This timeline is meant to be as complete as possible, and will be based on the comings and goings of The Red Devils and Lester Butler and 13. Each item will link back to a source document or Web site, when possible. Others have been verified by NoFightin.com or include information commonly found in web searches. This timeline will be a continuing work in progress.
To see artwork from these shows, visit the NoFightin.com posters, fliers and handbills gallery.
Additions, corrections and amplifications are encouraged in the comments.
1988
Dec. 19: Jonny Ray Bartel and Blasters Bill Bateman and Greg “Smokey” Hormel begin the Monday night jam session at the King King at Sixth and La Brea in Hollywood. The band was called the Blue Shadows, with Dave Alvin and Gene Taylor sometimes sitting in. SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE

1989
Feb. 6: “The King King Rhythm Aces” (aka The Blue Shadows) at King King in Hollywood SOURCE
Feb. 8: The Blue Shadows (with Smokey Hormel, Buster Bateman, Jonny Ray Bartel and more), The Chill and The Mindreaders at Raji’s in Hollywood SOURCE
Feb. 13: “The King King Rhythm Aces” (aka The Blue Shadows) at King King in Hollywood SOURCE
Feb. 15: The Blue Shadows, Smilin’ Jacks and the Mindreaders at Raji’s in Hollywood SOURCE
Feb. 20: The Blue Shadows (aka “The King King Rhythm Aces” — Bill Bateman, Jonny Ray Bartel, Greg “Smokey” Hormel, Lester Butler and Steve F’dor) at King King in Hollywood SOURCE
Feb. 27: The Blue Shadows (aka “The King King Rhythm Aces” — Bill Bateman, Jonny Ray Bartel, Greg “Smokey” Hormel, Lester Butler and Steve F’dor) at King King in Hollywood SOURCE
March 23: The Blue Shadows, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday at King King in Hollywood, California SOURCE
March 24: The Blue Shadows (Bill Bateman, Smokey Hormel and Jonny Ray Bartel) with Jimmy Angel, Shandi and more, KCSN 88.5 FM live Barndance broadcast at the Palomino, Hollywood, California SOURCE
Nov. 19: Lester Butler & The Blue Shadows play at the 1st Annual Blues Hall of Fame Festival honoring Little Walter at Spice in Hollywood. SOURCE
1990
March 18: Lester Butler of The Blue Shadows, on bill with Rob Rio and the Revolvers with Smokey Hormel and Cash McCall, Spice in Hollywood. SOURCE
May 27: The Blue Shadows with Dave Alvin at Blues ‘n’ B-B-Q/Sunday Blues Jam at Crawford’s in Lakewood, CA. SOURCE
June 4: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
June 9: The Blue Shadows open with The Wild Cards for The James Harman Band, “James’ Birthday Party Bash,” at Bogart’s in Long Beach, CA. SOURCE
June 11: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
June 18: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
June 25: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
July 23: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig (Bill Bateman, Dave Alvin, Jonny Ray Bartel, Dave Lee Bartel, Lester Butler, with guest Gene Taylor) SOURCE
July 28: The Blue Shadows at the 10th annual Sunset Junction Street Fair, Los Angeles. SOURCE
July 30: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig (Bill Bateman, Dave Alvin, Jonny Ray Bartel, Dave Lee Bartel, Lester Butler, with guest Gene Taylor) SOURCE
Autumn: Paul Size replaces Smokey Hormel in Blue Shadows. SOURCE
Oct. 19: The Blue Shadows with Dave Alvin at the Toes Classic Brews & Blues in Canoga Parks, CA. SOURCE
Dec. 3: Blue Shadows Monday King King gig SOURCE
1991
Summer & fall: Three live gigs recorded at King King club by Rick Rubin for band’s debut album, “King King” SOURCE
1992

Monday nights: The Blue Shadows (or Red Devils) continue as house band at the King King. Bruce Willis and others guest. SOURCE
Feb. 20: The Red Devils open for John Lee Hooker at the Variety Theatre in Los Angeles. SOURCE
March 6: Red Devils open for the Four Horsemen at the Marquee in Garden Grove, CA. SOURCE
May 9: The Red Devils play private wedding party. SOURCE
May 18: Mick Jagger sits in with Red Devils at King King. SOURCE
May 23: Lightnin’ Hopkins tribute at King King, with Smokey Hormel and Lester Butler. SOURCE
May 25: Red Devils Monday King King gig. SOURCE
June 9: Red Devils win Best Blues Band at the Los Angeles Music Awards at The Mardi Gras, Long Beach, CA. SOURCE
June 17: Rick Rubin calls band, telling them to report to Studio B at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood at 10 a.m. next morning. SOURCE
June 18: Red Devils session with Mick Jagger (Jagger was in midst of recording “Wandering Spirit” album); the group cut 13 songs in about 13 hours. SOURCE | SOURCE
July 4: Red Devils play Fourth of July gig at King King. SOURCE
