# Snakefinger > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Snakefinger > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Snakefinger.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakefinger > Source revision: 1351823876 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) English musician, singer and songwriter Snakefinger Album photograph from Night of Desirable Objects Background information Born Philip Charles Lithman 17 June 1949 Tooting, London, England Died 1 July 1987(1987-07-01) (aged 38) Linz, Austria Years active 1971–1987 Label Ralph Musical artist **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](/source/The_Residents). ## History Lithman was born in [Tooting](/source/Tooting), [South London](/source/South_London), and came from the [British blues](/source/British_blues) scene. He moved to San Francisco in 1971 and became associated with the [avant-garde](/source/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.[1] In 1972 Lithman returned to England and formed the pub rock band [Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers](/source/Chilli_Willi_and_the_Red_Hot_Peppers) with [Martin Stone](/source/Martin_Stone_(guitarist)), ex-member of [Mighty Baby](/source/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*.[2] 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,[2] 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.[1] Lithman's solo records, recorded under the name Snakefinger, were released by their record label [Ralph Records](/source/Ralph_Records). His first album on Ralph was *[Chewing Hides the Sound](/source/Chewing_Hides_the_Sound)* in 1979, featuring original material co-written with the Residents as well as esoteric covers like [Kraftwerk](/source/Kraftwerk)'s "[The Model](/source/Das_Model)".[3] The songs showcased Lithman's distinctive [slide guitar](/source/Slide_guitar) playing[3] and often [surreal](/source/Surrealism) imagery. This album was followed by *[Greener Postures](/source/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.[4] In 1982, Lithman formed his backing band The Vestal Virgins with former [Captain Beefheart](/source/Captain_Beefheart) sideman [Eric Drew Feldman](/source/Eric_Drew_Feldman). Snakefinger and The Vestal Virgins released *[Manual of Errors](/source/Manual_of_Errors)* on Ralph in 1982. This was followed by the blues cover album *[Snakefinger's History of the Blues: Live in Europe](/source/Snakefinger's_History_of_the_Blues%3A_Live_in_Europe)* in 1984. Lithman released his fourth and final album, *Night of Desirable Objects* in 1986,[5] which consisted of largely original material. Lithman performed with the Residents on their 13th Anniversary Tour in 1986.[6] ## Death On 1 July 1987, Snakefinger and his band, the Vestal Virgins, arrived in [Linz](/source/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.[5] 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) (with [Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers](/source/Chilli_Willi_and_the_Red_Hot_Peppers)) - *Bongos over Balham* (1974) (with [Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers](/source/Chilli_Willi_and_the_Red_Hot_Peppers)) - *[Chewing Hides the Sound](/source/Chewing_Hides_the_Sound)* (1979) - *[Greener Postures](/source/Greener_Postures)* (1980) - *Manual of Errors* (1982) - *History of the Blues* (1984) - *Night of Desirable Objects* (1987) ### The Residents - "[Satisfaction](/source/(I_Can't_Get_No)_Satisfaction#The_Residents)" (1976) - *[Fingerprince](/source/Fingerprince)* (1977) - *[Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen](/source/Duck_Stab%2FBuster_%26_Glen)* (1978) - *[Eskimo](/source/Eskimo_(album))* (1979) - *[The Commercial Album](/source/The_Commercial_Album)* (1980) - *[The Tunes of Two Cities](/source/The_Tunes_of_Two_Cities)* (1982) - *[Title in Limbo](/source/Title_in_Limbo)* (1983) - *The 13th Anniversary Show - Live In Japan* (1986) - [*The 13th Anniversary Show - Live In* *the USA*](/source/The_13th_Anniversary_Show_Live_in_the_U.S.A.) (1986) - *[Stars & Hank Forever: The American Composers Series](/source/Stars_%26_Hank_Forever%3A_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) - [6025](/source/Carlos_Cadona) (former [Dead Kennedys](/source/Dead_Kennedys) guitarist) - Beth Custer - Raoul N. Diseimbote (piano) - Dick 'Deluxe' Egner - Josh Ende (baritone sax) - [Eric Drew Feldman](/source/Eric_Drew_Feldman) (worked with [the Residents](/source/The_Residents), [Captain Beefheart](/source/Captain_Beefheart), [Pere