Good Technology exhibition and ale now open in the St Johns Hotel in Hull! If you’re in the area pop in for a pint of (most excellent!) Good Technology vegan ale, brewed by Docks Beers, Grimsby, and have a look at Rich’s exhibition of landscape photographs from the video shoot. Part of Humber Eco Fest, you can visit the exhibition until Nov 11th, in the St Johns courtyard, open daily 12 noon til’ 11 pm. Cheers buddies!
First pints of Docks Beers’ Good Technology ale photos by Richard Duffy-Howard
Adie Martin, landlord of the St Johns Hotel pulls the first pint. Photo by Humber Eco Fest organiser Alan RawSt Johns Hotel, home of Dock Beers’ Good Technology Ale. Photo by Alan Raw
St Johns Hotel Courtyard, Queens Road Hull, HU5 2PY. 22 Oct – 11 Nov. Open daily 12 noon til 11 pm
Red Guitars Good Technology 2023 Exhibition and Ale
Exciting news! Docks Beers have brewed a special limited edition Good Technology ale especially for the Good Technology exhibition which opens in the courtyard of the St Johns Hotel, Queens Rd, Hull, on 22nd October.
Part of Humber Eco Fest, the exhibition of Richard Duffy-Howard’s photographic landscapes taken during the filming of Red Guitars 40th anniversary video shoot of their first single runs until 11th November.
Visit the exhibition and get there in time for a pint of Good Technology – cheers!
Richard explains: “The photographs were taken during the filming of Red Guitars’ 40th anniversary video of their first single, Good Technology. It was a fantastic opportunity to explore a different world, and document some incredible landscapes that change and shift constantly.”
In 1983 the song prophesied the power of the internet, social media, reality TV, and the fast food industry. Predicting a dystopian future of environmental catastrophe and an ever more grotesque arms industry, the lyrics are more relevant today than ever. Although the exhibition’s images depict the enormity of scrap metal waste in a northern town, the juxtaposition is positive – of the need, and increasing awareness, to recycle, re-use and re-purpose.
Visit the exhibition at the St Johns Hotel, Queens Road, Hull and in collaboration with Docks Beers Grimsby enjoy a special limited edition pint of Red Guitars’ ‘Good Technology’ vegan friendly ale.
Will Douglas, Director of Docks Beers & Docks Academy said “It’s been fantastic to help Red Guitars celebrate this anniversary and to be part of Humber Eco-fest. We’ve loved working on the Good Technology beer as it is closely aligned with what we are doing in Grimsby. Docks Beers has its own independent grassroots live music venue – Docks Academy. Since opening in 2020 we have been striving to bring good music, good beer and good times to Humberside while at the same time looking at ways we can improve the sustainability of our beer. We are proud to be part of this celebration of the independent grassroots projects, people and places who are starting to make a difference to the planet.”
Richard continues: “We visited the St Johns after the filming and I learnt that the pub had been a regular haunt of the band since the 1980s and the courtyard provides a perfect exhibition space. It’s been great to work with Adie, the landlord at the St Johns.”
Adie says: “There’s nothing better than finding a favourite spot at your local. Whether you stand at the bar for a chat or prefer settling into a comfy chair with a pint, you’ll find everything you need at the St Johns Hotel in Hull. Come along for the catch ups, the familiar faces and maybe some friendly competition. What’ll it be – the usual?”
Yes please, I’ll have a pint of Good Technology.
Open 12 noon – 11pm daily, free entry
Part of Humber Eco Fest: tackling climate change and protecting biodiversity.
Watch the (epic!) new video
Red Guitars at the St. Johns
EVENT:Good Technology – Photographs by Richard Duffy-Howard. 22 Oct – 11 Nov.
St Johns Hotel Courtyard, Queens Road Hull, HU5 2PY. Free Entry.
Photographic landscapes taken during filming of Red Guitars’ 40th anniversary video of their first single, Good Technology.
Wow, that was a hot one! We had a brilliant time, playing for two hours – a set of favourites and three new songs – to a sold out full house on the hottest night of the year. What an atmosphere!
Thanks to everyone who came along, sang along and jumped about at our Good Technology 2023 launch gig at O’Rileys, Hull. It was a whirlwind and we had a fantastic night. Thanks to Terra Fin for a superb set opening the show, Jeff Parsons on the SP404, and to Darren and the team at O’Rileys.
And a big thanks to everyone in the audience, especially all who travelled to Hull from far and wide for making it a fantastic night to remember!
