Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

CHILLI WILLI and the RED HOT PEPPERS

UK pub-rock group formed '72 by US expat Phil Lithman (vocals, guitar) and Martin Stone (guitar). Met early '60s in Junior's Blues Band; Lithman's roots were in country music and bluegrass, while Stone had worked with Rockhouse Band '64, Stones Masonry (two tracks on Immediate label sampler), Savoy Brown, Mighty Baby and Uncle Dog; together again to make LP Kings Of Robot Rhythm '72 for shortlived Revelation label: backing incl. Bob Andrews, Billy Rankin and Nick Lowe from Brinsley Schwarz; they then formed Chilli, recruiting Paul 'Dice Man' Bailey, banjo, guitar, sax; Paul Riley, bass; Pete Thomas, drums. Soon a busy outfit playing Lithman's cheery, undemanding country rock. Made Bongos Over Balham '74 for Mooncrest, whose demise together with LP's poor sales made it an instant collectors' item; the band settled for status as stalwart pub-rockers like Ducks Deluxe, Brinsley, etc filling small venues regularly. Manager Jake Riviera (later founder of Stiff label with Dave Robinson) organized '75 package tour with Kokomo, Dr Feelgood; latter band broke through to national fame but Willi's music seemed derivative (resembling that of Commander Cody or the Flying Burrito Brothers), lacking the visual appeal of Feelgood's Wilko Johnson as a stage act. They split '75; Stone continued a nomadic career, joining Pink Fairies, having old Stones Masonry track ('Jump For Joy') on sampler A Bunch Of Stiffs '77; back in USA Lithman emerged '80s as Snakefinger on the Residents' Ralph label with experimental electronic music; Riley sessioned with Dave Edmunds, Kirsty MacColl, etc; Riley, Bailey played on early Graham Parker demos. After USA work with country-rocker John Stewart, Thomas joined Elvis Costello's Attractions. Chilli's records were later sought after because of their notoriety as part of the scene that threw up punk/new wave; at the time you couldn't give them away. I'll Be Home '97 on Proper Records compiled 19 previously unavailable tracks.