July 13: Bruce Willis and The Red Devils perform at Planet Hollywood in New York City. SOURCE
July 25: The Backstreet Crawlers with Lester Butler at the Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE
July 28: “King King” released on Def American. SOURCE | SOURCE
Aug. 16: Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ (Allmans) SOURCE
Aug. 18: Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY (Allmans) SOURCE
Aug. 19: Great Woods, Boston, MA (Allmans) SOURCE
Aug. 21: Stowe Mountain PAC, Mt. Mansfield, VT (Allmans) SOURCE
Aug. 22: Regency Showcase, Springfield, MO SOURCE
Aug. 23: Coliseum, New Haven, CT (Allmans) SOURCE
Sept. 1: Classic Amphitheatre, Richmond, VA (Allmans) SOURCE | REVIEW
Sept. 2: Trask Coliseum, Wilmington, NC (Allmans) SOURCE
Sept. 4: Paladium @ Carowinds, Charlotte, NC (Allmans) SOURCE | REVIEW
Sept. 5: Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA (Allmans) SOURCE
Sept. 6: Spirit Fest, Kansas City, MO (Bob Dylan) SOURCE
Sept. 8: Yacht Club, Iowa City, IA SOURCE
Sept. 9: Maintenance Shop, ISU, Ames, IA SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 10: Ranch Bowl, Omaha, NB SOURCE
Sept. 12: Buffalo Rose, Denver, CO SOURCE
Sept. 13: Tattoo Club, Aspen, CO SOURCE
Sept. 14: Boulder Blues Fest (@ McCabe’s), Boulder, CO SOURCE
Sept. 17: Tree’s, Dallas, TX SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 18: The Coyote Club, Wichita, KS SOURCE
Sept. 19: River Valley Music Festival, Lawrence, KS SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 20: Starwood Amphitheatre, Charlie Daniels Jam, Nashville, TN SOURCE
Sept. 21: The Blue Bird, Nashville, TN SOURCE
Sept. 22: Off day SOURCE
Sept. 23: Off Broadway, St. Louis, MO SOURCE
Sept. 24: The Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN SOURCE
Sept. 27: Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, IL SOURCE
Sept. 29: Graffiti’s, Pittsburg, PA (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Oct. 1: Memorial Hall, Dayton, OH (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Oct. 3: Empty Glass, Charleston, WV SOURCE
Oct. 4: Leo Kottke, Red Devils, John Cale, Juliana Hatfield on “Mountain Stage” program, West Virginia Public Radio SOURCE | SOURCE
Oct. 8: Regency Showcase, Springfield, MO SOURCE
Oct. 12: Off day SOURCE
Oct. 13: Jake’s, Bloomington, IN SOURCE
Oct. 14: Sully’s Blues Bar, Dearborn, MI SOURCE | MORE + AUDIO
Oct. 15: Peabody’s DownUnder in The Flats, Cleveland, OH SOURCE
Oct. 16: Max’s On Broadway, Baltimore, MD SOURCE
Oct. 17: Off day SOURCE
Oct. 18: Bayou, Washington, DC SOURCE
Oct. 19: New York NY SOURCE
Oct. 22: Guitars and Cadillacs with Los Lobos, Kansas City, MO SOURCE
Oct. 23: Off day SOURCE
Oct. 24: Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OK (Los Lobos) SOURCE | SOURCE
Oct. 25: Off day SOURCE
Oct. 26: Rockefeller’s with Los Lobos, Houston, TX SOURCE
Oct. 27: Tippitina’s with Los Lobos, New Orleans, LA SOURCE
Oct. 28: The Varsity, Baton Rouge, LA (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Oct. 29: Off day SOURCE
Oct. 30: New Daisy Theater, Memphis, TN SOURCE
Oct. 31: TBA with Los Lobos, Tuscaloosa, AL SOURCE
Nov. 1: Off day SOURCE
Nov. 2: Florida theater with Los Lobos, Jacksonville, FL SOURCE
Nov. 3: Off day SOURCE
Nov. 4: Visage Theater with Los Lobos, Orlando, FL SOURCE
Nov. 5: Stephen Talkhouse with Los Lobos (2 shows), Miami, FL SOURCE
Nov. 6: Carefree Theatre, West Palm Beach, FL (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Nov. 7: Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, FL (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Nov. 8: Florida Theater with Los Lobos, Gainesville, FL SOURCE
Nov. 9: Off day SOURCE
Nov. 10: Myskyn’s, Charleston, SC (Los Lobos) SOURCE
Nov. 11: Spirit Square with Los Lobos, Charlotte, NC SOURCE
Nov. 12: Ziggy’s with Los Lobos, Winston-Salem, NC SOURCE
Nov. 13: Flood Zone with Los Lobos, Richmond, VA SOURCE
Nov. 14: Trax with Los Lobos, Charlottesville, VA SOURCE
Nov. 28: Texas Tornados and Red Devils at Slim’s in San Francisco. SOURCE
Nov. 30: Red Devils back at the King King club in Hollywood SOURCE
Dec. 1: Becker Amphitheater, Fullerton, CA SOURCE
Dec. 4: Red Devils record “Morning Becomes Eclectic” for KCRW, San Diego SOURCE
Dec. 4: Palomino Club, North Hollywood, CA SOURCE
Dec. 5: Ventura Theater, Ventura, CA (with Texas Tornados and The Convertibles). SOURCE
Dec. 7: “Morning Becomes Eclectic” featuring The Red Devils, KCRW, San Diego SOURCE
Dec. 7: Red Devils Monday King King gig. SOURCE
Dec. 10: The Belly Up, Solana Beach, CA (with the The Texas Tornados and D.D. Wood) SOURCE | SOURCE
