Mark Lindsay is a solo artist, songwriter, and producer, as well as co-founder and original lead singer of Paul Revere & the Raiders from its inception through January 1975. His voice is heard on all of the Raiders' sixteen Top 20 hits, including many of which have earned Gold and Platinum awards. He joined Ian Punnett (Twitter) to discuss his life and experiences in the music industry.
The band was signed behind the back of Columbia Records' Mitch Miller who famously disliked Rock and Roll. "He passed on The Beatles... Buddy Holly, he passed on a lot of people," Lindsay reported, adding, "We were the first rock band signed to CBS." Record label executives wanted him to leave his band to become a solo act and produce music similar in style to Barry Manilow. Lindsay revealed this was not something he wished to do and that he found great happiness in life making the kind of music he wanted to make.
Lindsay recalled the day he and Paul Revere (leader, keyboardist and namesake of Paul Revere & the Raiders) decided to rent Revolutionary War uniforms as stage costumes. "It was the most fun I had in years... I thought we were in costume and nobody would really know who I was so I could do anything I wanted, and I did," he explained. He also talked about using The Wrecking Crew (session musicians who played on numerous studio recordings during that era) for their recordings in 1967 after three members of the band left. The new musicians that were part of The Raiders were green, had no studio experience, and did not have the band's vibe yet, Lindsay disclosed.
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Open Lines followed in the latter half of the program. Denny in Arizona told Ian he was the drummer in the band People!. The group had a hit record with the single "I Love You" in 1968. According to Denny, People! played several shows with The Raiders. His bandmate Larry Norman went on to become a pioneer of Christian rock music, he added.
Tamara from New York recalled the time in 1976 when the Freedom Barge came up the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers to dock at her town. The Raiders were performing on the Freedom Barge and Tamara got to meet them. "What a great group of guys," she said, noting she brought some of the members back to her home where her mother made them sandwiches. Tamara also remembered she and her sister singing for the band. "They were so kind," she added.
Steve in Kentucky revealed he was in a Rock and Roll band in 1968-69 in Western Kentucky. His group hired a local seamstress to create their stage costumes based on those worn by Paul Revere & the Raiders. Steve said his costumes included a length of silver motorcycle chain around the ankles of their boots. "The local teenagers loved us and I really think some of them came to see the outfits," he admitted.