We had a brilliant time filming the Good Technology 2023 video with film maker Simon Baxter.
We’ve been saving these photos until the video is released – which it is, so here they are, have a look through the gallery, photos by Richard Duffy-Howard.
Watch the video which accompanies the extended re-mixed and augmented edition of Good Technology:
“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
“Exceptional work: music and video. This is one of THE absolute musical highlights of 2023: a majestic and powerful development of this iconic track… and profoundly moving.” Junkyard of Silenced Poets
“40 years on … this song is actually more powerful, more poignant, more relevant and more vital than it was back then. Arresting, ear bending and original, I am convinced that if it was released today it would be seized upon by hip indie influencers as one of the next big things. The new video is especially jaw dropping, cleverly splicing images of the band performing now and then with disturbing warnings of where climate chaos, war and racism will lead us if we don’t take urgent united action to stop it.” R*E*P*E*A*T Magazine
Red Guitars are thrilled to announce their second UK tour in two years. This highly anticipated news comes on the back of last weekend’s sold out two hour set in Hull to launch their 40th anniversary edition red vinyl and video of their number 1 Indie hit Good Technology 2023. The audience were treated to a mix of all the original favourites together with a selection of new songs revealed for the first time.
The Good Technology 2023 tour takes in 12 UK dates and we are delighted that support for the tour (except Sheffield) will be our friends Liverpool based band The Room.
“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
Red Guitars are vocalist Jeremy Kidd, lead guitarist Hallam Lewis, drummer Matt Higgins, rhythm guitarist John Rowley and Lou Duffy-Howard on bass. Initially cutting their teeth playing benefit shows for a series of left-wing causes in the early ’80s Red Guitars quickly built a loyal following before launching an assault on the charts with a series of singles via their own Self Drive Records label that would see them earn a nationally renowned status.
Proving an instant hit with their debut single, the quintet shifted an impressive 60,000 copies of their self-released “Good Technology” single, before going on to top the Independent Charts with consecutive No.1s with the classic cuts “Marimba Jive” and “Steeltown”.
Forging their own sound with a unique mix of infectious rock and African rhythms, the band quickly earned support from the tastemaker titles of the time including cult 1980s Channel 4 music TV show The Tube and the BBC’s Whistle Test, through to a number of memorable sessions for BBC Radio legend John Peel. The band were notably enjoyed by thousands when supporting The Smiths on their breakthrough tour too.
Releasing their seminal debut album ‘Slow To Fade’ in 1984, frontman Jeremy Kidd announced his departure soon after and Red Guitars ultimately disbanded completely two years later.
Fast forward to 2022 and Red Guitars returned with their complete and original line-up for what was their first tour since their 80s prime. The tour was a great success, with sell out shows and the band’s loyal followers turning out in force. June 24 th 2023 marks 40 years since Good Technology was released. The band are issuing a limited edition red vinyl 12” extended and augmented remix to celebrate the anniversary. A radio edit and remix of second single “Fact” is included along with a digital download of the tracks. A new video accompanies the release and following a sell out album launch in the band’s hometown of Hull, the ‘Good Technology 2023 UK Tour’ starts in September.
Shedding light on why the time is now right for the return of Red Guitars and what fans can expect from the upcoming live shows, Lou Duffy-Howard of the band says:
“We were contacted out of the blue by Steve Homer, CEO of worldwide events promotion company AEG Presents. He asked if we’d be up for a tour. We thought about it and the answer was … yes!…. We had such a great time with fantastic audiences that we’re doing it again. As well as all the singles and favourites from our first album we’ll be revealing one or two new songs before we start recording the new album. We’re delighted that our friends from Liverpool based band The Room will be our support for the tour. “
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.
More records are arriving, thanks for your photos everyone. And thanks to London Peaky webzine for this fab comment:
“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
They are selling fast – good job we saved a box for Saturday’s launch gig!
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.
Is that a delivery van I see?What can it be?Better bring them in …The cover looks ace. Yay!The Eagle has landed!
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.
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.
Good Technology 40th Anniversary gig at O’Rileys, Hull ticket link: skiddle.com/e/36300908.
UK tour dates to follow.
Good Technology 2023 release date: June 24th 2023, limited edition of 500 red vinyl 12″
Track Listing: A: Good Technology 2023 Fact (Remix) AA: Good Technology 2023 (Extended Mix)
Sarah Dunlop