Dec. 30: Bruce Willis and the Red Devils (joined by John Oates) at the China Club in Aspen, CO. SOURCE
Dec. 31: The Red Devils (with Larry “The Mole” Taylor on bass, and Mike “The Drifter” Flanigin on second guitar) at Jack’s Sugar Shack in Los Angeles. SOURCE
1993

Feb. 5: Town Pump club, Vancouver, BC SOURCE
Feb. 15: Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN (John Campbell) SOURCE
Feb. 19: Martini’s, Grand Rapids, MI (John Campbell) SOURCE
Feb. 20: Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON (John Campbell) SOURCE
Feb. 24: Sully’s Blues Bar, Dearborn, MI SOURCE
March 6: The Red Devils and Rumble at Caravan of Dreams, Fort Worth, Texas SOURCE
Late March: London Borderline gig. Mick Jagger watches from audience. A few nights later, Devils play Roberto’s in Chelsea. Jagger joins in then. SOURCE
April 1: Jagger jams with The Red Devils at Roberto’s London, performing “Checkin’ Up On My Baby” and “Who Do You Love” SOURCE
April 5: Red Devils at London’s Borderline. SOURCE
April 11: The Red Devils perform on “Euro MTV Most Wanted” SOURCE
April 29: The Red Devils at De Haagse Koninginnenacht, Den Haag, The Netherlands SOURCE
April 30: The Red Devils at Lantaarn Hellendoorn SOURCE
May 1: Red Devils perform live at the Moulin Blues Festival, Ospel, The Netherlands SOURCE
May 2: The Red Devils at Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands SOURCE
May 3: Red Devils perform live on “2 Meter Sessies,” Bullet Sound Studios in the Netherlands. SOURCE
May 30: Den Deel, Toornwerd, Netherlands SOURCE
May 31: Red Devils perform at Pinkpop Festival. Later that evening, they perform at Doornroosje, Nijmegen, Holland SOURCE
June 3: Red Devils at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, Scotland VIDEO
June 13: Red Devils play John Paul De Joria wedding. SOURCE
June 14: Red Devils play last gig at King King club. Smokey Hormel sits in. SOURCE
July 2: Mississippi Blues Fest at Le Claire Park, Davenport, Iowa SOURCE
July 4: Red Devils at Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, Ore.
July 7: Sully’s Blues Bar, Dearborn, MI SOURCE
July 9: Red Devils, two performances at Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Scène Labatt Blues and Spectrum de Montréal) SOURCE
July 10: Red Devils, two performances at Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Scène Labatt Blues and Spectrum de Montréal) SOURCE
July 16: Red Devils perform at Tower Records at Piccadilly Circus in London STORY & MUSIC
July 17: Red Devils at Phoenix Festival at Long Marston Airfield (Stratford-Upon-Avon). SOURCE | SOURCE
Summer: Paul Size quits band, goes back to Texas. Band plays series of festivals in Europe. SOURCE
Aug. 27: The Red Devils are the house band at the “Ciao Def” party for American Recordings dropping “Def” from its name, at Shatto 39 Lanes in Los Angeles. SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 5: Red Devils at Blues on the Rocks series in Colorado, with B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy and Eric Johnson SOURCE
Sept. 6: Red Devils (with Smokey Hormel replacing Paul Size) record with Johnny Cash at Ocean Way studios in Los Angeles. Immediately following the Cash sessions, the band recorded what would have been their sophomore album. “Blackwater Roll,” “She’s Dynamite” and “Louisiana Blues” were all tackled with guitarist Zach Zunis; it is assumed that this is the version of “Blackwater Roll” appearing on the 1994 EP of the same name. Author Dan Leroy also notes this was the last time the band would record with Lester Butler. SOURCE
Sept. 10: Red Devils perform two sets at San Diego Street Scene ’93 SOURCE
Nov. 10: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Gino Rock Club, Stockholm, Sweden SOURCE
Nov. 14: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Porgy & Bess, Terneuzen SOURCE
Nov. 15: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) + Albatros at The Effenaar, Eindhoven, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE | POSTER
Nov. 16: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Noorderlicht, Tilburg, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 17: Red Devils at Dutch VPRO radio 3 program: De Stompin’ Velden. SOURCE
Nov. 18: Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Zalen Schaaf, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov 19: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at private MOJO party, Tivoli, Utrecht SOURCE
