The Red Lights - Never Wanna Leave

A video slide show of my photographs of this legendary band who used to play at Harry's Bar in the late 1970's. Included are Ashley Cadell, Steve Townsend, Andy Howell, Ian Russell, and Nigel Preston. The soundtrack is the A side of their ultra rare single which is now quite valuable according to the Record Collector Rare Record price guide. Formally called The Rats the band changed its name after The Boomtown Rats hit the big time. They should have been bigger but were a great live band. Some of them are no longer with us, Ashley Cadell is a very successful songwriter and producer in Australia now. In the 1970's they epitomised the spirit of new wave/punk, they were good fun.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The
• Red
• Lights
• Never
• Wanna
• Leave
• Greenwich
• 1979
• new
• wave
• punk
• rock

[theface321]

I have both versions + i prefer the Roxy club version. I can't understand why on the single version the band bother to steal ATV s love lies limp riff + then stick it on the end as well...It doesnt need it!!! Also the harp on the single version nods to a future in blues or pub rock..i think the raw version at the Roxy sounds better...I would say a new wave band though,not punk...But a good tune!!!

[HarrysBar]

Maybe because they used hang around with Mark Perry and Tyrone Thomas in Deptford and Greenwich, Maybe ATV stole their riff, who cares anyway, everybody robbed everybody else during the punk era and that was it to a tee. See the other Red Lights videos I have put up on You tube to hear them being a bit more pistolesque, but hey Rock and Roll buddy and a happy new year from Harry's Bar.

[razorvideo]

hello i am andrew mclachlan one of the origanal band mebers

[HarrysBar]

Hi Andrew

Hope you are doing well and like the tributes to the Red Lights. Shame we never met, Cheers, H

[bobsonofbob]

Did this version of the song ever make it to cd?

[HarrysBar]

Not that I know of Bob, but who knows, it's never too late!!

[picmanose]

I'm Steve Townsend's cousin! My older brother has the single, I remember the track well, heard it played lots when I was little!

[shaftsbury94]

did they ever leave?

[TheMonkeysouls]

my name is simon day i followed the red lights until they broke up , used to hang out at their house in circus street and get on their nerves , they were a good live act thats for sure , all will be revealed in my memoirs ,

[motorwoman12]

hell it's great to hear & see photos of the red lights again after 30 years.use to work with this band as a tape op at a london studio & watch most of this single being recorded & mixed, i still have a copy of the singe with a rare pic sleeve sign by 3 members of the band. plus i have to own up i also got the single leaked for a review in the nme back in 1978.

[comets4life14]

Andrew, I saw The Red Lights play many many times, mainly because my old school mate Steve Townsend was the drummer. Great band who should have taken one of the record deals offered to them.

PS I have a vinyl copy of the single.

[CORPUS77]

great song, but i prefer the roxy version

cheers Corpus 77

[SidneyBishop]

Well dust me down with a feather - I've still got this single. Haven't heard it in years. Bought it at the time it came out. Used to go to their gigs (and "Harry's Bar" that you mention). They all shared a house together in Greenwich for a bit. Royal Hill. Blimey, any one want to give me tons of money for it? What? No? Ok, Please yourselves.