Photos by Richard Duffy-Howard
Red Guitars are:
Jeremy Kidd vocals, Hallam Lewis lead guitar, John Rowley rhythm guitar, Lou Duffy-Howard bass, and Matt Higgins drums. Thanks to guest guitarist Jos Allen.
Look out for UK tours dates coming soon.
Good Technology 2023 Order Now! June 24th marks 40 years since Good Technology was released. Low stock remaining – limited edition red vinyl 12” extended remix to celebrate the anniversary. Info and pre-order at the link: https://redguitars.co.uk/goodTech12inch.html
“Just listening to a pre-release copy of Red Guitars extended 2023 remix of ‘Good Technology.’ And I don’t believe what I’ve heard. By a country mile, one of the greatest pieces of music I’ve heard in YEARS.” London Peaky Webzine
Feast your eyes on all nine and a half minutes of the brand new video which accompanies the extended re-mixed and augmented edition of Red Guitars number 1 Indie hit Good Technology – originally released 40 years ago to the day.
Good Technology 2023 – brand new video released today!
Feast your eyes on all nine and a half minutes of the brand new video which accompanies the extended re-mixed and augmented edition of Red Guitars number 1 Indie hit Good Technology – originally released 40 years ago to the day.
“Just listening to a pre-release copy of Red Guitars extended 2023 remix of ‘Good Technology.’ And I don’t believe what I’ve heard. By a country mile, one of the greatest pieces of music I’ve heard in YEARS.” London Peaky
Info:
The band are issuing a limited edition of 500, red vinyl, 12” extended remix to celebrate the anniversary.
Release Date: June 24th 2023 Track Listing: A: Good Technology 2023 Fact (Remix) AA: Good Technology 2023 (Extended Mix)
Remixed by John Rowley Good Technology, words and music by Stuart Ross, arranged by the Red Guitars
Good Technology 40th anniversary party – SOLD OUT
The Good Technology release party will be followed by a newly commissioned video and the band are planning a UK tour later in the year.
Red Guitars talking heads feature in last month’s Record Collector magazine. Thanks to Tim Naylor for the questions, we had fun with the answers
Politically charged 1980s indie stalwarts and proud citizens of Hull, Red Guitars are back to celebrate 40 years in the business.
Red Guitars: Jeremy Kidd – vocals, Hallam Lewis – lead guitar, John Rowley – rhythm guitar, Lou Duffy-Howard – bass, Matt Higgins – drums
What film could Good Technology soundtrack?
Matt: Threads.
Hallam: The latest Chat GPT promo video.
JR: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
What is planned for Red Guitars fortieth anniversary celebrations?
JR: A red vinyl 12″ remix, a terrific gig in front of our home crowd, and a few surprises!
Matt: Lots of fun, nostalgia and also new stuff.
You’ve re-recorded Good Technology and Fact for a limited 12” single – any other plans in the pipeline for recording?
JR: The new material is sounding fantastic and we’ll start recording tracks for the new album very soon.
Is there anything unissued and languishing in the vaults?
JR: There are some old songs but they have curses put on them and must never see the light of day.
Matt: There is, but some of it needs to stay there!
What have the various band members been up to in the intervening decades?
Hallam. Languishing in the vaults
Lou: Rockin’ in the free world.
JR: Mostly International banking and the weapons industry
Matt: Too embarrassing to mention.
As one of the most successful independent bands in the mid-eighties would you rather be a big fish in the indie pond or an aspiring act on a major label?
Hallam. Big fish – the illusion of success is preferable.
JR: Is always good when you’ve never really made it. Your credibility remains high.
Lou: The former with the possibility of an exciting future over the horizon.
Who are your favourite indie bands or artistes from the last few years?
Hallam. Michael Kiwanuka’s ‘Cold Little Heart’ was one of my fave tracks from the last decade or so.
JR: Ren stands head and shoulders above most things Ive heard in a long while. I still listen to local musicians. Bitmap are very good and deserve more exposure.
Lou: Gina Birch has a brilliant new single out. Bob Wayne, The Yawpers, North Mississippi Allstars, nearly everything on Fat Possum.
Matt: I love a band I heard recently called The Lathams.
The eighties were turbulent and political themes infused your work … if Red Guitars were starting out today, what would be grinding your gears?
JR: Jesus Christ! Where to begin? We thought Thatcher was crap!
Lou: The same, unfortunately.
Kier Starmer asks to borrow Good Technology as his walk-on music for a major conference speech… do the ayes or the nays have it?
