Reporters never knew what they were going to get during a Lester Butler interview, as this Aug. 8, 1997, piece by Randy Cordova for the Arizona Republic shows.
Chief among the surprises are some hotel hi-jinks between Les Butler and another guest, the unfortunately named Wes Butler.
As the reunited Red Devils prepare to return to Europe for the first time in almost 25 years, a series of contracts, riders and correspondence show just how much work it took to get the band on the road in 1993.
The documents are primarily between concert promoters and booking agents for the band’s 14-date Nov. 14-29, 1993, tour of Holland (some details redacted by nofightin.com):
1. This document, from Sept. 10, 1993, details a proposed itinerary for the band for two weeks in Holland. Of interest are protential gigs that didn’t seem to materialize, such as on Nov. 16, 19 and 24.
2. The band’s tour rider, dated Oct. 9, 1993, breaks down what The Red Devils needed to stay on the road. Soundcheck, security, billing requirements and backline (the kind of gear the venues or promoters would provide for the band) were all outlined. If you wanted to know what amps the band was using, this document lays it out.
Most folks will be interested in the last page: What the band required in their dressing rooms. Nothing fancy — beer, soda, water, sandwiches. And a bottle of Jack and two packs of Winston 100s.
There is no better way to show your devotion to a band than a concert T-shirt. Unfortunately, there are very few options for The Red Devils or 13; when we saw 13 on tour in the Midwest in 1997, they really had no merch to speak of (and unfortunately, the Devils’ 1992 tour is something of a blur almost two decades later). Nofightin.com reader Feelgood sent us some images of the handful of tees out there.
Above left is a fan tribute shirt that Jasper Heikens says is by Chris Wobben; above right is the Red Devils’ Planet Hollywood-style tee, which Feelgood said he bought when he saw the Devils on Nov. 18, 1993, at Zalen Schaaf, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands; below left and right is the front, sleeve and backside of the 13 T-shirt, with damn slick tattoo-style artwork, purchased Jan. 30, 1998, near Feelgood’s hometown, Het Bolwerk, Sneek, The Netherlands: “I bought here the 13 T shirt, Lester was after the show present on the stand with T shirts and Cd’s for a chat and a autograph.”
Jasper Heikens has more T-shirt images and info on the Lester Butler tribute page.
Thanks as always to our pal Vince Jordan for providing great photos, including this picture of the touring version of 13, James Intveld, left, on drums, Lester Butler, bassist Mark Goldberg and guitarist Alex Schultz (photographer unknown), outside the Blue Cafe in Tahiti, probably 1997.
This is just one of many different 13 live lineups, depending on date, location and circumstances. Hightone’s tour bio provides some clarity:
“Music is a hypnotic thing — it kind of puts you in this state and it just comes out,” confesses lead singer/harp man extraordinaire Lester Butler of Los Angeles-based 13, in attempting to describe the creative process that fuels the visceral, edgy sound of the band and its self-titled debut on HighTone Records. For the brand of blues that Lester and his mates are creating is not that by-the-book, note-for-note recreations of the usual cast of characters; but rather a living, breathing force of energy that effectively captures both the spirit and intent of what makes this music so special. And that’s the only way Butler knows how to do it.
