Philip Charles Lithman (June 17, 1949 - July 1, 1987) was born in London, England. He is best known for his work, primarily on guitar, with The Residents.
Lithman was given the name Snakefinger by The Residents upon witnessing his proficiency with the guitar, during their first live performance together.
In 1972 Lithman returned to England and formed Chilly Willy and the Red Hot Peppers. The band only lasted unti 1975 and by 1976, Lithman was back in the USA, this time in Los Angeles, California.
After a few years, Lithman returned to San Francisco, California.
While on tour in Australia in 1980, Lithman experienced a coronary heart attack that left him hospitalized for six months.
On July 1 1987 Snakefinger and his band, The Vestal Virgins, were in Linz, Austria on the European Night tour. During a performance at the Posthof Club Lithman experienced a fatal heart attack. On that same day his single, "There's No Justice in Life" was released.
Also worked with...
- Paul Bailey (guitar, banjo, and sax player)
- Dave Barret
- Miguel Bertel (guitar player)
- Carlos (guitar player who worked with the Dead Kennedys)
- Beth Custler
- Dick 'Deluxe' Egner
- Josh Ende (wind, brass)
- Eric Drew Feldman (worked with Captian Beefheart, Pixies, P.J. Harvey, Pere Ubu, and Frank Black)
- Opter Flame
- George B. George (bass player)
- Ben Guy (bass player)
- Dave Kopplin
- Colin Hansford (guitar player)
- Madame Lulu
- Richard Marriot (wind, brass)
- Paul Riley (bass player)
- Steve Royal (drummer)
- Jonny B. Ryan (Philip's drummer from 1980 onward)
- N. Senada (ethnomusicologist)
- Michelle Steele (worked with The Bangles)
- Martin Stone (guitarist, literary expert)
- Pete Thomas (drummer)
- David Whitten (bass player)
