RIP Drake Levin (Paul Revere & the Raiders' guitarist)

[lennon211]

http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.s ... s_dra.html

The Raiders' were a great band and before the classic lineup parted ways in '67, they made some excellent music. Essential listening would be the Midnight Ride album, IMO.

[brammy]

Drake Levin, "Fang", "Smitty", Mark Lindsay, Paul Revere

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.

[lennon211]

My fault on some of my post being incorrect. Thanks for the info. Sometimes it's difficult to keep liner notes in my head, what with all of the empty space for them to hide.

[winston]

What a few weeks. Famous and not so famous artists are dropping like flies.

[Danotron]

The song "Kicks" has a great guitar riff.

[doctorwho]

They were a good band. Sorry to hear the news.

[kiramdear]

I never missed "Where The Action Is". Thanks, Drake.

[ram]

Another departure... man . I guess at some point life starts taking away more than it gives - not there yet but these are maybe some of the first signs.

'Where the Action is' was fun, as was Paul Revere and the Raiders. RIP Drake.

[shamustwin]

Their songs stand up well today. RIP Drake.