“Flashing Lights” by Lord Sutch

If you were around during the swinging sixties in London England, you would have heard of Screaming “Lord” Sutch and his musical and political endeavors.

Born in 1940 in Hampstead North London, David Edward Sutch was a musician, entertainer and political leader who formed various satirical political parties while running for parliamentary election. His most famous party was the Official Monster Raving Loony Party formed in 1983. They poked fun at the real life absurdity that many working class citizens faced during the Thatcher years.
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“Flashing Lights” is the third song from his 1970 debut album Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends. It’s a rocking, bluesy number that winks at Bo Diddly, and if it sounds similar to another British band (Led Zeppelin) it’s because it was co-written by Jimmy Page and features performances by him and drummer John Bonham.

Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends did not sell well and was not well received, but over the years it has developed a following as it features Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Jeff Beck, and Noel Redding among other great London studio musicians.

David Sutch tragically committed suicide in 1999, but his legacy as a charismatic band leader and socially conscious and satirical voice in British politics will hopefully never be forgotten.