You probably remember the outfits. Those ridiculous, high-collared Revolutionary War coats, the tricorn hats, and the buckled shoes. For a lot of people, Paul Revere and the Raiders were just that "costume band" from the sixties. They were the guys jumping around on Dick Clark’s Where the Action Is, looking like they’d just stepped out of a middle school history pageant.
But honestly? That’s a massive oversimplification.
If you actually look at the numbers, this band was a juggernaut. Between 1966 and 1969, they were selling records at a pace that rivaled the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. We aren't talking about a one-hit wonder here. We’re talking about 12 consecutive Top 30 hits. They were the first rock group ever signed to Columbia Records.
The Idaho Garage Band That Beat the British
Most people think of the 1960s as a time when British bands owned the airwaves. You had the Fab Four, the Stones, the Kinks. American bands were scrambling to keep up. But Paul Revere and the Raiders didn’t come from London or even Los Angeles. They came from Boise, Idaho.
Imagine that.
The band started as the Downbeats, led by a guy named Paul Revere Dick. Yes, that was his real name. He owned a couple of hamburger joints and a bakery. One day, a skinny kid named Mark Lindsay walked into his bakery to buy supplies for his own job, and a musical partnership was born. They changed the name to Paul Revere and the Raiders because, well, it was a gimmick that worked.
By the time they hit the big leagues, they had perfected a sound that was basically "frat rock" on steroids. It was loud, it was sweaty, and it was surprisingly heavy for a band that wore lace ruffles.
The Louie Louie War
Here’s a bit of trivia most people miss: The Raiders recorded "Louie Louie" at the same time as The Kingsmen. Both bands were from the Pacific Northwest. Both versions are great. But the Kingsmen’s version was so poorly recorded—so garbled and raw—that it became a legend. The Raiders’ version was actually "better" produced, which, ironically, is why it didn't become the definitive version.
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It was too clean.
Why Paul Revere and the Raiders Still Matter
If you listen to a track like "Kicks," you realize they weren't just singing about holding hands. Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, "Kicks" is widely considered one of the first anti-drug songs to hit the Top 40. It’s got this driving, gritty guitar riff that sounds more like garage punk than pop.
Then you’ve got "Hungry." The bass line in that song is absolutely filthy. It’s got a tension and a desperation that Mark Lindsay sells perfectly with that soul-inflected growl of his.
"I’m hungry for those good things, baby..."
He wasn't just a teen idol. Lindsay was one of the best vocalists of the era, even if he had to wear a ponytail and a funny hat to get on TV.
The Television Takeover
You couldn’t turn on a TV in 1966 without seeing these guys. As the house band for Where the Action Is, they were beamed into American living rooms five days a week. It was total overexposure. While the "serious" rock critics in San Francisco were starting to drop acid and write ten-minute jams, the Raiders were doing synchronized leg kicks and slapstick comedy.
This created a weird split. The kids loved them. The "serious" musicians? Not so much.
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Paul Revere himself was a bit of a madman on stage. He’d jump on his Vox organ, make goofy faces, and basically act like the class clown. He knew the outfits were silly. He once called the band "a party band that accidentally had some hit records." That self-awareness is probably why they lasted as long as they did.
The Indian Reservation Mystery
By 1971, the band was basically over. The classic lineup had splintered. Mark Lindsay was doing solo stuff like "Arizona." The costumes were gone. They shortened their name to just "The Raiders."
Then, they released "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)."
It went straight to Number One.
It was a total fluke. It didn't sound like their 60s garage rock. It was a somber, dramatic cover of a Don Fardon song. It became the biggest-selling single in the history of Columbia Records at the time. Six million copies. It’s a strange, haunting endnote to a career built on "The Great Airplane Strike" and "Good Thing."
The Manson Connection
There’s a darker side to the story that often gets skipped over in the nostalgia trips. Mark Lindsay and their producer Terry Melcher lived in the house on Cielo Drive—the one where the Manson family eventually committed the Tate murders.
Melcher had been in contact with Charles Manson because Manson wanted a record deal. When Melcher didn't give it to him, the house became a target. Luckily, Lindsay and Melcher had moved out before the killings happened, but the connection haunted the band’s legacy. It was the moment the "summer of love" vibe died, and for a band as upbeat as the Raiders, the timing was eerie.
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What Happened to Mark and Paul?
Paul Revere kept the brand alive for decades. He was a businessman at heart. He moved the show to Branson, Missouri, and played the hits for fans who wanted to remember the good times. He passed away in 2014, but the band name still tours today, though it's mostly a tribute act at this point.
Mark Lindsay, on the other hand, is still very much around. He hosts a radio show on SiriusXM called American Revolution. If you listen to him talk, he’s still got that sharp, soulful energy.
Actionable Legacy Check
If you want to actually "get" why this band was cool, don't just watch the old TV clips where they’re lip-syncing. Do this instead:
- Listen to the "Midnight Ride" album. It’s their peak. It sounds like a band that actually knows how to play their instruments.
- Watch the movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Quentin Tarantino is a huge fan, and he used four of their songs on the soundtrack. It’s the best way to hear them in a modern context.
- Check out the bass work on "Just Like Me." It’s proto-punk before punk was a word.
Paul Revere and the Raiders might have looked like a joke to the hippies, but they were a powerhouse. They were the American answer to the British Invasion, and for a few years, they actually won.
Forget the hats. Listen to the music.
Next Steps for Music History Fans
To get a real feel for the raw energy that the Raiders brought to the 1960s, track down a copy of the The Essential Paul Revere & The Raiders collection. Focus specifically on the tracks produced by Terry Melcher between 1965 and 1967. This era represents the peak of their "frat-rock" influence and showcases why they were considered the premier live act in the Pacific Northwest before the rest of the world caught on.