Hallam: It’d be an ‘Aye’ from me – literally anything to rid ourselves of the current lot.
Lou: ‘Aye’ if he selects Jeremy Corbyn for Islington North.
JR: I’ll refer you back to the question about credibility.
Matt: Probably not.
Collaborations are all the rage – who would Red Guitars like to work with?
Matt: With the Matt Higgins band on his new triple album with the London Philharmonic and Rick Wakeman.
What were you listening to when you started out in the early 80s?
JK: As a teenager I was an avid reader of Zigzag magazine. John Tobler lived across the road from my school in Knaphill. Consequently I became a big fan of the British “pub rock” bands like Graham Parker and the Rumour, Kilburn and the High Roads and Bees make Honey as well as American West Coast bands like Clover, Love and Quicksilver Messenger Service. The Zigzag Fifth Anniversary concert at the Roundhouse in 1974 was amazing and certainly inspired me join a band myself.
JR: We all had very diverse musical tastes. I think that comes across in our material. It’s what made the band so special.
Lou: Velvet Underground and Hal’s Soweto compilation.
Matt: Public Image, The Clash, and of course, Sonya.
What was the last album you bought?
JR: Bob Log III, Log Bomb.
Lou: Hespèrion XXI – Codex Las Huelgas.
Hallam: Lost in the mists of time.
What was the first record you bought?
Hallam: Black Sabbath – the ‘Paranoid’ album
Lou: Ride a White Swan
Jeremy: The McCartney penned “World Without Love” by Peter and Gordon. It was a duff pressing and I had to take it back to Maxwell’s on the corner of Heathside Road and Station Approach in Woking.
JR: Kaiser Bill’s Batman by Whistling Jack Smith. Banging tune!
Matt: Joe Cocker With a Little Help From My Friends
Does anyone in the Red Guitars actually own a red guitar? And if yes, what?
They all have to be red. It’s stipulated in the band contract. Page 24 subsection 9.
Hal: Proud owner of cherry red Gibson 335, with P90s.
JR: Mine is a Gretsch Electromatic.
Jeremy: A 1964 Hofner Verithin, which I’ve had since 1982.
Lou: My orange Mustang bass has red go faster stripes.
Matt: I do & I can play it, unlike the likes of Lewis & Rowley who just twang. Who do you think REALLY played in the studio?
Red Guitars video shoot photo by Richard Duffy-Howard
In 1983 we went into Fairview Studio, owned by Keith Herd, where we recorded all our singles and album Slow to Fade. This was so exciting for all of us – a life changing time. Yesterday, 40 years on we had a lovely afternoon with Keith – a great catch up over pizza and cake in his garden in the sunshine. Here we are in Keith’s mastering studio, where we listened to music and looked through the original 1983 studio diary.
Whenever anyone in the music biz wanted to meet up we always invited them up to Hull. We spotted visits from Arista and Brian Morrison & Dick Leahy in the diary. Needless to say we weren’t impressed by any of them. The 40th anniversary remix of Good Technology is released on our own Self Drive label.
Good Technology 2023 – pre order your copy now!
June 24th marks 40 years since Good Technology was released. We are issuing a limited edition red vinyl 12” extended remix to celebrate the anniversary. A radio edit and remix of second single “Fact” is included along with a digital download of the tracks.
As we were rehearsing for our Slow to Fade reunion tour last year a mural appeared just off Princes Avenue, Hull. Painted by Ed Ullyart the mural celebrates Hull music, it looks fantastic, still as good as new.
Here we are, the real us visiting the painting of us.
Good Technology 40th Anniversary gig Saturday 24th June at O’Rileys, 83 Beverley Rd, Hull HU3 1XR, doors 7 pm, last few tickets remaining tickets from skiddle.com/e/36300908
It’s our first band get together of 2023 tonight, here we go 2023! A big thank you to everyone who followed us in 2022 and a special high five to everyone who came to see us on our tour. It was beyond our dreams to get back together. The ball is rolling now, and we’re excited about our plans for 2023. Come and join the adventure and see where it takes us!
Red Guitars video shoot tea break these days. Photo by Richard Duffy-HowardAnd the same back in 1983 Stella break back then. Red Guitars photo by Syd Shelton
We’ve got something in the pipeline, and we’re getting ready for the video shoot – getting the music mixed and ready, preparing the storyboard and gathering props. Hallam has booked his flight from Cape Town and will be here next week. This morning we’ve been on a recce of the location. Look where we are!
