Snakefinger

{{Short description|English musician, singer and songwriter}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Snakefinger | image = Snakefinger1.jpg | caption = Album photograph from ''Night of Desirable Objects'' | image_size =  | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = Philip Charles Lithman | alias = | birth_date = 17 June 1949 | birth_place = [[Tooting]], London, England | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1987|7|1|1949|6|17}} | death_place = [[Linz]], Austria | instrument = | genre = | occupation = | years_active = 1971–1987 | label = Ralph }}

'''Philip Charles Lithman''' (17 June 1949 – 1 July 1987), who performed under the stage name '''Snakefinger''', was an English musician, singer and songwriter. A multi-instrumentalist, he was best known for his guitar and violin work and his collaborations with [[the Residents]].

==History== Lithman was born in [[Tooting]], [[South London]], and came from the [[British blues]] scene. He moved to San Francisco in 1971 and became associated with the [[avant-garde]] group the Residents. It is said he was given the name 'Snakefinger' by the Residents themselves based on a photograph of Lithman performing, in which his finger looks like a snake about to attack his violin.<ref name="greenerposturesblurb">{{cite web |title= Snakefinger - Greener Postures |url=http://www.klanggalerie.com/gg225|website=Klanggalerie.com|access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

In 1972 Lithman returned to England and formed the pub rock band [[Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers]] with [[Martin Stone (guitarist)|Martin Stone]], ex-member of [[Mighty Baby]] and a fellow ex-member of Junior's Blues Band. As a duo, they released the album ''Kings of Robot Rhythm''. In 1974, as a full band and popular live act in Britain, they released ''Bongos Over Balham''.<ref name="chilliwillibio" />

Chilli Willi lasted until 1975, their last record not selling well, and by 1976 Lithman was back in the United States, this time in Los Angeles, California,<ref name="chilliwillibio">{{cite web|last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chilli-willi-and-the-red-hot-peppers-mn0000085885/biography|website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref> seeking a recording contract, shopping his rock-style demos.

After a few years, Lithman moved back to San Francisco, reconnected with the Residents, and performed and recorded with them.<ref name="greenerposturesblurb" /> Lithman's solo records, recorded under the name Snakefinger, were released by their record label [[Ralph Records]].

His first album on Ralph was ''[[Chewing Hides the Sound]]'' in 1979, featuring original material co-written with the Residents as well as esoteric covers like [[Kraftwerk]]'s "[[Das Model|The Model]]".<ref name="chewingblurb">{{cite web|title=Snakefinger - Chewing Hides the Sound |url=https://www.forcedexposure.com/Catalog/snakefinger-chewing-hides-the-sound-cd/GG.220CD.html |website=Forcedexposure.com|access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref> The songs showcased Lithman's distinctive [[slide guitar]] playing<ref name="chewingblurb" /> and often [[Surrealism|surreal]] imagery. This album was followed by ''[[Greener Postures]]'' in 1980, which included his first solo compositions as Snakefinger.

While on tour in Australia in 1980, Lithman had a heart attack that left him hospitalised for six months.<ref name="pastdaily.com">{{cite web|last1=Skene |first1=Gordon |title=Snakefinger – Live At The Boarding House – 1979 – Past Daily Soundbooth|url=https://pastdaily.com/2017/10/11/snakefinger-1979-past-daily-soundbooth/ |website=Pastdaily.com |date=12 October 2017 |access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

In 1982, Lithman formed his backing band The Vestal Virgins with former [[Captain Beefheart]] sideman [[Eric Drew Feldman]]. Snakefinger and The Vestal Virgins released ''[[Manual of Errors]]'' on Ralph in 1982. This was followed by the blues cover album ''[[Snakefinger's History of the Blues: Live in Europe]]'' in 1984. Lithman released his fourth and final album, ''Night of Desirable Objects'' in 1986,<ref name="nightblurb">{{cite web|title=Snakefinger's Vestal Virgins - Night of Desirable Objects |url=http://www.klanggalerie.com/gg258 |website=Klanggalerie.com|access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref> which consisted of largely original material.