Nov. 20: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Canix, Lottum, The Netherlands VIDEO | SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 21: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Vera, Groningen, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 22: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Nighttown, Rotterdam, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov 23: Off day
Nov. 24: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Stadsschouwburg, Sittard, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 25: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Paard, Den Haag, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 26: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Doornroosje, Nijmegen, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 27: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at De Lantaarn, Hellendoorn, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 28: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Tivoli, Utrecht, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 29: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 29: “Blackwater Roll” 10” single and CD EP released in UK. SOURCE
Dec. 1: The Red Devils (w/Zach Zunis) at The Garage, London SOURCE
Dec. 2: Canvey Island, Dr. Feedlgood’s Music Bar, UK SOURCE
Dec. 3: Leicester, Princess Charlotte, UK SOURCE
Dec. 4: Manchester, Solem University Bar, UK SOURCE
Dec. 5: Glasgow, King Tuts, UK SOURCE
Dec. 6: Newcastle, Riverside, UK SOURCE
Dec. 8: Birmingham, Breedon Bar, UK SOURCE
Dec. 9: Tunbridge Wells, Forum, UK SOURCE
Dec. 10: Sheffield University, UK SOURCE
Dec. 11: Bath, Moles, UK SOURCE
Dec. 12: The Red Devils open Planet Hollywood with Bruce Willis, Bloomington, Minn. SOURCE
Dec. 31: The Red Devils, New Year’s Eve at Jack’s Sugar Shack, Los Angeles, Calif. SOURCE
1994
Feb 23: The Accelerators (John Bazz, Kid Ramos, Steven Hodges, Lester Butler), Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE
April 22: The Red Devils and Aerosmith open Hollywood House of Blues SOURCE
May 6: The Viper Room, Los Angeles SOURCE
May 21: At the House of Blues, West Hollywood, CA, with The Blazers and C.C. Adcock. SOURCE
July 16: Red Devils at Phoenix Festival at Long Marston Airfield (Stratford-Upon-Avon). SOURCE
Sept. 3: Bluesrock Tegelen festival (Lonnie Mack, etc.) SOURCE
Sept. 4: Red Devils at Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands SOURCE
Sept. 6: Tivoli, Dinsdag SOURCE
Sept. 21: Red Devils at Blues on the Rocks series in Colorado, with B.B. King, Dr. John, Little Feat, and an All-Star Tribute to Muddy Waters SOURCE
Oct. 15: @ Jack’s Sugar Shack’s last show, with Thelonious Monster, Sister Double Happiness and more, Los Angeles, CA. SOURCE
Oct. 27: Lester and the Devils (Lester Butler, Kid Ramos, John Bazz, Stephen Hodges), Foothill club, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE
Nov. 19: Lester and the Devils (Lester Butler, Kid Ramos, John Bazz, Stephen Hodges), Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE
1995
March 24: “Lester Butler & the Devils” open for The Blasters at the House of Blues in L.A. Bruce Springsteen is in attendance. SOURCE | SOURCE
April 23: BeachFest in Long Beach, CA. The Blues Meisters: Phil Alvin, Top Jimmy, Lester Butler, James Intveld, Rick Vito and other L.A. roots musicians. SOURCE
June 31: Lester Butler and the Devils perform at the Blue Cafe in Long Beach, CA. SOURCE
July 1: Lester and the Devils, Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE | SOURCE
Nov. 22: Lester Butler, Guy Forsyth and the Radio Kings perform a Tribute to Little Walter at the Paradiso in Amsterdam SOURCE
Dec. 31: Red Devils play New Year’s Eve at Bar Deluxe, Los Angeles. SOURCE | SOURCE
1996
April 17: The Blue Shadows (“formerly The Red Devils”) with Lester Butler at Bar Deluxe, Los Angeles SOURCE
April 24: The Blue Shadows with Lester Butler at Bar Deluxe, Los Angeles SOURCE
April 26: Lester Butler & The Devils at Cafe Boogaloo, Hermosa Beach, Calif. SOURCE
April 27: The Blue Shadows with Lester Butler at Bar Deluxe, Los Angeles SOURCE
May 1: The Blue Shadows with Lester Butler at Bar Deluxe, Los Angeles SOURCE
May 4: Lester Butler at the Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE | SOURCE
May 8: The Blue Shadows with Lester Butler at Bar Deluxe, Los Angeles SOURCE
May 11: Lester Butler & 13, Cousin Lovers at Jack’s Sugar Shack, Hollywood, Calif. SOURCE
May 17: Lester Butler & 13 at Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE
June 1: Lester Butler (“This Way Up Records”), Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE | SOURCE
June 7: Lester Butler (“This Way Up Records”), Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE | SOURCE
