Dave Prim Band

• Dave Prim - lead guitar & vocals
• John Brennan - bass
• Alan Murphy - drums?
  
  
  Dave Prim in 1978
  

Bio: Kilkenny rock band who received very good press - Pat Egan was particularly complimentary in his regular column in Spotlight magazine. Dave Prim began playing in bands when he was 17 and fronted his own Dave Prim Band for several years during the mid-70s. Their Dublin debut supporting Spud at free concert at Blackrock Park on 22(?) July 1973 was cancelled due to bad weather, but they soon built a strong live reputation and DJ and promoter Smiley Bolger became their manager.

Bassist John Brennan (ex The Word) had to leave the band in late 1973 due to illness. His replacement was Garrett Brown, ex Aura, later of Fit Kilkenny & The Remoulds. Other notable members include Brian Despard (ca 1974-76) who was also ex Aura and also played in the Medium Wave Band (1974), the Jimi Slevin Band (ca 1977-78) and The Cheaters (1979), though he's best known as a memebr of Toy With Rhythm; and Jimmy Delaney (Rob Strong Band). Roland Vaughan (sax player on Fleetwood Mac's "Mr Wonderful" LP) gigged with the band on occasion.

A single was planned but it never came out. The band finally split circa 1976. Prim travelled around Europe and eventually joined the Chicken Fisher Band in Switzerland. This blues band was led by Londoner Martin 'Chicken' Fisher. The lineup was loose and flexible. Prim's playing evolved from flashy lead to a more nuanced style. The core trio of Fisher, Prim (on bass) and drummer John Forbes toured Ireland extensively during 1978. They even released a single on CBS ("Feel It") which had been recorded in Basle in early 1978. The Swiss arm of CBS arranged to release a full LP but I am unsure if it was ever completed.

The band often included a female vocalist, Emer Powell from Clonmel. She later sang with Taxi rock band of Waterford and co-founded Miss Brown To You. She recorded with various artists including Dave Prim, Liam Clancy, Phillip Donnelly, Towens Van Zandt, Martin O'Connor, Lee Clayton, The Singing Barristor & The Redneck Band, and Freddie White among others.

Prim also played traditional music and he owned (or co-owned) a record shop in Clonmel from 1972-82 approx.

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