Formed - November 1978 while still at school, this was a student punk band with Paul
Bonnar (sax/vocals), Colin Devlin (guitar), Gerry Grogan (bass) and original
drummer Lester. The early lineup also included two female backing singers, Tanya
Kiang and Hanna Woods. Lester was replaced by Dave Bell (drums, who had several
years experience as percussionist in the Irish Youth Orchestra). They gigged
extensively in the Dublin area. Their set included two covers, "Let's Dance" by
the Ramones and "Stepping Stone" by The Monkees/Sex Pistols but the rest was
original material mostly penned by Bonnar (lyrics) and Devlin (music). They
opened for U2 many times, mostly at the Dandelion Market, where they also
headlined.
Their first Dublin gig was in a community hall in the Liberties. They
played all the late 70s haunts; the Darndale Community Center, Howth Community
Center, Toners (a regular Monday night slot), The Magnet Bar, McGonagles; they
opened for The Blades, DC Nien, The Bogey Boys, The Rezillos at Liberty Hall and
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett at the TV Club, where the band also recorded
their 4 song demo tape which was sent to Dave Fanning (who played one track) and
John Peel. They also received airplay on pirate radio in Dublin. The band split
in late 1980 or early 1981. Paul Bonnar played in an early incarnation of
The Golden Horde before moving to New York in 1983.
Band manager and classmate Christopher Deignan also resides in New York.
Dave Bell appeared on the Passion Machine single.
None of the band members appear to have a copy of their demo tape, so if anyone
out there has one please get in touch.
Discography
• 4-song demo
K7 - 1979?
tracks:
Easy Penetration
Basement Life
Shift 14
Let's Dance
Notes:
An article in Imprint #9 (May 1980) lists the following song titles:
Whore
Unknown Quantity
Easy Penetration
Basement Life
Shift 14
The Ad-man Cometh
Middle Class Life
Help!
We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more
information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can
use, or spare copies of any releases,
then please get in touch.
