The Radiators

Formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA in 1978, the Radiators became one of that city's most popular rock bands by the late '80s, developing a national following in the process. Keyboardist/vocalist Ed Volker and guitarist/vocalist Camile Baudoin began playing together in the '60s. Drummer Frank Bua started accompanying them in 1970. Guitarist/vocalist Dave Malone and bassist Reggie Scanlon played with another New Orleans band, Roadapple, in the '70s and the five musicians fused as the Rhapsodizers in the mid-70s. The name was changed to the Radiators in 1978 and WORK DONE ON PREMISES, was released two years later on their own Croaker label. HEAT GENERATION followed a year later. Percussionist Glenn Sears joined in the '80s. By that time the band had built up a local following, particularly among college students, due to its tireless live performances and multi-hour sessions featuring long improvisations in a style comparable to that of Little Feat and the Allman Brothers Band. Their concerts were highlights of the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and an audience cropped up in places as far away as New York and Chicago. In 1987, after a six-year recording absence, the Radiators signed to Epic Records and released LAW OF THE FISH, a critically-acclaimed album. ZIG-ZAGGIN’ THROUGH GHOSTLAND, followed in 1989, by which time the band was able to sell out medium-sized concert halls in several US cities.