June 7: Hook Herrera performs at the Chesterfield Cafe in Paris. Herrera and Lester Butler overlapped at some point in Paris, and Herrera performed with Butler and 13 at one of those performances. SOURCE
June 15: Lester Butler & 13 at Cafe Boogaloo, Hermosa Beach, Calif. SOURCE
June 30: Lester Butler & 13 at the Opium Den, Los Angeles SOURCE
July 12: Lester Butler & 13 at Cafe Boogaloo, Hermosa Beach, Calif. SOURCE
Aug. 21: The Blue Shadows, “formerly the Red Devils. Lester Butler on lead vocals and harmonica, Bill Bateman on drums, John Bazz on bass, plus special guests.” According to the link, the post-Devil Blue Shadows performed each Wednesday at The Ashgrove, Santa Monica, Calif. SOURCE
Aug. 24: Lester Butler at Blue Cafe in Long Beach SOURCE
Aug. 28: The Blue Shadows, The Ashgrove, Santa Monica, Calif. SOURCE
Sept. 18: Bo Diddley w/ Lester Butler & 13, House of Blues, West Hollywood, Calif. SOURCE
Oct. 11: Lester Butler & 13 at Cafe Boogaloo, Hermosa Beach, Calif. SOURCE
Nov. 10: Lester Butler at Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE
Nov. 15: Lester Butler at Blue Cafe in Long Beach SOURCE
Nov. 22: Lester Butler, Three Bean Salad and Trailer Park Casanovas at Jack’s Sugar Shack, Hollywood, Calif. SOURCE
Dec. 12: Hightone Records announces signing of 13 featuring Lester Butler for release in 1997.
Dec. 20: Lester Butler and Trailer Park Casanovas at Jack’s Sugar Shack, Hollywood, Calif. SOURCE
Dec. 22: Lester Butler & 13, Candye Kane at Blue Cafe, Long Beach, Calif. SOURCE
Dec. 28: House of Blues, Hollywood, CA. 10th Annual Little Walter Tribute featuring: Billy Boy Arnold, Lester Butler, King Ernest, Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson, Rusty Zinn and more. SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE
1997

March 18: “13 featuring Lester Butler” released. SOURCE
April 10: 13 record release party at Bar Deluxe in Hollywood SOURCE
May 7: Lester Butler & 13 at Blue Cafe in Long Beach SOURCE
May 23: Lester Butler (w/ John Bazz, James Intveld) at Cafe Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach, California SOURCE
June 6: 13 at Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ SOURCE
June 13: Snake Snake (Kid Ramos, Lester Butler, Willie J. Campbell and Stephen Hodges) at Blue Cafe in Long Beach SOURCE
June 23: 13 in the Braskoer on Terschelling SOURCE
June 24: 13 in Rotown in Rotterdam SOURCE
July 15: 13 at the Continental Club, Austin, TX SOURCE
July 22: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at Lynagh’s, Lexington, KY
July 23: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at the Wild Beet, Bloomington, IN
July 26: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN SOURCE
July 27: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at Grand Emporium, Kansas City, MO SOURCE
July 31: 13 (guitarist Enrico Crivellaro, drummer Eddie Clark and bassist Mike Hightower) at Brendan’s, Denver, CO SOURCE
Aug. 7: 13 at Boondocks Lounge, Tucson, AZ SOURCE
Aug. 8: 13 (listed as guitarist Alex Schultz, drummer James Intveld and bassist Mark Goldberg) at Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ SOURCE | SOURCE
Aug. 9: 13 (listed as guitarist Alex Schultz, drummer James Intveld and bassist Mark Goldberg) at Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ SOURCE | SOURCE (CONFLICT: Snake Snake (Kid Ramos, Lester Butler, Willie J. Campbell and Stephen Hodges) at Cafe Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach, CA SOURCE)
Aug. 16: 13 featuring Lester Butler at Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco SOURCE
Aug. 22: Lester Butler at Blue Cafe, Long Beach, CA SOURCE
Aug. 29: 13 at 7th South Blues Festival, Tamines, Sambreville, Belgium SOURCE | SOURCE CONFLICT: Snake Snake (Kid Ramos, Lester Butler, Willie J. Campbell and Stephen Hodges) at Hop City Blues & Brews, Anaheim, CA SOURCE
Sept. 5: 13 with Alex Schultz @ Paradiso, Amsterdam. SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 6: 13, Boogie Boy, Guy Forsyth, Sy Klopps and The Seatsniffers perform at a blues-rock festival in Tegelen, Limburg, the Netherlands. SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 7: 13 at Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 9: 13 at Tivoli, Utrecht, The Netherlands. SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 10: 13 at Nighttown, Rotterdam, Holland SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 11: 13 featuring Lester Butler Decision Dutch tour at the Lantern in Hellendoorn, the Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE
