The Radiators were formed in New Orleans in 1978, the result of a casual after-
noon jam session in keyboardist Ed Volker’s lakefront garage. Volker, drummer
Frank Bua, Jr., and guitarist Camile Baudoin were then members of the Rhapso-
dizers. Guitarist Dave Malone and bassist Reggie Scanlon were in another band,
Roadapple, and the magic the 5 musicians conjured up that afternoon was just
what they’d all been searching for. Later that same week they learned several
original songs that they still play live today.
They soon became an integral part of the re-vitalization of the New Orleans
music scene that saw the growth of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
and the birth of the city’s premier music club, Tipitina’s. The band played with
many legends of New Orleans music: Professor Longhair, Jessie Hill and Ernie
K-Doe, as well as being Earl King’s regular back-up band for many years. A favor-
ite party band of college students throughout the eighties, The Radiators
toured extensively all over the U.S., often playing 4 night stands at New York
City’s famed musical mecca, The Lone Star Café. Signed by Epic Records in 1987,
they released 3 studio albums, which received widespread radio play and
featured such Rads‘ classics as “Like Dreamers Do”, “Doctor Doctor”, “Conden-
tial”, and “Suck The Head”.
Long before there was a phenomenon called Jam Band Music, The Radiators’
shows were noted for their seemingly innite repertoire and their soulful,
inspired improvisations. Widespread Panic, Phish and Blues Traveler performed
opening duties on Radiator shows on the East Coast in the early 90’s and such
luminaries as Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Bob Weir, George Porter, Jr. and
Maceo Parker have sat in on occasion. Volker and Malone share vocal and writ-
ing responsibilities, with the bulk of the tunes coming from Volker. The twin
guitar front of Malone and Baudoin form one of the most noteworthy guitar
duos in rock music today, while Scanlon’s sinuous bass lines eortlessly lock into
Bua’s unstoppable rhythms and Volker’s keyboards add a sweet counterpoint to
the rich gumbo that only The Radiators can serve. The Radiators have called it
"Fish Head Music" from the very beginning. They'll give you dierent takes on
what that might mean on dierent nights, but this is music that could only rise
out of the swamps and bayous of Louisiana.
Time has seasoned The Radiators, but far from slowing them down they still
keep up a brisk and comprehensive tour schedule playing close to 150 dates a
year and still selling out shows in such major markets as New York, San Fran-
cisco, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Denver.They have held down
one of the coveted closing spots at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
for 20+ years and....yes, you can still nd them onstage at Tips and all of the
other legendary New Orleans clubs.