Lester Butler (November 12, 1959 – May 9, 1998) was an American blues harmonica player and singer. He achieved fame as the singer and harmonica player for the Los Angeles, California, based blues roots band, The Red Devils. The Red Devils (originally known as The Blue Shadows) released one album, 1992's King King. It was produced by Rick Rubin on his Def American record label. The group featured drummer Bill Bateman (The Blasters), Dave Lee Bartel on guitar, Paul Size on lead guitar, Johnny Ray Bartel on bass, and pianist Gene Taylor. The Red Devils recorded 22 tracks with Mick Jagger in June 1992, produced by Rubin, though the tracks were not issued at the time (they have since cropped up on various bootlegs, and one track was officially released on a Mick Jagger compilation on Rhino Records in 2007). The band also backed actor and sometime musician Bruce Willis, when the action star performed at his Planet Hollywood clubs.
The Devils also backed Johnny Cash on music that was not released until the country singer's death, on the boxed set Unearthed. Butler also played on Rancid's 1998 album Life Won't Wait. After the breakup of The Red Devils, Butler also fronted the band, 13, releasing one self-titled record on Hightone Records in 1997. The original members of 13 included Kid Ramos on guitar, James Intveld on bass, and Johnny Morgan on drums. The recorded release of 13 on Hightone Records and produced by Warren Croyle features Stephen Hodges and Johnny Morgan on drums, Tom Leavey and James Moore on bass, Andy Kaulkin on keyboards, Alex Schultz, Smokey Hormel, Paul Bryant, and Doug Hamlin on guitar. Butler achieved his greatest fame in Europe, especially the Netherlands, where the Lester Butler Tribute Band still performs. Butler died of an overdose of heroin and cocaine on May 9, 1998, in Los Angeles at the age of 38. Two of his friends were convicted in his death of involuntary manslaughter.
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