Original bassist Phil "Fang" Volk currently tours with his own band, "Fang and the Gang"; Jim Valley continues to perform and hone his songwriting skills; Guitarist Drake Levin performs in the San Francisco Bay Area; Mike Smith died in 2001 at the age of 59. Keith Allison, who played in the Raiders from 1968 to 1975 has since gone into acting and appeared in the film "Gods and Generals."
The modern-day Raiders are still creating mayhem in their sold-out shows, most regularly in Branson, MO, now through October 2009 at the Moon River Theatre.
A steady touring schedule has kept Paul and his "new Raiders" in the public eye. Righteous Brothers Bill Medley's son, Darrin Medley, also sings, and has been performing with Paul Revere & the Raiders.
On October 13, 2007 Paul Revere & the Raiders were officially inducted, along with their Manager Roger Hart, into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, attended by Mark Lindsay, Phil "Fang" Volk, and Roger Hart.
Paul Revere and the Raiders Official Website
Mark Lindsay Official Website
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Hot Chart Singles 1965-1971
BB-Billboard, CB-Cash Box
Steppin' Out (BB #46, CB #58) 1965
Just Like Me (BB #11, CB #16) 1965
Kicks (BB #4, CB #3) 1966
Hungry (BB #6, CB #10) 1966
Great Airplane Strike (BB #20, CB #17) 1966
Good Thing (BB #4, CB #5) 1966
Ups And Downs (BB #22, CB #19) 1967
Him Or Me, What's It Gonna Be (BB #5, CB #9)
/ Legend of Paul Revere 1967
I Had A Dream (BB #17, CB #14) 1967
Io Sogno Te (I Had A Dream) 1967
Peace Of Mind (BB #42, CB #35) 1967
Rain, Sleet, Snow 1967
Too Much Talk (US #19, CB #11) 1968
Don't Take It So Hard (BB #27, CB #21) 1968
Cinderella Sunshine (BB #58, CB #47) 1968
Mr Sun, Mr Moon (BB #18, CB #15) 1969
Let Me (BB #20, CB #16) 1969
We Gotta All Get Together (BB #50, CB #25)
In mid-1967, with three gold albums to their credit, Paul Revere and the Raiders were Columbia Records' top-selling rock group. Their Greatest Hits LP included "Kicks" (Billboard Pop Chart #4), "Him or Me - What's It Gonna Be?" (#7), "Good Thing" (#5), "Hungry" (#5), and "Great Airplane Strike" (#20). "Kicks" became their best-known song, with its anti-drug message originally written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil for Eric Burdon and the Animals. From the heartland of America, Boise, Idaho, the Raiders originally started as a instrumental rock combo led by organist Paul Revere. In his early twenties, Paul already owned several restaurants in Idaho and first met singer Mark Lindsay (of Eugene, Oregon) while picking up burger buns from a bakery where Lindsay was working. Mark joined Revere's band in 1958; originally called the Downbeats, they changed their name to Paul Revere & The Raiders in 1960 on the eve of their first record release "Like, Long Hair" for a Northwestern regional label.
"Like, Long Hair" peaked at #38 on the Billboard charts in April 1961, giving them national exposure. When Revere was drafted for military service, he became a conscientious objector and worked at a mental institution for a year-and-a-half of deferred service as a cook, while Mark Lindsay pumped gas in Wilsonville, Oregon. Lindsay, on the strength of their Top 40 hit, toured the U.S. in the Summer of 1961 with a band that featured Leon Russell filling in for Revere on piano.
By 1962, Paul Revere and the Raiders included Revere, Lindsay, drummer Mike Smith, guitarist Drake Levin and bassist Mike "Doc" Holliday, who was replaced in early 1965 by Phil Volk. Mike "Smitty" Smith spent two long periods with the band.
1965 marked the beginning of a string of garage rock classics under the guidance of producer Terry Melcher, the son of actress and singer Doris Day. Their national hit, "Just Like Me" was one of the first rock records to feature a double-tracked guitar solo by guitarist Drake Levin.
