When talking with Schultz at the Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival last year, he was open, engaging and honest. His experiences differ from some other musicians who worked with Butler over the years, as he fondlyContinue reading “Alex Schultz on 13: “The songs were Lester Butler””

Johnny Morgan on 13: “It was a hybrid”

The versions of “Sweet Tooth” and “Black Hearted Woman” that ended up on “13 featuring Lester Butler” were actually the demo tracks, featuring the propulsive drumming of Johnny Morgan. I spoke with Morgan back on May 29, 2011, at the Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival, minutes after he got off stage playing behind BigContinue reading “Johnny Morgan on 13: “It was a hybrid””