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Bio:
Punk/new wave band who came in for a bit of stick as most of them were well over 21!
Early lineups included John Borrowman and Chris Green who left mid-1978 to form The Atrix.
Ex Schoolkids drummer Charlie Hallinan joined around the same time, while
original drummer Pat Moylett (brother of the Rats Johnny 'Fingers' Moylett) became
the bands manager.
During November-December 1978, Berlin and the New Versions set out on the "Streets Ahead Tour '78" across Ireland, the first new wave tour of the country. They signed to Charisma in 1979 and released one great pop punk single in January 1980, though the Portugese issue appears to have predated the Irish & UK release by a few weeks. Both sides were written by bassist Maurice Czerniak. They performed the A-side (and, as far as I recall, another track) on Our Times on RTE Television. I vaguely recall Brian Devon holding up a sign saying "Hello Mum". Does anyone have video of this? Another strong track "Stop Stop" appeared on the "Just For Kicks" various artists LP released at the end of 1979.
Berlin appeared during the Sense of Ireland/Sounds of Ireland gigs in London in March 1980,
playing Acklam Hall with U2 and the Virgin Prunes in support on the 19th (with at least one
warm up gig in Nottingham a few days previous).
A second single appeared on Philips in Ireland, shortly before or after the bands decision to split in
April 1980, which may explain why it is so hard to find. It seems to have had very little
distribution, unsurprising if the band was no longer a going concern.
There are undoubtedly unreleased recordings (e.g. "Tube Talk")
Not to be confused with the Australian pop band on IRS Records.
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.