From: Limerick
Active: 1976-81
Style: Glam rock
Lineup:
- Richard Hannoway AKA Mike O'Sullivan - guitar/vocals
- John Kenny - guitar/bass/vocals
- Kevin Sheehy - guitar
- Eugene O'Sullivan - keyboards
- Mick O'Sullivan - bass
- Ricky O'Sullivan - drums
Gimik in 1976. Left-to-right: Ricky (19), Mick (17) and Eugene (16)
O'Sullivan, John Kenny (18), Richard Hannoway (18) and Kevin Sheehy (17).
Bio:
Late 70s rock band from Limerick whose lineup included (future) comedian
Jon Kenny. Richard Hannoway is a pseudonym for Mike O'Sullivan who presumably
changed his name to avoid confusion with Mick O'Sullivan. Ricky O'Sullivan
may in fact be Paddy O'Sullivan.
Some consider them as forerunners of punk rock and "Stood Up" is usually described
as their best recording in this regard. Their debut is poor but the rest of the singles
show steady progress and are superior glam rock with punk leanings: "Stood Up",
"Changes", "Schools Out" and "I Don't Like It" (the most out and out metal of the four)
are all very good glam/hard pop/proto hard rock tracks. I have
not heard the Young Generation Choir Waterford single.
"...there were times when we were in places we shouldn’t have been in at all! Jesus,
it was like the scene in The Blues Brothers where they’re performing behind chicken
wire in that country and western bar. I remember situations years ago where you’d
sit down and look out at the audience and say, "What the fuck are we doing here?
There’s 400 punks at the gig and here we are doing glam rock!" We were doing Slade
covers and the boys wanted the Sex Pistols! But it was actually a great time to be playing,
because a lot of good things came out of the punk movement"--John Kenny
Gimik contined playing glam rock into the early 1980s before splitting up. John Kenny
became an actor and eventually developed a cabaret revue show, but he is
best known for D'Uunbelievables, the comedy duo he formed with Pat Shortt. He's also
released comedy records, including "Emigrate On 45" (Bus Records BUS32, 1986).
Discography
• Laugh, Live and Love / You Know My Name
7" - Release Records - RL 861 - October 1977 - no PS
A-side is a Mud cover; B-side is by band member Kevin Sheehy
Recorded at Lombard Sound Studios, produced by Dick Keating.
• Dancehall Queen / No More Magic
7" - MIK Records - MR1 - IRL - 16 June 1978 - no PS
A-side (by D.Valentine) is undoubtedly a cover; B-side by Kevin Sheehy
Produced by Ron Richards. A vast improvement onthe debut.
• School's Out Forever / Jaqui
7" - Gimik Records - MIK 002, but all copies labelled MIK 003 - IRL - March 1979 - no PS
Mistakenly labelled "MIK 003" on the label.
A-side is a mistitled Alice Cooper cover, the actual title is of course "School's Out"
The B-side is by Kevin Sheehy
Produced by Pat Little, and another strong A-side.
• Stood Up / Changes
7" - Gimik Records - MIK 003 - September 1979 - 500 copies pressed, some with PS
• I Don't Like It / Back On The Road
7" - Gimik Records - MIK 004 - June 1980 - folded PS
Related:
• Young Generation Choir Waterford - Hey Mr.Christmas / Christmastime
7" - Generation Music - ??? - December 1980 - PS
Gimik backed the choir on the A-side.
• Jon Kenny - Spancil Hill / Mirror, Mirror
7" - Bus Records - BUS 10 - 1984 - PS
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.
See Also:
