Elmer Fudd

• Benny White - vocals
• Philip Donnelly - guitar
• Jody Pollard - guitar
• David Lennox - keyboards
• Keith Mansfield - bass
• John Donnelly - drums
  
  

Bio:

Serious riffing rock band formed in Dublin in the early 1970s. Most of the original lineup had previously been in Portrait whose roots go back to the Oscar Whifney Sound. Original singer Jimmy Mahon (ex Portrait) had also been in The Drags and Strange Brew with guitarist Jody Pollard. John Donnelly was ex Macbeth.

25 November 1971 gig in Galway with Black Knights

Elmer Fudd were managed by Terry O'Neill and Brian Tuite, the same team behind Thin Lizzy. Jimmy Mahon was briefly with the band before making way for Benny White. They toured Ireland supporting Thin Lizzy in September 1971, Lizzy's second Irish tour since relocating to London. Philip Donnelly left to join Donovan's band in the UK and was later in Gary Moore's band circa "Grinding Stone" (1973). John Donnelly (no relation?) would also play in Gary Moore's band and was later in Bananas.

The band shortened their name to Fudd in July 1972 and moved to the UK. This was preceeded by a week long Irish tour which visited Kilkenny, Tralee, Tramore, Ballina, etc. In August they were back in Ireland as guests on Ken Stewart's Ken's Klub show on RTE radio and at christmas they played the Mansion House (22 December 1972). Based in London, they became friendy with Ron and Ray Foulks, organisers of many of the big UK festivals at that time including the Isle of Wight. The Foulks managed the band part time, which is how they came to play as opening act at the Melody Maker Poll Awards Concert at the Oval in Kennington on Saturday September 30th, even though they hadn't been nominated in any category (and don't appear on some of the posters of the event). Also on the bill that day were ELP, Wishbone Ash, Focus, Genesis, etc. Perhaps with full-time management more would have happend with the band, but this was not to be and they split sometime in 1973.

   


Fudd onstage at the Kennington Oval in 1972
l-to-r: Jody Pollard, Benny White, John Donnelly, Keith Mansfield, David Lennox

Jody Pollard was later in Bananas and Skid Row among many others. Benny White's was involved with Thin Lizzy in the Funky Junction album and later fronted Sheriff. He was also frontman for The Times.

There are no known recordings.

The Oval in 1972, l-to-r: David Lennox, Keith Mansfield, Benny White, John Donnelly, Jody Pollard

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