History

The Lightning Raiders formed in August 1977 with an original lineup featuring John Hodge (known as Little John) on guitar, Andy Allan on guitar/vocals, ex-Pink Fairies

Pink Fairies

Pink Fairies were an English rock band active in the London underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug taking and anarchy and often performed impromptu gigs and other agitprop stunts, such as playing for free outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight...

 Duncan ('Danger Sun') Sanderson on bass/vocals, Jorge Panchito on drums and Michael Wilding on sax.

In February 1978 ex-Pink Fairies drummer/singer Twink

Twink (musician)

John Charles Alder , better known as Twink, is an English drummer, singer and songwriter who was a central figure in the English psychedelic movement, and an actor.-Early life and career:...

 released an EP called "Do It '77" with the help of band members Sanderson and Hodge. Twink had already recorded his intended single with his regular band but "Chiswick Records didn't like the track and I jammed "Do It" with the Lightning Raiders, which they preferred." Sanderson recalled, "Twink came round my house and dragged me down the studio while I was still asleep one morning, and Little John Hodge just came along to deliver a guitar. Twink had us jam through "Do It", so we did it. Kid [Rogers (guitar)] and John hadn't even heard the flaming song before. At the end he jumps up and says 'That's it, thanks lads!' We didn't even know it was being taped!" Twink's comment on this was that "A second take of "Do It" is a contradiction in terms." The EP was credited to 'Twink & The Fairies'.

On March 31, 1980, a lineup including Little John Hodge on guitar, Andy Allan on Bass, Paul Cook

Paul Cook

Paul Thomas Cook is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band Sex Pistols.-Early life and career:...

 on drums, and Steve Jones

Steve Jones (musician)

Stephen Philip "Steve" Jones is an English rock guitarist, singer and actor, best known as guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...

 on guitar released a 7" single on Arista Records ("Psychedelic Musik" b/w "Views"). The two members of the Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...

 were never official members of the band - they were repaying a debt to Allan who played bass on the Sex Pistols single, "Silly Thing".

In the next lineup, formed in November 1980, Hodge and Sanderson were joined by Gass Wild on lead vocals (who later drummed with Johnny Thunders

Johnny Thunders

Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...

 and the Chrissie Hynde

Chrissie Hynde

Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...

 Band), Bruce Irvine on guitar (later with Sean Tyla

Sean Tyla

Sean Tyla is an English rock guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter, sometimes known as the “Godfather of Boogie”...

's Tyla Gang), and George Butler (ex-Kilburn & the High Roads) on drums.

In 1981 this lineup recorded the Will Reid Dick produced 12" EP for Island Records

Island Records

Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...

 (under the Revenge label), which included the songs "Sweet Revenge", "Rowdies", "Addiction", and "Soul Rescue". This was to be a preview of the forthcoming LP Sweet Revenge, but in December 1981 they were dropped by the label, making the soon deleted EP very rare.

This lineup was very popular on the club circuit, playing famous / infamous clubs such as Dingwalls

Dingwalls

Dingwalls is a venue adjacent to Camden Lock in London, England. It houses bars, cafes, clubs . The building itself is one of many industrial Victorian buildings that were put to new use in the 20th century. The original owner of the building, T.E...

, the Marquee Club

Marquee Club

The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....

, the Music Machine, The Venue and many more, often with support from heavy rock trio Killerhertz consisting of Hugo Mallett (guitar) Doug McArthur (bass) and former Chelsea

Chelsea (band)

Chelsea are an English punk rock band, formed in London in 1976.Three of the four original band members went on to help found Generation X. More than two decades after its release, "Right to Work", Chelsea's debut single, was included in Mojo magazine's list of the best punk rock singles of all...

 drummer Marc Rathbone. Another support act for the Raiders were long haired glam boys Kitsch (under the same management as the Raiders). Kitsch bass player Paul Raven went on to join London cult band, Killing Joke

Killing Joke

Killing Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...

. The Lightning Raiders along with Killerhertz and former Raider Andy Allen, (Andy Allens future) performed at the 1981 Stonehenge Free Festival

Stonehenge Free Festival

The Stonehenge Free Festival was a British free festival from 1972 to 1984 held at Stonehenge in England during the month of June, and culminating on the summer solstice on June 21. The festival was a celebration of various alternative cultures...

.

Hodge left the band in February 1982, though the remaining members continued for a time. Duncan Sanderson and George Butler played with Larry Wallis

Larry Wallis

Larry Wallis is a guitarist, songwriter and producer. He is best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.-Early bands:...

 in a series of bands during the early '80s, including reformations the Pink Fairies and the Deviants.

Singles

• 1980 – Psychedelic Musik b/w Views (Arista 341)
• 1981 – Criminal World b/w Citizens (Revenge Records REVS 200)

External links

• Punk 77 Lightning Raiders
• NWOBHM Lightning Raiders discography