RHODE ISLAND RED was formed in 1989 by the highly rated ex-STAMPEDE, WILD HORSES, and GRAND SLAM guitarist Lawrence Archer. Mike Dyer was vocalist with TOKYO, bass player Gary Liederman is ex-TALK TALK and BROADWAY BRATS. Both Archer and Liedermann had previously featured in the 1985 act L.A. SECRETS. Dyer was later replaced by Tony Bryan. RHODE ISLAND RED demoed and gigged until Archer left to join UFO in 1991 for the 'High Stakes And Dangerous Men' album and world tour. Bryan joined funk rockers FRANKENSTEIN. Also featuring in the RHODE ISLAND ranks at one stage was former MIRROR MIRROR guitarist Alan Jordan, subsequently to join FRANKENSTEIN.

Leidermann joined BRITISH LION before he formed SKELETON CREW with IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, a band which evolved into PSYCHO MOTEL. Liederman was also a member of Smith's act THE UNTOUCHABLES and CHAIN. The bassist also figured on ASIA's 2001 'Aura' album and held a brief tenure with THIN LIZZY. Alan Jordan resurfaced in 2005 as part of the re-formed ONSLAUGHT line-up.