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Tweed

From: Kilkenny

Active: 1971-1984 approx

Style: Pop/Rock

Lineup: (1972)
Lineup: (ca 1980)

Lineup: (ca 1983)






Bio:

By the early '70s, the heyday of the showband had passed, and many bands had transitioned to playing country music, arguably the most popular live music in Ireland at that time. Tweed were one of the few pop-oriented bands to emerge from the showband scene who successfully managed to play the ballroom circuit in Ireland during the '70s while avoiding country music for the most part. Tweed were one of a small handful of bands, like Chips and The Memories, who managed to survive in this world through the quality of their live sets, faithfully reproducing the pop hits of the day while also performing their own material.

Tweed was formed in Kilkenny in 1971 by Brendan and Kenny Ryder. Several band members came from the defunct Nomads showband. The initial seven man lineup was joined in 1972 by Johnny Scully on trumpet, yielding what was to be a stable lineup for the next few years (see 1972 lineup above). Initially advertising themselves as playing a wide variety of musical styles, covering all the bases -- including country and western -- this quickly changed to a pop only format. Unlike their contemporaries, Tweed retained the brass section associated with the showband format, which gave their live show extra drive, and they were capable of the kind of driving rhythms that made Rob Strong's Plattermen such a live draw at the time. They quickly became a popular live attraction.



In October 1974 the band expanded to include Barry Woods (keyboards) and Gay Brazel (ex Real McCoy). Gay took over the lead guitar duties when Kenny Ryder left to form his own Kenny Ryder Superband in 1976. Pat Kelly replaced Tony Ford on bass and Dave Hallisey replaced Bertie Sherman. In June 1981, drummer Jeff Bourke was replaced by Seanie Ryan (ex Kenny Ryder Superband, Kim Newport Band). By 1983, only Gay Brazel and Johnny Scully were left from the mid-70s band. All other original members had gone, including both Ryders.


Tweed in the '80s


The band's live popularity was not reflected in the singles charts, however. Tweed averaged a single a year over their first 10 years, on various Irish labels. Their musical style varied over these releases, from glam-tinged rock in the early '70s, to pubrock in the late '70s and pop in the '80s. In his book "77: The Year of Punk and New Wave", Henrik Poulsen mentions them in the entry for the East Coast Angels but says he doesn't consider Tweed worthy of inclusion in his book. This seems a little harsh. Most of their '70s singles are worth picking up. 1979's "No Restrictions" was their entry in the National Song Contest, losing out to Cathal Dunne's "Happy Man". "Why Don't You Spend the Night" was their first chart hit, peaking at #16 in the Irish charts in May 1982. There's also a live performance from this period recorded for RTE TV, an hour long "Best of the Bands" special from 1981 which may still exist in the RTE vaults (don't hold your breath).


A version of Tweed still gigging by the late '80s.


I'm not sure exactly when Tweed called it a day. There seems to have been s band using the name Tweed into the late '80s with a couple of circa 1989 releases, one credited to Miranda & Tweed. Gay Brazel's name in the writing credits establishes the link to the original band...
The real original band was persuaded to reform for a charity event in Kilkenny in 2014 which was so successful that the reformed band decided to hit the road again with founding members Brendan Ryder, Michael O'Grady, Tony Ford, Arthur Connick, Dave Hallissey, Johnny Scully and Gay Brazel, and new recruit Brian Doran on drums. This coincided with the release of the bands first album which collects (re-recordings of?) all their old singles as well as some previously unreleased tracks ( their label rather unhelpfully describes this CD as 'Folk/Country Rock'. Kenny Ryder meanwhile still lives in Thurles and plays across the country with his own band, the Knight Ryders.









Discography

There may be singles missing from this discography.

• Six Days / Inspiration
7" - Play Records - PLAY 24 - June 1972 - PS
A-side by Michael O'Grady, B-side by Brendan Ryder.


• Caroline / All Night Long
7" - Polydor Records - 2078 030 - 1973 - no PS, pushout and solid centre pressings exist
A-side by Jeremy Paul & Paul Lynton. Produced by Tommy Ellis & Gerry Hughes.


• Give Me Luv / Rock 'N Roll Woman
7" - Polydor Records - 2078 043 - 1974 - no PS
Produced by Ed Welch. The B-side is an O'Grady/Ryder original and not the Buffalo Springfield song.


• Six Days / Lay It Down
7" - Ruby Records - RUB 206 - 1977 - no PS


• Wild Night / Who Killed Eskimo Joe
7" - Ruby Records - RUB 208 - February 1978 - no PS
A-side credited to O'Toole/Lee, B-side to Tweed


• No Restrictions / Man On The Road
7" - CBS Records - S CBS 7794 - IRL - 1979
National song contest entry


• Painted Lady / Dance With The Devil
7" - CBS Records - 8614 - 1980


• Too Hot To Handle / Horse's Collar
7" - CBS Records - 1389 - 1981


• Why Don't You Spend The Night / Oh Darlin'
7" - Drive Records - DRS 001 - April 1982
Reached #16 in the Irish charts in May 1982


• My Lagan Love / Horses Collar (instrumental)
7" - Drive Records - DRS 011 - August 1983
Reached #12 in the Irish charts in August 1983
The A-side is a rocked up version of the folk song; the B-side is ska.


• Lonely Girl / Breakin' Me Up
7" - Ritz Records - RITZ 068 - UK - June 1984


• Holyanna / Horses Collar
7" - Ritz Records - RITZ 137 - UK - 1986


• One Woman / Song For Laura (instrumental)
7" - Gasworks Records - GAS 1003 - IRL - 1989?


Miranda & Tweed - It Could Happen EP
12" - Tornbra Records - TORNBRA 1001 - IRL - 1989? - stickered diecut black cover

Notes: A1+B1 recorded at Windmill Lane, produced by Tweed and Tony Faulkner. B2 recorded at Bean Street Sudios, Waterford.



• Now And Then
CD - Sharpe Music - ??? - IRL - 2015
Re-recordings?



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.




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