Sept. 13: 13 at Crossing Border festival, Den Haag, Netherlands FESTIVAL | STORY | SOURCE
Sept. 17-28: 13 at Chesterfield Cafe, Moscow SOURCE
Oct. 1-12: 13 at Chesterfield Cafe, Madrid SOURCE
Nov. 7: Snake Snake (Kid Ramos, Lester Butler, Willie J. Campbell and Stephen Hodges) at Hop City Blues & Brews, Anaheim, CA SOURCE
1998
Jan. 3: Lester Butler and 13 + Slackjaw Blues Band at The Mint in Los Angeles SOURCE
Jan. 8: 13 rehearsal at Yo Studios in Hollywood SOURCE
Jan. 9: “Low-down blues combo Lester Butler and 13” at Jack’s Sugar Shack, Hollywood SOURCE | SOURCE
Jan. 16: “Hightone recording artists Lester Butler and 13” at Cozy’s Bar and Grill, Sherman Oaks, California SOURCE | SOURCE
Jan. 29: 13 at Doornroosje, Nijmegen, Holland SOURCE | SOURCE
Jan. 30: 13 at Het Bolwerk, Sneek, The Netherlands SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE
Jan. 31: 13 with Poppa Chubby, Den Haag, Holland SOURCE
Feb. 1: Blues festival with 13 Featuring Lester Butler, Poppa Chubby, The Urn and Lamar Trice McQueen, Tilburg, Nijmegen, Holland SOURCE
Feb. 7: 13 featuring Lester Butler, Rhythm Room, Phoenix SOURCE | SOURCE
Feb. 8: Accident on I-10 in Palm Springs, California, 5 a.m. “Note this: Leaving the Rhythm Room we get into an accident. Alex drove separate.” SOURCE
Feb. 14: 13 (listed as guitarist Alex Schultz, drummer James Intveld and bassist Mark Goldberg) at Smokin’ Johnnies, Studio City, CA. SOURCE | ALT INFO. SOURCE
Feb. 20: Lester Butler and 13 at Cafe Boogaloo, Hermosa Beach SOURCE | SOURCE
Feb. 21: Lester Butler and 13 at Cozy’s Bar and Grill, Sherman Oaks, California SOURCE | SOURCE
Feb. 27: Lester Butler and 13 play blues, Hop City Blues and Brews, Anaheim SOURCE
March 3: Lester Butler, Eddie Clark, Chris Masterson and unknown bass rehearse “Business in the Streets” at Yo studios, Los Angeles. SOURCE
March 6: Lester Butler and 13 at Jack’s Sugar Shack, Hollywood SOURCE | SOURCE
March 7: “Lester Butler and 13 return” to the Mint, Los Angeles SOURCE | SOURCE
March 27: 13 at Blue Cafe, Long Beach, CA SOURCE | SOURCE
March 29: Lester Butler and 13 at 14 Below, Santa Monica SOURCE | SOURCE
April 3: Lester Butler and 13 at Cozy’s Bar and Grill, Sherman Oaks, California SOURCE
April 4: 13 featuring Lester Butler, Rhythm Room, Phoenix SOURCE | SOURCE
May 1: 13 feat. Lester Butler, Boogie Town Festival, Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium SOURCE | SOURCE | SOURCE
May 2: 13 at Moulin Blues Festival, Ospel, The Netherlands. This is Butler’s last concert; a DVD of the show is available. SOURCE
May 3: NoFightin.com reader Jeroen notes that Lester Butler sat in with the Paladins at a concert in de Effenaar in Eindhoven, NL; this gig has not been confirmed by nofightin.com. SOURCE
May 9: Lester Butler dies at age 38. SOURCE
2017
Feb. 10: The Red Devils announce on nofightin.com the first date of a planned summer 2017 reunion tour. Get the details here and follow along on NoFightin.com.

September 9, 1997: 13 at Tivoli, Utrecht, The Netherlands
It was a great show!
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Went to the Feb 15,’93 show at the Cabooze in Minneapolis. John Campbell was unable to perform that night,but the Devils put on an amazing show,one of the best I’ve ever seen at this venue.
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Thanks for the info, mahogma. Anything other details you remember about that show, let us know — we’d love to hear about it!
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Correction to 1988 & “Summer 1989” timeline: Bill Bateman & I started Blue Mondays at the King King together. I named the band the Blue Shadows after a great Dave Alvin-Blasters song. So, I didn’t join in the Summer of 1989, I was there the first night in ’88. Love your site. Very thorough to say the least.
Salute !
~ Jonny Ray Bartel
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Welcome aboard, Jonny, glad to have you here!
Thanks for the correction; we’ll get it fixed. We’ve tried to source everything on this site as best we can. But you can probably find all kinds of little fixes, because you were there!
Feel free to jump anytime. Take care.
J.J.
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I’m proud to say that I was in the audience back in ’88-89. These were some of the best shows around.
I arrived at this page from a Google search for the Blue Shadows after Chas Smith mentioned Jerry “Skeeter” Mascot in an old photograph of the Radio Ranch Straight Shooters. I mistakenly thought Skeeter had played bass in the Blue Shadows back in the day. It was Bill Bateman on drums. 30 years can muddle things a bit.
