* En anglais uniquement
Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were one of the main British pub rock groups of the early '70s, playing a laid-back yet rocking mixture of rock & roll, R&B, country, and folk. The band has its origins in a folk-rock duo formed by ex-Junior's Blues Band members
Martin Stone (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Phil "Snakefinger" Lithman (vocals, guitar, piano, lap steel, fiddle). Lithman moved to San Francisco in the late '60s, leaving
Stone to play with
Savoy Brown and
Mighty Baby. The duo reunited in the early '70s, recording Kings of Robot Rhythm with vocalist
Jo-Ann Kelly and various members of
Brinsley Schwarz. Kings was released in 1972; that same year, the duo expanded to a band, adding
Paul "Dice Man" Bailey (guitar, banjo, saxophone),
Paul Riley (bass), and drummer
Pete Thomas. During the next two years,
Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers became a popular live act in Britain. The full band released Bongos Over Balham in 1974, yet the record sold poorly and the band split in February 1975.
Thomas became the drummer for Elvis Costello's backing band,
the Attractions,
Riley played with
Graham Parker,
Bailey formed Bontemps Roulez, and
Stone played with
the Pink Fairies before quitting the music business. Lithman moved back to San Francisco where he began to work with his former associates,
the Residents, under the name
Snakefinger. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine