Welcome
Welcome to the irishrock.org site. Yes we are still active.
We have no plans to go anywhere. OK, so it sometimes takes us months to
answer an e-mail. This is due to incompetence, not disinterest. Please keep
sending us your contributions.
We are attempting to document as many Irish rock bands as possible,
concentrating on the period 1966-1991.
For more background information, please read the Introduction
and FAQ.
Contribute
Contributions to this site are gratefully received.
Read here how you can help us.
LOOKING FOR INFO: Anyone with any information however minor about early Gary Moore band
Platform Three,
please get in touch immediately. Who was the bass player, was it ' Big' Sam Cook(e)? Was the drummer's name
Graham??? Please get in touch if you know anything.
The Search for Vinyl
We are always in need of vinyl by Irish artists. If you're a collector and
you wish to trade, please take a look at our want
and trade lists. If you've got records
or demo tapes by Irish artists lying in a box in the attic or gathering dust
somewhere then why not donate them
to our archive?
HELP! WE NEED THIS RECORD
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HELP US FIND A COPY PLEASE !!!
Announcements
Did You Work For An Irish Record Label Or Pressing Plant?
We're very keen to hear from anyone who worked for an
Irish record label (M&D not A&R), distributor or pressing plant,
especially during the '60s or '70s. Basically anyone with first hand knowledge
of the nuts and bolts of pressing records in Ireland before 1990.
We'd particularly like to talk to anyone who worked
in either of the two pressing plants (Carlton and EMI)
or anyone who had dealings with either plant on a regular basis.
Ideally the production manager with a full set of log books would
drop me a line... we live in hope!
See the contact details for
how to get in touch.
Could the person who sent the scan of the
BOOMTOWN RATS Neon Heart cassette please get in touch?
It seems there's none lying around in the official archive.
Hey Hot Press! How about a free subscription?
I'm far too much of a luddite to pay for electronic media.
Help us re-write Irish rock history by giving us free access to the
archives. How about systematically digitizing Bill Graham's pieces?
Last Update
Last Updates: Jan-Apr 2012.
Currently concentrating on the record label discographies.
Also adding many 7-inch picture sleeve scans, starting at A...
A major update (and email backlog clearout) is planned for May 2012.
Last Updates: December 2011.
Big Noise, Stano - scans added
Soul Survivors - photos added.
Interns - bio corrected/expanded.
Atrix, DC9 - date updates
Major Updates: 18 April 2011.
I'm catching up on a lot of data collected since the end of last year and there
have been lots of updates to the site over the past couple of months. My thanks
to those who contributed something recently and for those still waiting for updates
to take affect, please have patience!
This site is constantly being updated on a daily basis.
The majority of the changes are not logged, as I simply do not have
time to do it, but I try to mention any new band entries in the list
below
Some March-April 2011 Updates:
The Action, Paul Angle, Aslan, Bees Make Honey, Bluesville, Candy Shop,
Chant! Chant! Chant!, Chosen Few, Circle, Creatures, De Confidence,
Eire Apparent, Fountainhead, Gentry, Geraldine (McKeever), Granny's
Intentions, Greenbeats, Harvest Ministers, Infact Souls, Jeremiah Henry,
Jimmy Skinner (new), Last Bandits, Loudest Whisper, Montage, New Career,
Odin's People, Orphanage, Reform, Rodeo, Rootzgroop, Side One, Skara Brae,
Some People, Strangers, Threat, Time Machine, Toy With Rhythm, Trixons,
etc.
Major update: 7 January 2011.
This site is constantly being updated on a daily basis.
The majority of the changes are not logged, as I simply do not have
time to do it, but I try to mention any new band entries in the list
below
More Jan 2011 Updates:
Absolute Zero,
The Alleycats,
Auto Da Fe,
Brian Byrne,
Clark's Gable (addition),
Emmet Spiceland (1973),
Fabulous Fabrics,
Fountainhead (Pat O'Donnell solo LP),
David Lewis,
Keltic Klan,
Napalm Sunday,
Reverb,
Jamie Stone (addition),
Strong Are Lonely (addition),
The Boy The Boy,
Those Nervous Animals.
Labels: Crashed, Dolphin, Kabuki, SRS, Release.
Jan 2011 Updates:
Average Contents,
Bogey Boys,
Boy Scoutz,
Brown Thomas,
The Dark,
DC Nien,
Epidemix,
Face To Face,
Jaroc,
Mellow Candle,
New Versions,
Deke O'Brien,
Roach Band,
Rodeo,
Romantiks,
Sacre Bleu,
Spies,
Strange Movements,
Rob Strong,
Threat,
Time Machine,
Vipers,
Virgin Prunes.
Labels: Crashed, Hawk, ID, Play, Release.
Nov/Dec 2010 Updates:
Soon,
Starjets,
Max Quad Band,
Passion Machine,
Geraldine McKeever (addition),
Very Mental,
Toucandance,
Albatross,
Gemma Hasson,
Anno Domini,
Baby Snakes,
Flex & the Fastweather,
Alyce,
Stacc,
Catholic Guilt,
Strike.
Oct 2010 Updates:
Merged 60-s/70s and Punk/New Wave A-Z index lists.
Owl Records, Debut Records.
Sept 2010 Updates:
3355409s,
Eire Apparent,
Granny's Intentions,
Rodeo,
Louis Stewart,
Sweeney's Men,
Very Mental.
Sept 2010 Additions:
Alleycats/Talk To Strangers,
Asylum [Cork],
Black Revolvers,
Blue Angel,
Boneshakers,
Brainchild,
De Confidence,
The Blackouts,
The Chapterhouse,
Geoffrey's First Affair,
Idol Joy,
Jump The Gun,
Richie Laurence Band,
Legalized Slaughter,
New Belsen,
The Pink Hurts,
Porcelyn Tears,
The Queen & the Royal Family,
Resisdance,
School Kids,
Swim
May 2010 Additions:
Adolf J Rag,
Angel,
Don Baker,
Bojangle,
The Carpetbaggers,
Ceathrar,
Deep Joy,
Eyeless,
Family Pride,
Oscar Whifney Sound,
The Others,
Pan Pipers,
Rotgut,
Stud,
Supply Demand & Curve and
Taxi
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Email Backlog Counter
 I keep answering it - it keeps comin' in
23 April 2013: 299
20 April 2013: 333
Nothing like a bout of flu for getting though unanswered email.
Update: 12 February 2013: 365
Unfortunately a good deal of this progress was achieving deleting junk mail
7 January 2013: 435 !!
Enough is enough! I am actively working on this shocking backlog.
Feverishly answering emails at a blistering pace.
It takes precedence over everything else now.
Latest News
9 May 2012: Eric Kitteringham RIP
notice on rip.ie
Update 21 April 2013: LIMERICK ON RECORD RE-PRESSED
Despite being almost impossible to locate outside of a number of outlets in Limerick City,
the first edition of the 'Limerick On Record' 3xCD set mentioned below sold out almost immediately. I've just read
(see here)
that it has been re-pressed to meet demand, so get your skates on. It really is worth tracking down.
Alas, there still appears to be no online source for this set, you need someone
in the Limerick area to get it for you . . .
20 April 2013: YES WE'RE STILL HERE STOP ASKIN FERFUGSAKE!!!.
The new Ugly Things (issue 35, due in May) contains a feature on
The Radiators From Space
by Brian Neavyn. They even made the cover. Order it from their website . . .
Email is being answered ruthlessly at present.
Yes that's right, your email from 2011 may yet receive a reply one of these days . . .
Attention bands sitting on 30+ year old demo tapes - what are you waiting for?
What do you think is going to happen?
Don't you think it would've happened by now?
Release them! Make them available as downloads! . . .
A recent Limerick 3XCD compilation titled Limerick On Record features what I believe is
the first ever appearance
on CD of both sides of the first Granny's Intentions single. Both tracks sound fantastic (thanks John!) . . .
THis begs the question: why haven't all the Granny's Intentions singles been comped?
Surely there's a stunning archive CD to be compiled from the vaults? . . .
I added a Baby Snakes scrapbook page
to the site to accomodate a load of scans sent to me, check it out . . . Also check
out the South African single by The Movement on
what-looks-like Transatlantic Records, who were strongly opposed to apartheid and refused to
release any records there, in which case how
did this single come about? . . .
Finally, it seems my moans about second-hand vinyl prices in Dublin
is possibly evidence of my good self receiving 'special treatment' from evil dealers who know who I am
and figure I'll pay through the nose for any Irish record that takes my fancy.
For this reason I've been forced to adopt a disguise wheneve I enter the Temple Bar area. So, if you see a rotund
Korean gentleman bearing an uncanny likeness to Kim Jong-un coming out of a shop with an
old Golden Discs carrier bag under his arm don't be alarmed, it's just me, the supreme leader.
12 February 2013: WE ARE STILL HERE. Where are you?
Yes it's 6 months since our last news post but many exciting things have been
happening... the Release Records singles discography actually approaches
completion, unthinkable 3 years ago... never have so many dodgy records
occupied so many people's attention... a well-known Irish record dealer
tried to sell me a shit copy of a shit LP for €10, indicating this website
has precipitated seismic shifts in the thinking of the scavangers of the popular
culture landscape... an obscure band with a fantastic 1977 punk rock demo
continue to sit on it and do NOTHING with it! Why? ... the latest Ugly Things contains
an excellent feature on The Blue Aces by Brian Neavyn (I thought I'd already
posted about that, guess I over-wrote it).... I came acrss a Dermot O'Brien LP in
a shop in Azerbijzan listed under Unnatural Accordion Wizzardy. Naturally I
bought it.
14 August 2012: Bob Bolton article
See the online version of the article on Robert Bolton's current health problems
in todays Irish Times here.
If you wish to help raise the funds Bob needs for proper treatment,
see robertbolton.org and the
sponsor.ie page.
17 April 2012: Where Were You back in print
Garry O'Neill's Dublin youth culture book is back in print and in selectred bookshops now.
I'm told mailorder copies shipped April 12th. You can order it here.
It will be available in some Dublin bookshops from Thursday April 12th. More details on the website.
16 April 2012: Blaze X is here!!
Having suffered the crushing disappointment of securing a copy of Blaze X's essential "Some
Hope" single only for it to mysteriously disappear into the ether somewhere in transit between
Australia and here, I was gobsmacked when someone much closer to home offered me a
replacement copy. What can I say? . . . above and beyond call of duty . . . eternal rewards, etc . . . and here it is:
6 March 2012: Where Were You reprint
Garry O'Neill's Dublin youth culture book Where Were You which sold out immediately when it was published
late last year is due for reprinting in April. You can pre-order a mailorder copy now here.
It will be available in some Dublin bookshops from Thursday April 12th. More details on the website.
12 December 2011: Huge E-mail Backlog . . . Again
Again my apologies to all who have emailed me in recent weeks and months.
I have unanswered emails stretching as far back as July. I simply have not had time to
deal with them. Work has kept me far too busy since the summer and constant worry
about the insanity of politicians and bankers has kept me distracted. As my Zen master
used to say to me as he beat me senseless, 'Stop worrying about things outside your control,
you stupid prick'. I am trying, Sensei, I am trying. So, I plan to tackle the email backlog over
the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience.
December 2011: Reekus 30th Anniversary collection
Reekus Records celebrate their 30th anniversary with a double-CD set titled It's
Too Late To Stop Now. Of particular
interest to old people like myself are both sides of the cancelled Micro Disney
single from May 1981, a previously unreleased Blades tracks and Paul Cleary's
original recording of "Stumble Into Love". Nice to have
CD quality versions of single-only tracks by Camino Org and Some Kind of
Wonderful too. The first disc covers the original 1981-86 period, the second
disc the labels re-emergence in the noughties. Order it on the Reekus wesbite.
25 November 2011: Dublin Youth Culture book published
Garry O'Neill's Dublin youth culture book is finally out. Now titled Where Were You,
it contains a staggering 800+ photos. Finding yourself in it's pages will
become a badge of honour. Check out the website here.
Update: Completely Sold Out!
16 July 2011: Eddie Kelly RIP
notice on rip.ie
May 2011: BEWARE LIZZY 'FARMER' BOOTS on eBAY
Bootleg reproductions of Thin Lizzie's "The Farmer" single are currently selling on ebay for ridiculous amounts.
The fact that 3 have been offered within the past month doesn't seem to have made bidders suspicious.
This repro came out last year and everyone knew what it was: a bootleg reproduction of the first Thin Lizzy
single, pressed in a variety of colours, in a facsimile Parlophone sleeve. The creator of this bootleg was not
trying to mislead anyone. If you've seen an original, it's clear this repro is not the real thing.
Fast forward a few months and what do we find: unscrupulous (or stupid) sellers offering it on ebay without
explaining what it is. Oh none of them claim it's an original, of course, but no-one is saying
it's a reissue either. And if you claim it's on Parlophone Records and is DIP 513, then you are implicitly misleading
the public, as this bootleg is NOT an official Parlophone release, and is not a real DIP 513. It is a fake.
So caveat emptor, and let karma take care of the money-grubbing scumbags.
above: The Farmer, a genuine original.
below: the bootleg reproduction
15 April 2011: STILL ALIVE AT 55
The original lineup of the Mod-ls play the Turk's Head in Parliament St in Dublin on Friday May 27th in
celebration of Paul King's 55th birthday.