There were a lot of good times to be had back then. The Radio Ranch, The Blasters, The Blue Shadows, Trailer Park Casanovas and so many others. Thanks for this timeline, J.J. It brings back a lot of fond memories.
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Red Devils were the opening act at Pinkpop festival (the biggest annual festival in Holland) on May 31, 1993. See http://www.pinkpop.org/1993.htm. The text reads:
“De kick ass-rock & roll van The Red Devils krijgt de slaapdronken meute waarachtig al in beweging waarna een straalbezopen Bob Forrest, na bijna een doodsmak van het podiumdak te hebben gemaakt, conform de verwachting het optreden van Thelonious Monster naar de filistijnen helpt.”
or
“The Red Devils kick ass rock & roll veritably manages to get the sleepdrunk crowd in motion after which a p*ssed Bob Forrest, after nearly killing himself by falling off the stage roofing, meets expectations and ruins the Thelonious Monster gig.”
Later that evening, the Red Devils performed at Doornroosje, Nijmegen. I attended the concert myself, and I can confirm on behalf of the venue. You can add this gig to your timeline.
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28-01-1997 -> Hof Ter Loo in Antwerpen, Belgium.
07-11-1998 -> Madrid, Spain.
29-09-1997 -> Tamines Festival, Belgium
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@Jasper: Hey, I’ve not seen these dates before. Do you have fliers or links for them? Thanks!
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The March 24th 1995 date at House of Blues opening for The Blasters, I’m not sure if it’s correct. I know we performed at HOB on Sunset Strip the weekend it opened. Kid Ramos was on guitar, James Intveld on bass, myself on drums, and Lester on harp. The Hollywood Fats reunion band opened for us with Jr Watson on guitar, Fred Kaplan on Piano, Al Blake vocals and harp, and Richard Innes on drums. Don’t remember Springsteen being there but maybe. This would be the first inception of 13.
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@Johnny: Hope you’re doing good man! Have fun at the tribute gigs (we’ll be blogging on those soon).
Check here for the ticket stub for the 1995 HOB gig w/ The Blahsters: https://nofightin.com/2009/12/23/show-souvenirs/
Also, I’d been sitting on an article about the Hollywood HOB 1994 opening, so might as well get that one up, too: https://nofightin.com/2011/02/23/red-devils-open-house-of-blues-1994/
Would love to hear more about those early 13 shows sometime.
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Hey guys,
In the first place I want to say you made a brilliant site for the best bluesband and harmonica player in the last 4 decades ! Last time I saw Lester Butler perform live was in ’97 Nighttown Rotterdam , Holland. September 10th. The support act that night was Drippin’ Honey, a Dutch blues band influenced by The Paladins, Stevie Ray Vaughan and of course The Red Devils. The band’s lead guitar player/singer was Sander Kooiman and I thought the harmonica player was Kim Snelten. Listen to their first album called Drip Drip! and I think you’ll like it.
I’ll keep in touch,
Greetings from Martijn den Besten
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Hello again,
I can tell you that The Red Devils did a promotional instore gig at Tower Records, Picadilly Circus, London on friday 16th july 1993. I was on holiday with a friend of mine when we saw the announcement posters. We went there after first seen them on Pinkpop a couple of months earlier. Again we were completely blown away by them. There were about 25 people watching them in the corner of the basement. After the gig we talked for quite a long time with the guys and we had a good time with them.
Greetings,
Martijn den Besten, Holland
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@Martijn: Thanks for the info. You wouldn’t happen to have a flier or any pics from that gig you’d like to share?
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REGARDING FEBRUARY 14th 1998 SMOKIN’ JOHNNIE’S GIG:
The personel that night were Eddie Clark on Drums, Michael Hightower on Bass, and Dave Melton on guitar. Alex must have been out of town or something so I got the call. That was the last time I saw Lester. I have a tape….
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@Dave: Thanks for the info. I knew you’d done some gigs with Lester around that time, so glad to have the facts to add to the timeline. Hope you’re doing well.
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15/11/1993 The Effenaar, Eindhoven, Netherlands
http://www.effenaar.nl/agenda/2711
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Hi
Great site full of useful info
i’m Looking for a couple of exact dates from the Red Devils if anyone can help/
London BBC Maida Vale Studios 1993……..suggest around May
&
Morning Becomes Electric -KCRW Santa Monica
Also, One further addition to the timeline, and this will be a broaadcast date and not recording
London BBC Paul Jones Session 12th Aug 1993
Thanks in advance
John
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Hi John, thanks for the info. Don’t know anything about the Maida Vale 1993 show.
Morning Becomes Eclectic: The host mentions a gig for the Devils that would place the airdate for the show as Dec. 7, 1992. He also mentions the radio broadcast was recorded earlier, on Friday, which would put the recording at Dec. 4, 1992.
I have heard of the Paul Jones show, but know nothing else about it. Is there a link someplace? Thanks!