Paul Revere and the Raiders became America's response to the on-going 60s British Invasion, dressed in Revolutionary War soldier-style uniforms, performing madcap slapstick comedy and synchronized dance moves. Mark Lindsay carried the theme a bit further by growing his hair out and pulling it back into a ponytail, which has become his signature look. This farcical, cartoonish image obscured the proto-hard rock sound that their music often took.
The band appeared each afternoon on ABC television's "Where the Action Is," as well as their own shows "Happening '68," and "It's Happening," co-hosted by Paul Revere and Mark Lindsay. Drake Levin left the group in 1966 to join the National Guard, and was replaced by Jim Valley, another Northwest musician the Raiders had met and come to admire during their days playing the Portland and Seattle circuit. Valley was dubbed "Harpo" by the other Raiders due to a vague resemblance to the famous harp-playing Marx Brother.
Mark Lindsay had some success with such songs as "Arizona" (Billboard #10, a gold single) and "Silverbird" (Billboard #25) in 1970. He recorded "Indian Reservation" as a solo recording, but the decision was made to release the song under the name "The Raiders" and it went on to be the only number one song in the group's history. He continued to chart solo singles throughout 1970-71. Lindsay kept a high profile appearing on The Carpenters television show "Make Your Own Kind of Music," as well as singing film theme songs, "Something Big" and "Jody," from "Santee, "1973, which was credited to "The Raiders."
Drake Levin Jim Valley Mark Lindsay
Jim Valley Mark Lindsay
Once again, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame foundation don't get it:
If Paul Revere & the Raiders aren't a classic, American rock 'n' roll band ... who is? In the 60s, they weren't a gritty New York band, nor an airy West Coast band. They were America's band.
They were "where the action is" ... cute, wild-zany, unpredictable, influencial and musicians who could actually sing!
Paul Revere & the Americans are America's Boy Band. Period.
Smitty, Drake, Mark, Phil, Paul
'Like, Long Hair" - Barber shop harmony
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The
Long and
Winding Road
of Drake Levin
When Drake Levin played lead guitar with Paul and the Raiders, he and bass guitarman Phil Volk would pull-off a showstopper: "Drake on top of the left speaker and Phil on right speaker ... dancing!" Those guys could and would dance plus play their instruments with superb results. Drake and Phil would dance on the speakers and play guitars behind their heads at the same time!
Many guitarists can't play at that level without even playing behind their heads! Once when they were performing at the Spanish Castle, a then- unknown Jimi Hendrix was in the audience, watching and learning from Drake. This was in 1963 or 1964 before Jimi made it big. Drake was obviously an influence to the guitar playing and showmanship of many musicians. Paul Schaefer of "The Late Show with David Letterman" is a fan.
Drake was with Paul Revere & the Raiders starting in 1963 and on into '67. While he was in the National Guard he would come
to record with them in the studio and even fill in for Phil Volk during a couple of concerts, playing the bass. Drake, Smitty and Phil left the Raiders in 1967 to form The Brotherhood.
Following a stroke in '97, Drake came back in 1998-89 and
Drake checks his fan mail while serving in the National Guard, 1966
Jeff, Drake's younger brother, shared with me how his brother has just won his third major battle with cancer. "Drake has a remarkable spirit, an inspiring will to survive. He is an amazing survivor, having been through so much."
"It breaks my heart he has had such serious illnesses. He is recovering from the most recent battle with cancer, and to recover he needs to have a steady diet of Ensure, which helps the body replenish necessary strength that the cancer had stolen. "
On July 4, 2009, Drake Levin, the youngest of the The Raiders, died in San Francisco, at the age of 62.
Drake last appeared at a reunion with the Raiders in Portland in 1997, thrusting him onstage with Mark Lindsay, Phil “Fang” Volk, and Mike “Smitty” Smith. He was known in the San Francisco area as an outstanding blues guitarist. He recently finished what was to be a great solo album, not yet released.
Drake leaves behind his wife Sandra and two sons.
This page was last updated: June 10, 2010
performed his solo song "Just Like Me," flawlessly duplicating in person the same fantastic double-tracked studio sound. That is amazing!
"Get It On" written by Phil "Fang" Volk and Drake Levin, from the CD by Fang and the Gang titled "Fang Reveres the Raiders"
To Order: Fang & the Gang Website
