Mark Lindsay Reignites a Classic With a Fierce 1987 Performance of “Kicks”
In a rare live clip from 1987, Mark Lindsay delivers an intense performance of “Kicks,” one of the defining hits associated with Paul Revere & The Raiders. More than two decades after the song first became a major success in the 1960s, the performance captures an artist refusing to rely purely on nostalgia, choosing instead to reinterpret the song with the louder and more theatrical energy of the late 1980s.
At 45 years old during the performance, Lindsay still carried the charisma that once made him one of the most recognizable frontmen in American rock. Dressed in sharp stage fashion that reflected the bold visual style of the era, including the unmistakable shoulder padded look popular in the 1980s, he commanded the stage with confidence and movement that reminded many why he had long been viewed as the emotional center of the band’s identity.
The performance itself, however, sparked divided reactions because of how dramatically it differed from the original recording. Some felt Lindsay’s vocal delivery leaned more toward shouting than singing, replacing the controlled coolness of the 1966 version with a rougher and more aggressive style. For listeners deeply attached to the original sound of “Kicks,” the reinvention felt jarring and far removed from the spirit that first made the song memorable during the garage rock era.
Others appreciated the willingness to modernize the track instead of simply recreating the past note for note. The heavier keyboard textures, unmistakably shaped by 1980s production trends, gave the song a glossy arena rock atmosphere. While some viewed those synthesizer driven sounds as dated or overly dramatic, others believed they added a fresh pulse to a classic hit.
One element that earned particularly strong praise was the drumming. The explosive rhythm section injected urgency and momentum into the performance, helping transform “Kicks” from a mid 1960s rock anthem into something larger and more forceful for a different generation of live audiences.
What makes the clip fascinating today is not perfection, but contrast. It shows an artist balancing the weight of musical legacy with the pressure to remain contemporary. Rather than preserving “Kicks” like a museum piece, Mark Lindsay turned it into a reflection of 1987 itself, louder, flashier, and far more confrontational than the version that first made history.