Lithman performed with the Residents on their 13th Anniversary Tour in 1986.<ref name="13thanniversary">{{cite web|title=The Residents - 13th Anniversary Show - Live In The USA |url=https://klanggalerie.bandcamp.com/album/13th-anniversary-show-live-in-the-usa|website=Klanggalerie.bandcamp.com |access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

==Death== On 1 July 1987, Snakefinger and his band, the Vestal Virgins, arrived in [[Linz]], Austria, on the ''European Night'' tour. The next morning, he was found dead in a guestroom of the Posthof Club, where the band had been due to perform. He had suffered a heart attack. His single "There's No Justice in Life" was released the same day.<ref name="nightblurb" /> His funeral was held in England. The Residents were unable to attend it and instead performed a wake in his honour; a studio version of this performance can be heard on The Snakey Wake.

==Discography== * ''Kings of the Robot Rhythm'' (1972) <small>(with [[Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers]])</small> * ''Bongos over Balham'' (1974) <small>(with [[Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers]])</small> * ''[[Chewing Hides the Sound]]'' (1979) * ''[[Greener Postures]]'' (1980) * ''Manual of Errors'' (1982) * ''History of the Blues'' (1984) * ''Night of Desirable Objects'' (1987)

===The Residents=== * "[[(I_Can%27t_Get_No)_Satisfaction#The_Residents|Satisfaction]]" (1976) * ''[[Fingerprince]]'' (1977) * ''[[Duck Stab/Buster & Glen|Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen]]'' (1978) * ''[[Eskimo (album)|Eskimo]]'' (1979) * ''[[The Commercial Album]]'' (1980) * ''[[The Tunes of Two Cities]]'' (1982) * ''[[Title in Limbo]]'' (1983) * ''The 13th Anniversary Show - Live In Japan'' (1986) * [[The 13th Anniversary Show Live in the U.S.A.|''The 13th Anniversary Show - Live In'' ''the USA'']] (1986) * ''[[Stars & Hank Forever: The American Composers Series]]'' (1986) * ''The 13th Anniversary Show - Live In'' ''Holland'' (1987) * ''B.S'' (2019)

===The Club Foot Orchestra=== * ''Wild Beasts'' (1986)

===Various Artists Compilations=== * ''Savoy Sound – Wave Goodbye'' (1981) * ''Potatoes: A Collection Of Folk Songs by Ralph Records'' (1987) ** song: "The Ballad Of Sawney Beane/Sawney's Death Dance" by Snakefinger & His Midi-Evil Vestal Virgins * ''Beets'' (1990) ** song: "Reptology"

==Collaborators== *The Residents *Paul Bailey (guitar, banjo, and sax player) *Dave Barret *Michael "Miguel" Bertel (Rhythm Guitarist) *[[Carlos Cadona|6025]] (former [[Dead Kennedys]] guitarist) *Beth Custer *Raoul N. Diseimbote (piano) *Dick 'Deluxe' Egner *Josh Ende (baritone sax) *[[Eric Drew Feldman]] (worked with [[the Residents]], [[Captain Beefheart]], [[Pere Ubu (band)|Pere Ubu]], [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]], [[P.J. Harvey]], and [[Frank Black]]) *Opter Flame *George B. George (bass player) *John H Seabury (bass player) Member of Berkeley's Psycotic Pineapple *Ben Guy (bass player) *Colin Hansford (guitar player) *Dave Kopplin *[[Nick Lowe]] (bass) *Stephen MacKay (Tenor) *Richard Marriott (wind, brass) *[[Paul Riley (musician)|Paul Riley]] (bass player) *Steve Royal (drummer) *Jonny B. Ryan (Philip's drummer from 1980 onward) *[[N. Senada]] ([[ethnomusicologist]]) *[[Michael Steele (musician)|Michael Steele]] (worked with [[the Bangles]]) *[[Martin Stone (guitarist)|Martin Stone]] (guitarist, literary expert) *[[Pete Thomas (drummer)|Pete Thomas]] (drummer) *David Whitten (bass player)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/142962-Snakefinger Discogs Page] * [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/snakefinger-mn0000034504/biography Allmusic Biography]

[[Category:1949 births]] [[Category:1987 deaths]] [[Category:People from Tooting]] [[Category:English rock guitarists]] [[Category:English blues guitarists]] [[Category:English male guitarists]] [[Category:British multi-instrumentalists]] [[Category:English male violinists]] [[Category:Musicians from the London Borough of Wandsworth]] [[Category:The Residents]] [[Category:20th-century English guitarists]] [[Category:20th-century English violinists]] [[Category:Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers members]] [[Category:20th-century English male musicians]]