A rather eclectic band living precariously on the edge of Pop Rock with a direction focussed on the reality of the street, covering the grim subject matter of drugs, prostitution, murder, child abuse and wife beating, DEAR MR. PRESIDENT was formed from the ashes of the Epic signed BANG BANG, although Raymond could claim stronger metallic links as he had once fronted Portland Hard Rock band MOVIE STAR, the band that spawned BLACK N' BLUE. Raymond had also played bass in the group, a position he also filled when recording with KEVIN WET on the Portland artist's legendary 'Wet' EP with MOVIE STAR's Jaime St. James on drums in 1980.

One of the earliest DEAR MR. PRESIDENT line-ups featured DAN REED NETWORK keyboard player Blake Sakamoto. Formed in November 1986 the band name was inspired by the title of a very bizarre painting that Raymond had seen at an art exhibition hosted by former teen star Leif Garrett.

Signing to Atlantic Records in April 1987 the group picked up FOREIGNER's manager Bud Prager in order to bat for them at the label. This liaison resulted in the band's album being produced by FOREIGNER's guitarist MICK JONES, featuring the stand-out tracks 'Daddy, Have You Ever Been Arrested?' and 'Love And Violence'.

Most observers agreed that 'Who Killed Santa Claus?' was far too chilling for words, the song being inspired by the death of a child called Eli Creekmore who was kicked to death by his father in September 1986. A horrific event that naturally had made headline news in Portland and further afield, especially when it became clear that the child had been taken into care by social services on four occasions only for him to be handed back to his parents each time.

Not long after the album appeared in the stores the band changed their name to FLESH AND BLOOD, following an approach from the White House who, it would appear, bought the rights to the name from the band for the presidential office's own use!

The album was re-released under the new handle by Atlantic, and although the group recorded new material in demo form with a view to issuing a second record the band would eventually split in the early 90s, with Julian Raymond taking up an A&R position at Hollywood Records.

C.J. De Villar was quick to team up with STEVIE SALAS in the first incarnation of the STEVIE SALAS COLORCODE and played on the debut release for Island. More recently the bassist has been working with ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist GILBY CLARKE on his second solo album 'The Hangover', DeVillar taking a co-production credit into the bargain.