Ubu](/source/Pere_Ubu_(band)), [Pixies](/source/Pixies_(band)), [P.J. Harvey](/source/P.J._Harvey), and [Frank Black](/source/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](/source/Nick_Lowe) (bass) - Stephen MacKay (Tenor) - Richard Marriott (wind, brass) - [Paul Riley](/source/Paul_Riley_(musician)) (bass player) - Steve Royal (drummer) - Jonny B. Ryan (Philip's drummer from 1980 onward) - [N. Senada](/source/N._Senada) ([ethnomusicologist](/source/Ethnomusicologist)) - [Michael Steele](/source/Michael_Steele_(musician)) (worked with [the Bangles](/source/The_Bangles)) - [Martin Stone](/source/Martin_Stone_(guitarist)) (guitarist, literary expert) - [Pete Thomas](/source/Pete_Thomas_(drummer)) (drummer) - David Whitten (bass player) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-greenerposturesblurb_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-greenerposturesblurb_1-1) ["Snakefinger - Greener Postures"](http://www.klanggalerie.com/gg225). *Klanggalerie.com*. Retrieved 19 December 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-chilliwillibio_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-chilliwillibio_2-1) Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. ["Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chilli-willi-and-the-red-hot-peppers-mn0000085885/biography). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved 19 December 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-chewingblurb_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-chewingblurb_3-1) ["Snakefinger - Chewing Hides the Sound"](https://www.forcedexposure.com/Catalog/snakefinger-chewing-hides-the-sound-cd/GG.220CD.html). *Forcedexposure.com*. Retrieved 19 December 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-pastdaily.com_4-0)** Skene, Gordon (12 October 2017). ["Snakefinger – Live At The Boarding House – 1979 – Past Daily Soundbooth"](https://pastdaily.com/2017/10/11/snakefinger-1979-past-daily-soundbooth/). *Pastdaily.com*. Retrieved 19 December 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nightblurb_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nightblurb_5-1) ["Snakefinger's Vestal Virgins - Night of Desirable Objects"](http://www.klanggalerie.com/gg258). *Klanggalerie.com*. Retrieved 19 December 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13thanniversary_6-0)** ["The Residents - 13th Anniversary Show - Live In The USA"](https://klanggalerie.bandcamp.com/album/13th-anniversary-show-live-in-the-usa). *Klanggalerie.bandcamp.com*. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ## External links - [Discogs Page](https://www.discogs.com/artist/142962-Snakefinger) - [Allmusic Biography](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/snakefinger-mn0000034504/biography) v t e The Residents Studio albums Meet the Residents The Third Reich 'n Roll Fingerprince Not Available Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen Eskimo Commercial Album Mark of the Mole The Tunes of Two Cities George & James The Big Bubble Stars & Hank Forever God in Three Persons Buckaroo Blues The King & Eye Freak Show Our Finest Flowers Gingerbread Man Have a Bad Day Wormwood Demons Dance Alone 12 Days of Brumalia Animal Lover Tweedles The Voice of Midnight The Bunny Boy The Ughs! Lonely Teenager The Ghost of Hope Intruders Metal, Meat & Bone Doctor Dark Soundtracks Whatever Happened to Vileness Fats? The Census Taker Hunters Singles and extended plays Santa Dog "Satisfaction" "The Beatles Play the Residents and the Residents Play the Beatles" "Santa Dog '78" Babyfingers Intermission: Extraneous Music from the Residents' Mole Show Pollex Christi Live albums The Mole Show Live at the Roxy The 13th Anniversary Show Live in the U.S.A. Cube E: Live in Holland Live at the Fillmore Roadworms: The Berlin Sessions Wormwood Live Compilations The Residents Radio Special Residue of the Residents Assorted Secrets Liver Music Refused Dot.Com Videos and films Vileness Fats (unfinished) Twenty Twisted Questions Icky Flix CD-ROMs Bad Day on the Midway Remix albums WB: RMX Demo albums The Warner Bros. Album Related articles Ralph Records Hardy Fox Snakefinger Graeme Whifler Renaldo and the Loaf Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Artists MusicBrainz 2 People Deutsche Biographie Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Snakefinger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakefinger) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakefinger?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.