Born:
January 28th, 1957, London, England
Education:
Pimlico Comprehensive School, London, England Ebury Technical School, London, England
Music Background:
Being a native of London and nearby Southend, Levi grew up hearing the roots of rock ‘n’ roll in the Teddyboy pubs. On a strict diet or 50’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Oldies, Levi was very influenced by Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, and lists Bill Haley and his Comets as his favorite band. The first rock n’ roll concert Levi went to was the Wembley Rock n’ Roll Festival in 1972 with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley and His Comets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Fury and many other great performers of the 50’s era. By 1976, Levi was seen singing guest spots around London and with Teddyboy Bands such as Crazy Cavan and The Rhythm Rockers, and The Flying Saucers.
July 31, 1997
During one of these impromptu performances with local rockers, Shakin’ Stevens and the Sunsets, Levi was spotted by Lee Black Childers (of David Bowie/Mott The Hoople fame) during the famed Anarchy In The U.K. Tour with the Sex Pistols and the Clash. Levi and Lee joined forces and formed Levi and the Rockats over the next few months. Levi Dexter (vocals), Smutty Smiff (double bass), Eddie Dibbles, later known as Steve Preston (lead guitar), Rollin’ Mick Barry (rhythm guitar) and Don Deveraux (drums).
November 10, 1977
Levi and the Rockats debut at the Royal College of Art, within the shadow of The Royal Albert Hall. Johnny Thunders jams at the end of their set. The headliner band that night was the reggae band Steel Pulse.
December 26, 1997
Levi and the Rockats close the “Boxing Day Relapse” concert at The Music Machine in London with Siouxie and the Banshees, and Adam and the Ants, establishing them as the first Neo-Rockabilly band to emerge from the burgeoning London punk scene.
February 1978
Levi and the Rockats play London shows at The Marquee, The 100 club and take a residence at London’s “Speakeasy” club. February 25th, they are featured in Sounds music paper. It says, “Listening to them you are immediately aware that they are infusing Rockabilly with an energy and vitality that has been lacking, simply by adding the magic ingredients, Youth and Energy.”
March 1978
Levi records “Evil Minded Mama”, a duet with Jayne County and The Electric Chairs. They tour England, Scotland, and Wales together on the first ever Ted/Punk Tour.
April 1st 1978
The English music paper, New Music Express, prints a feature on Levi and The Rockats.
May 1978
Levi relocates to the U.S. to get an American Perspective, arriving first in Los Angels then going to Dallas to visit Willie Nelson’s Picnic at the cotton bowl.
July 4th 1978
Heading south, Levi stops in Memphis to pay respects to Elvis Presley who had died 9 months before. Then on to Louisiana to prepare for a U.S. Debut.
November 9th 1978
Levi and The Rockats are featured in an article on rockabilly music in the New York paper the Soho Weekly News and they say, “Levi is the leading dancer on the rockabilly circuit and he brings precision boppin’ to his stage show.”
November 10th 1978
Levi and The Rockats debut at Max’s Kansas City in New York opening for the Cramps.
December 1978
Levi and the Rockats record demos at the legendary RCA studios in New York for RCA Records.
January 10th 1979
Levi and the Rockats head west to St. Louis and then play their way back to Los Angeles. On their arrival back they take up residency at the Tropicana Motel.
January 18th 1979
Levi and the Rockats play sold out shows at The New Masque, The Starwood, The Roxy and The Whiskey A-Go-Go.
March 4th 1979
John Mankiewicz at the Herald Examiner newspaper (Los Angeles) says, “Levi and Co. tore the house down with a wild rockabilly sound. It’s been a long time since people pushed back the tables to make room for dancing at The Troubador, and even longer since owner Doug Weston allowed a show to go as late as three in the morning.”
March 16th 1979
Levi and The Rockats are on the front cover of the L.A. Weekly.
April 3rd 1979
Levi and The Rockats are feature on CBS News.
April 13th 1979
Levi and The Rockats are the first unsigned band to perform live on the Merv Griffin Show.
