Lester
Butler (November 12, 1959 – May 9, 1998) was an American blues
harmonica player and singer. He achieved fame as the singer and
harmonica player for the Los Angeles, California, based blues roots
band, The Red Devils. The Red Devils (originally known as The Blue
Shadows) released one album, 1992's King King. It was produced by Rick
Rubin on his Def American record label. The group featured drummer Bill
Bateman (The Blasters), Dave Lee Bartel on guitar, Paul Size on lead
guitar, Johnny Ray Bartel on bass, and pianist Gene Taylor. The Red
Devils recorded 22 tracks with Mick Jagger in June 1992, produced by
Rubin, though the tracks were not issued at the time (they have since
cropped up on various bootlegs, and one track was officially released on
a Mick Jagger compilation on Rhino Records in 2007). The band also
backed actor and sometime musician Bruce Willis, when the action star
performed at his Planet Hollywood clubs.
The
Devils also backed Johnny Cash on music that was not released until the
country singer's death, on the boxed set Unearthed. Butler also played
on Rancid's 1998 album Life Won't Wait. After the breakup of The Red
Devils, Butler also fronted the band, 13, releasing one self-titled
record on Hightone Records in 1997. The original members of 13 included
Kid Ramos on guitar, James Intveld on bass, and Johnny Morgan on drums.
The recorded release of 13 on Hightone Records and produced by Warren
Croyle features Stephen Hodges and Johnny Morgan on drums, Tom Leavey
and James Moore on bass, Andy Kaulkin on keyboards, Alex Schultz, Smokey
Hormel, Paul Bryant, and Doug Hamlin on guitar. Butler achieved his
greatest fame in Europe, especially the Netherlands, where the Lester
Butler Tribute Band still performs. Butler died of an overdose of heroin
and cocaine on May 9, 1998, in Los Angeles at the age of 38. Two of his
friends were convicted in his death of involuntary manslaughter.
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