Red Rockers
Another request, someone asked for some Red Rockers so long ago that I can’t even find the email. Sorry about that. This is the first single from the San Francisco via New Orleans band named after a Dils song. Released in 1980 before the move west, Guns of Revolution contains 3 melodic, Clash inspired tracks. Their 1981 LP Condition Red (*hint* click link for tracks) is more of the same. The general consensus among punk purists suggests the band’s later major label material (most of which I haven’t heard, to be fair) is a big watered down yawn. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Red Rockers - Guns of Revolution.mp3
Red Rockers - Teenage Underground.mp3
Red Rockers - Nothing To Lose.mp3
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Good gear doc sausage..thanx:)
thanks Eric for this eye opening post…I grew up loving the track ‘dead heroes’ off the comp. ‘rodney on the roq #2′ those where great comps. still got ‘em but forgot about them till i saw this post!
My first “punk” concert in 1980. Saw them open for The Ramnones at The Warfield in San Francisco. Great album and thanks for posting it. My record is wrecked and now I have the tracks again. Thanks!!!!!!!
Man, I love this record. But I haven’t heard it since my stereo crapped out. Thanks.
Great post. I loved this band during their pre new wave era. I remember a friend of mine recommending the Condition Red LP to me at a record store one day. We never saw it anywhere again. It was almost 15 years before I would spot a used on in Taang Records in San Diego (pre eBay era).
Now if I could only find the track from the No Questions No Answers comp!
I don’t think “Condition Red” has aged too well but it’s still better than their execrable major label records. I saw them in Boston in early ‘82, shortly after “Condition Red” came out That single is great.. thanks for posting it.
trivia: Darren Hill, their bass-player, moved to this area and managed/manages (not sure what the deal is now) the Dropkick Murphys.
that was me requesting the red rockers…thanks for another good trip down memory lane.
had this and The Left on a cassette until it wore out. Now, with the previous Left post, I’m back in action. Speaking of The Left, any word on that comp of all their stuff coming out? I never did come across
“Last Train to Hagerstown”
great post!
Wow. I had never heard anything by this band, but this is great stuff. I’m really digging the vocals most of all. Thanks for the history lesson!
Their waterdowned Major Label Single was “China” catchy but so not anything like this stuff.
John Thomas Griffith was the singer for the Red Rockers. His latest claim to fame is as one of the trio of singers in New Orleans’ Cowboy Mouth, trading turns on the mic with frontman/drummer Fred LeBlanc, and co-guitarist Paul Sanchez. The Griff, as they call him now, as opposed to Stunn from the early Red Rockers records, has a his own website “johnthomasgriffith.net” that I am sure will disappoint long-time fans of the Red Rockers’ punk days.
I grew up in New Orleans and became a fan of the Red Rockers after their move the San Francisco. I wore a Condition Red t-shirt over the years as a teenager despite their complete obscurity in their hometown. No one I knew seemed to know of them until MTV brought their video of “China” to the masses with cable. One of my friends, of chinese descent, and his younger brother claimed they were in the video, parts of which were shot in French Quarter locales. They had done this in ‘82 or ‘83 and never said anything about it until he saw me wearing my t-shirt one day in 11th grade ‘85. I recorded the video from MTV’s 120 Minutes, and sure enough, he was telling the truth.
They released three studio albums, the aforementioned “Condition Red,” and two non-punk albums, “Good As Gold,” and “Schizophremic Circus.” I think each album is great, but I am a true fan. They just got stuck in that New Romantic 80s thing like Rank and File, some of which is still great Rock-N-Roll. Check out their later stuff. It’s all on one cd and surely worth $15. The critics are correct to pan the singles, but wrong to discredit the albums. They are compiled on one cd and worth every penny.
The Red Rockers reunited for a one night only performance at this past year’s Voodoo Music Festival after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the gulf coast. I did not attend, and have not seen any reviews or recordings.
Hi, any chance of posting The Red Rockers “Til It All Falls Down” if you have it ….thanks.