April 15th 1979
Levi and The Rockats are featured on the cover of the Sunday L.A. Times “Calendar” Section.
April 19th 1979
Levi and The Rockats are the first unsigned band to perform (2 songs) live on Wolfman Jack’s show The Midnight Special.
May 19th 1979
Levi releases two singles on his own “Kool Kat” label in L.A. “Room to Rock” backed with, “All through the Night” and “Rockabilly Idol” backed with “Note from the South.” The band were also featured in the Los Angeles “Slash” Magazine.
June 1979
Levi and the Rockats fly back to England to headline at The Venue in London.
July 12th 1979
Levi and the Rockats appear on the Louisiana Hayride Radio Show, making them the first rockabilly band since Elvis Presley performed his last show there in 1956. Levi uses the same microphone that Elvis used on his 1954 show. Original announcer Frank Page introduces Levi. The show is recorded and later released as “Levi and The Rockats, live at The Louisiana Hayride: A historical performance on the Poshboy label in L.A.
July 22nd 1979
The Los Angeles Times prints a full page story on Levi and the Rockats at the Louisiana Hayride.
November 1979
Levi and The Rockats are featured on Andy Warhol’s Cable T.V. Show. They are interviewed by Deborah Harry. Levi can be seen in the background of the Blondie Video “Dreaming”.
November 1979
Levi jams in Long Island with a rockabilly Trio named The Tomcats featuring Brian Setzer and his brother Gary.
November 12th 1979
The New York times says that Levi, “has developed his own style and is a convincing urgent performer. The band backs him with a wild and sometimes crazed conviction that’s a lot closer to the rockabilly spirit than the efforts of more archivally minded performers.”
December 16th 1979
Levi announces break up of the band from the stage of the Whiskey-A-Go-Go.
January 1980
Levi Dexter and the Ripchords are forming. Brian Setzer and his brother Gary are flown out to Los Angeles and rehearse with Levi, Danny B. Harvey and Adam Stern. Brian and Gary return to New York not yet ready to go on the road. Levi is featured on 20/20 and the Good Morning America Show.
February 1980
Levi Dexter and the Ripchords are Levi Dexter (vocals), Danny B. Harvey (lead guitar), Jimmy Reed (rhythm guitar), Dave Curry (Slap Bass) and Pat Brown (drums).
March 12th 1980
Returning to London, Levi and the Ripchords are invited to open the first concert in England by the Go-Go’s. They play the next two months around the London area with either the Polecats or the Meteors.
July 10th 1980
The band work out a new set of songs and head back to New York for exclusive shows at the Danceteria. It is during one of these shows that Billy Idol is seen performing Gene Vincent songs with Levi on stage.
March 1981
Richard Gottehrer (producer of Blondie, The Go-Go’s and Robert Gordon) records “The other side of midnight” and I get excited with Levi and the Ripchords. The single version of these two songs would reach 1 on the English Rockabilly Charts.
May 1981
Levi and the Ripchords return to England once again. Soon after they break up. Levi Dexter returns to Los Angeles. He is seen on T.V. commercials for 7 UP and Eastern Airways.
1983
Levi recruits various musician to forma new band known simply as “LEVI”
November 1983
BAM Magazine prints a full page story and the Los Angeles Times calls the band ‘..the strongest lineup that Levi has ever had.”
December 1984
Music Connection rates “LEVI” as one of the best live bands and “The Fun Sessions” as one of the best albums.
1987-1988
Levi works behind the scenes in movie production, working on movies such as “Tough Guys” and “Sid and Nancy.”
1992
Japanese magazine “Doll” features a two page interview with Levi. He also makes the cover of “Rave” magazine.
1993
Levi spends a month in Tokyo recording an album with “Magic”, the top rockabilly band in Japan. Released as “Levi Dexter & Magic”, it would sell over 30,000 copies in Japan within the first year.
1995
Levi performs at the House of Blues in Los Angeles for Elvis’ Birthday.
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