15 April 2011: RORY GALLAGHER FESTIVAL 2011
The Rory Gallagher Festival takes place between the 2nd and 5th June 2010 in Ballyshannon
Co.Donegal. This years headliners are Jan Akkerman and the Eric Bell Band. See the website
for details: www.goingtomyhometown.com
6 February 2011: Gary Moore RIP
Gary Moore (58) was found dead in his hotel room in Spain today.
January 2011: Tony Koklin RIP
Tony Coughlan AKA
Tony Koklin, from Ballyfermot, died in Wales just before Christmas.
Coughlin recorded two excellent singles and a very decent LP during 1979-81.
January 2011: Paul Ashford RIP
Paul Ashford of The Chosen Few,
The Miami, Emmet Spiceland (formed lineup 1973), Casanova OK,
Stepaside and The Sharks, died on 10 January 2011.
December/January 2011: Loserdom #21
I picked up issue 21 of Loserdom
in Dublin over christmas. It contains an interesting history of the Dalkey punk scene.
Well worth your €3.
December 2010: Kaught At The Kampus reissued
Haven't seen or heard it yet but I hear Reekus have reissued Kaught At The Kampus on CD.
No bonus tracks, alas [surely there were usable recordings??] Check Reekus' site for details.
Meanwhile, I finally got hold of a copy of . . .
November 2010: Clive Culbertson new LP
Clive Culbertson released a solo album last month titled 'Still Havin' Fun'.
It's available from Amazon, Ebay, I-Tunes & CD Baby.
November 2010: Trevor Fleming RIP
I just heard the sad news that Trevor Fleming of Sweet Savage died last month.
November 2010: More Sing Sing reissues
• Rip Off Records compilation LP (Sing 021)
• Strike - Radio Songs 7" (Sing 022)
See the Sing Sing Records site
for further details of these and earlier releases, including the Tinopeners and Blaze X reissues.
October 2010: More Sing Sing reissues
Protex - Strange Obsessions LP (Sing 016). The aborted Polydor LP
finally sees the light of day. Hats off to Sing Sing for getting this out.
Any chance of a Tearjerkers LP?
Also imminent (due Nov 2010):
A Rip Off Records compilation LP (Sing 021)
Strike - Radio Songs 7" (Sing 022)
See the Sing Sing Records site
for further details of these and earlier releases, including the Tinopeners and Blaze X reissues.
September 2010: Creatures video on youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbbpSzpe5B4
Is that Paul Brady at 1:43?
September 2010: Steppes back catalogue reissues.
Cherry Red will be reissuing The Steppes albums on CD in the
near future. They've been OOP since Delerium ceased trading in
the late 1990s.
30 March 2010: Foxrock Folk Club tapes.
According to this blog,
a fantastic tape archive of live recordings made at the Foxrock Folk Club exists.
I've emailed the address on the site but received nothing back. If anyone has
better contacts, please get in touch.
There are some tantalising shows listed including:
Horslips 6.2.72
Mellow Candle 20.2.72
Louis Stewart 20.12.70, 11.4.71, 19.12.71
Supply, Demand & Curve 29.2.71, 5.12.71, 2.4.72
Tara Telephone 19.10.69, 20.12.70
24 March 2010: Still looking for Vox backissues.
I'm looking for issue #1, #12 and #13
(13 pictured above).
If you can help me get copies of any of these, please get in touch.
I'd also be grateful for a photocopy or scan (300 dpi please) of #1.
5 February 2010: Another New Book
• The Complete Guide to Ireland’s Top Ten Hits 1954 – 1979
by Eddie Kelly. This is a greatly expanded version of Eddie's earlier book
on the charts of the 1960s. I haven't seen it yet but I can't imagine
it being anything less than essential. My only wish is it covered the full top 20,
if for no other reason than to have the opportunity to read bios of the many
obscure Irish artists who only managed one single which barely scraped into the top
20. But such a book would undoubtedly have been unfeasibly large. Publishled in hardback
last month by originalwriting.ie
14 January 2010: Dave Kearney RIP
Dave Kearney, lead guitarist with The Movement (1967-68), died on January 14 in Canada,
where he'd lived since the 1980s. Dave's fuzz solo on the A-side of the band's debut single "Tell Her"
(Target/Pye 7N 17443, January 1968) is simply outstanding.
He died in January 2010.
January 2010: Recent CDs I Need
• 051 Compilation CD. Can't find it anywhere, can't mailorder it.
• Sunflower Nights CD. Made several arrangements to get this and all fell through.
click here for old news
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