Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were a British pub rock band in the first half of the 1970s.
Band history
The group emerged from the folk-rock duo Martin Stone (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Phil "Snakefinger" Lithman (vocals, guitar, piano, Hawaiian guitar, fiddle), both of whom were formerly with "Junior's Blues Band". In the late 1960s, Lithman moved to San Francisco and Stone played with Savoy Brown and Mighty Baby .
The duo appeared again in the early 1970s and recorded the album Kings of the Robot Rhythm with Jo Ann Kelly and some musicians from Brinsley Schwarz , which was released in 1972. In the same year the group grew to include Paul "Dice Man" Bailey (guitar, banjo, saxophone), Paul Riley (bass) and Pete Thomas (drums).
For the next two years Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were a popular live band in the UK. In 1974 they brought out the album Bongos Over Belham , which sold only moderately. In February 1975 the group broke up.
Thomas became the drummer in Elvis Costello's band , The Attractions. Riley played with Graham Parker , Bailey formed the band Bontemps Roulez, and Stone played with the Pink Fairies before retiring from the music business. Lithman went back to San Francisco and performed with his former musicians, The Residents , under the new name "Snakefinger".
Discography
Albums
- 1972: Kings of the Robot Rhythm (Revelation)
- 1974: Bongos Over Balham (Mooncrest Records)
- 1996: I'll Be Home (Proper Records, compilation)
- 2010: The Amazing ZigZag Concert (Road Goes on Forever Records, 5-CD box with various bands and musicians, recorded on April 28, 1974 in the Roundhouse , London )
Singles
- 1975: Breathe A Little (Mooncrest Records)
Web links
- Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers at Allmusic (English)
- Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers at Discogs (English)