The Lloyds

From 1979-1984, the Lloyds were a vibrant power pop quintet that filled venues in San Francisco and beyond. Fronted by vivacious redhead Lulu Lewis, the group was regionally famous for their energetic live shows and dramatic, hook-laden songs that cut across musical styles. “Their sound is a penetrating, exciting mix of ‘60s girl-group passion and ‘80s new wave attitudes, with Lulu delivering a string of superlative original tunes with a voice that would stand up in a hurricane,” wrote Jack McDonough in Billboard. Energetic, engaging performers who loved to entertain and win over new fans, the group stuidously avoided "heavy-osity," Lloyds-slang for anything pretentious. That approach gave them the freedom to express themselves in whatever musical style they favored, from driving power pop like "Nothing In Return" to anthem rock ("Rock & Roll Made Me What I Am Today" by bassist Peter M. Heimlich, subsequently recorded by heavy metal hottie Lita Ford and Swedish metal king Rob Nasty) to ballads like "All Alone" by Ronnie Jay with his soaring harmonica solo over a boardwalk summer night groove and "Still In Love With You," a soulful torch song with a burning slide guitar solo by David Martin. In 1980, Lloyds were featured in the Orion Studios film, "Die Laughing" in which they performed their witty signature rave-up, "And That's Why (I Don't Like You)," featuring the band's dynamic drummer, Alan Thiele.