Original Sin

Big Lightnin’ is ‘rock ‘n’ roll couple’ Russell Wilkins (Big Russ Wilkins) and Saskia Holling (Lightnin’ Holling), who have over 70 years of musical experience between them and have played, in various guises, in small bars, festivals and clubs across Europe, Japan, Mexico, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand. Russ has played with The Milkshakes, The Wildebeests, The Mindreaders and the Len Bright Combo (with Wreckless Eric and Bruce Brand). Saskia is a former member of Scottish grrrl bands Sally Skull, The Nettelles and Thee Girl Fridays. Together Russ and Saskia play in Lord Rochester, but Big Lightnin’ is NOT Lord Rochester.. Recording and performing together as a duo over lockdown (see their viral version of ‘Tiger Feet’ on YouTube), Russ and Saskia required musical company once allowed out of the house again. They teamed up with Folkestone Freakbeat heroes Lois Tozer and Mole Lambert (The Embrooks, The Dagger Debs, The Galileo 7, The Jack Cades, The Capellas to name but a few bands from this couple’s musical CV), to inject big band energy into the Big Lightnin’ sound and create this album. Expect BIG sounds and LIGHTNIN’ performances from these four across the UK this summer. ‘Original Sin’ is an album for all of you sinners out there…The album is a foray into a dark world but with a light, and sometimes humorous, touch. Russ and Saskia ‘borrow’ original vintage sounds from a few favourite artists – notably The Sparks on the petulant ‘Bad Boy’, P J Harvey on the lust driven ‘Circus’, The Byrds on the mental breakdown of ‘Just A Thought Away’, Bobbie Gentry on murder ballad ‘Joseph’, Johnny Thunders’ Heartbreakers on the questioning ‘Holy Willie’ (inspired by Rabbie Burns) and Lemmy from Motorhead on the paean to being different, ‘Cure’. 70s Chart Music From pop to rock to glam to country to punk – it was all there, and is all here.