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Thanks JJ
I’ll see if I can get the two BBC shows up on on rapidshare or something as I have just transfered them from my old cassette tapes, they are not on the web…………Some of which came from Jasper( I had the Tower records original).
Here are my Devils
Allright !
Amsterdam Paradiso 2/5/93
Blackwater Roll (Single)
DEVILS / BUTLER LIVE COMPILATION
Geleen Pinkpop 31/5/93 Differen Source
Geleen Pinkpop 31/5/93 Part 1
Geleen Pinkpop 31/5/93 Part 2
Into the spirit
King King (Live)
Lester Butler Compilation
London BBC Paul Jones Session 12/8/93
London Borderline, 4/5/93
London Maida Vale Studios 1993
London MTV ” Most Wanted ” 11/4/93
London Tower Records 16/7/93
Mountain Stage 1992
Ospel Moulin Blues 1/5/93
Ospel Moulin Blues 1/5/93 Different Shorter Source
Portland Waterfront Blues Festival OR 4/7/93 PART 1
Portland Waterfront Blues Festival OR 4/7/93 PART 2
RCD – Classic Rock Collection Vol 9
Santa Monica “Morning Becomes Eclectic” KCRW CA
VPRO 2 Meter Sessions 3/5/93
VPRO 2 Meter Sessions 3/5/93 Source 3
VPRO radio 3 program: De Stompin’ Velden 17/11/93
VPRO Studio Session
The Famous Blues Sessions 5/92
Mean Old World – Blues Sessions Rematerd
More Blues Sessions
Please let me know if there is anything out there that I don’t know about
Regards
John
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It always comes back to Jasper!
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Hi there,
I am currently trying to find out which concerts of Red Devils and 13 I have seen. My first one was Pinkpop in may 1993. I am also sure about Tivoli Utrecht on 28 november 1993. Paul Size was replaced by Kid Ramos at that time. This was the best concert I’ve ever witnessed! Later in 1994 (3th of september) I saw them at the Bluesrock Festival in Tegelen, but I can’t rember who played in the band exactly. To much beer and Dutch sigarettes I guess… I tought that I saw 13 also three times, but after having contact today with Eddie Clark and Mark Goldberg I am not sure anymore. I am completely sure that I saw Lester play with Mark Goldberg on bass again in Tivoli Utrecht. In the timeline above I only find the concert on 28 november 1993 and later with 13 in 1997. Eddie Clark shows a filmrecording of that evening in 1997, but this is with Mike Hightower on bass. So…Red Devils played another time in Tivoli, and this concert isn’t mentioned in the timeline. Mark also told me that he played with Kid Ramos and probably Steve Hodges on drums. They also played in Paradiso (A’dam), in the city of Groningen and at least two other places he can’t remember. This is what I think: This was a tour in 1994, with Lester, Mark, Kid Ramos en Steve Hodges or Bill Bateman on drums. I can only find two concerts in Holland in september on the above timeline, but there were more! Who has the exact info? You J.J???
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Hey Frank. We are only putting dates in the timeline that we can verify. Otherwise there are too many sketchy memories!
I am quite sure Lester Butler did visit Europe etc. with some different lineups between the classic Red Devils and 13.
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Ha J.J. I think this is the only right way to separate facts and fiction. So..I am looking for ‘evidence’ hahaha. I already find some in form of posters. I’m gonna send these to you. Thamks for your reply!
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On april 30th 1993 – The Red Devils played De Lantaarn in Hellendoorn – please add to the list.
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New dates I can’t remember I have seen this before it is not on the Timeline: 4/12/93PGN06 THE RED DEVILS : BLACKWATER ROLL ADVERT 4X11″ LIVE DATES http://www.ebay.nl/itm/4-12-93PGN06-THE-RED-DEVILS-BLACKWATER-ROLL-ADVERT-4X11-LIVE-DATES-/262665710084?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:NL:3160
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5/6/93 PGN43 THE RED DEVILS : KING KING ALBUM ADVERT 4X11″ http://www.ebay.nl/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=201686291324&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:NL:3160
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Dear John Crooks,
I am trying to find you on facebook, but I can’t. I dis some serious resurch myself and want to talk about it with you. Please mail me on: f.verstappe@outlook.com Thanks!!
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Does anybody of you know John Crooks, who often left a comment here on Nofightin.com? And if so, how can I reach him? Contactinfo via PM please: f.verstappe@outlook.com
Thanks,
Frank Verstappe
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Sometime probably between the 20th and 24th of Feb 1993 shows they were suppose to open for John Campbell at HOB in Cambridge (Boston) I went but Lester, I guess, was to shit faced to do the show so they canceled. John did play tho. Side note: I was in Falmouth, MA.around 1997/8 and saw Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish (from Martha’s Vinyard) and I was playing pool and heard them do a R. D. Cover. I looked around the corner and saw it was Paul Size playing guitar. Lost my mind.
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