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Anyone can make a mistake - and this website is no exception!
Several bands were incorrectly listed as Irish on this site in the past, in most cases because they were described as such in some other source. The purpose of this page is to correct such errors. I've also included bands who are regularly incorrectly described as Irish on eBay and other sites for various reasons.
Of course there is a very large grey area, as so many Irish musicians joined or formed bands in the UK (and elsewhere). The (loose) criteria I use is that the band must have been initially based in Ireland or is comprised of all Irish emigres. I realise this excludes the Gogan sisters (The Passions, Prag Vec) and a good case can be made for both, but I can't justify their inclusion (yet!). Besides, both bands already have excellent websites of their own.
Please remember I am not trying to make some nationalistic point here. It really doesn't matter! I started this site to document bands because they were not being documented elsewhere, not because of their origin. Their origin is simply the theme.
Indie punk.
7" - The Freedom Fighter / All The Others / 1990 (private S/81/CUS1217, UK 1981) (PS)
Well-known (now) punk band with some excellent singles.
7" - (I Had It) All Worked Out/Good Grief (Tyger TYG 2, UK 1979)
As previously suspected, this is now confirmed to be a USA release. The band name is actually Ko, not Ako, and they were probably from Kentucky. One review compares them to the Weirdos. This one appeared on many want lists for many years as a northern Irish band.
7" - Suitcase Bomb // Worried World / Out Of Control (Wow Records WOW1, US 1979)
At one time Albania was reported as a Portrush based band with one Dougie Gough
(pre Mighty Shamrocks) on guitar.
According to an old Bill Graham piece in Hot Press, Albania are the descendents
of Rodeo, Errol Walsh's mid-70s country rock band, who emigrated to Scotland.
Its certainly not unusual for N.IRL bands to have Scottish links but the story
is more complicated than that.
The lineup on Albania's sole LP is listed as K.Y. McKay (vocals, guitar), Nick
C.Ash (keyboards/guitar), Andy Hamilton (saxes), Dusty AKA Dusty McSheffrey (bass)
and Jonnie Kilometer AKA John Miles (drums). Dusty and Jonnie came out of a
Glasgow band called the Kelvinators and played in Rodeo circa 1977 with guitarist
Dougie Gough (pre Mighty Shamrocks) and singer/band leader Errol Walsh. Hamilton,
Dusty & Jonnie were also in another Glasgow band called Croppa (a corruption of
Steve Cropper). All these bands were familiar to K.Y. McKay from their live
shows in Glasgow. He formed Albania in 1978, enlisting the services of these ex
Croppa/Kelvinators/Rodeo players.
Albania were signed in London in 1978 but didn't release anything until 1981, by
which time Dougie was in the Mighty Shamrocks. However, he is credited with
rhythm guitar on 5 of the albums tracks. Also among the guest credits are Nicola
Kerr (New Seekers and Chips) and Ed Deane (Woods Band, etc). A best of
CD was released a few years ago (the amusingly titled Life After Death Is On The
Phone: The Best Of Albania). If anyone's read the liner notes, do they say any
more about Albania's pre-history and it's Irish roots?
The producer is listed as Robert Ash. Andy Hamilton went on to play sax for the
Boomtown Rats, Duran Duran, Dexys, Wham, etc
PS KY McKay sent me a cryptic/enigmatic/slightly scarey email in 2010 confirming most of the
above (I think) and adding that John Miles now lives in New York and Dusty McSheffrey
somewhere near Sydney. McKay is still writing and recording material.
Post-punk with female singer, a sought after single these days. I've seen this listed as N.IRL punk, but this is incorrect. The band came from Moss Side in Manchester.
7" - Popstar/Attack (Armed Force AF01, 1979) (PS) [500]
Sixties-styled mod/R&B band. No relation to the Dublin band.
mLP - Impudent Reptiles (Unicorn Records, 1987)
Was this Martin Lundy's Katmandu appearing on a split single with John 'Doc'
Bart in 1982? Turns out the answer is yes, this is the Martin Lundy Katmandu.
All credit to the
Failed Bohemian for confirming this . . . by acquiring a copy from right under my nose, and then miraculously locating a second copy for me.
It's an essential addition to the Katmandu discography. Hearing it made me realise it did get
some RTE airplay, which might even be the source of the two copies that turned up locally.
But how this single actually came about is unknown at present.
Bart was based in California. His earlier single "Remember Iran"
caused some controversary on it's release in 1980 and is now a minor collectable.
Katmandu back Bart on the A-side and appear in their own right on the B.
Good luck finding a copy.
The Bears were on Good Vibrations International series, which many don't realise was set up specifically for non Northern Ireland bands.
7" - On Me / Wot's Up Mate (Live At Waldo's Jazz Club Watford) (Waldo's Records Jazz Series JS-001, 1978) (PS) +insert
Mod revivalist but no relation to the Dublin band, and I'm not sure if both singles listed here are actually by the same band.
7" - Close Shave EP (SPS 584) (PS)
Poppy new wave with keyboards
7" - Rubber Revolution/Chemical Babies (Arista ARIRV-262, 1979) (PS) red vinyl
English pop wave/synth-pop/dance-funk outfit on Magnet Records, undoubtedly an
inspiration for Kajagoogoo.
Active: 1980-85
Devotional music by Wilfrid Usher with words by William Hewett. Based on the spiritual
exercises of St.Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits (keen exponents of the Inquisition).
The first album is the better of the two. It was once offered at outrageous prices by the usual dealer scumbags
when it first came to light but the price soon came down once people began to hear it. It's often
described as psych or psych folk but it's nothing of the sort.
The songs have heavy christian (catholic) themes.
The music is neither contemporary folk nor medieval. It contains chanting but in a very church-like manner.
The religious ethos envelopes the music completely.
Instruments used include guitar, piano, violins, cello,
bass, trumpet and drums.
Arrangements are by John Mallord.
There are two distinct pressings.
One has the Indigo Studios logo on the label and cover, the other does not. There is no indication
which is the first pressing. Both editions were pressed by EMI Ireland and have the text Made In Ireland on the label.
It's tempting to view the Indigo pressing as a UK release and the other as an Irish release, but in fact
both editions are UK releases pressed in Ireland.
A second LP credited to Mystery Maker followed in 1977.
Reggae band formed in 1982 in Coventry with Charley Anderson ex The Selector. The band members come from the West Indies (Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Antigua). They recorded a reggae version of the "The Fields Of Athenry" which was a hit in Ireland and they have been popular in ireland ever since and tour there to this day.
7" - Baby Don't Want Me / ? (CSB 1, 1982) (PS)
A different outfit to either the band from Omagh or the pre-Coletranes band from Dublin, but I don't know any more details about them, except that they are a duo from Coventry. There was yet another Crocodile Tears active in the early 1980s based in the USA.
mLP - s/t (1985)Pressed in Ireland, but Flasher were a UK band. Great packaging but fairly uninteresting music (rock/pub rock/funky rock).
LP - Secret in the Cupboard (Rabbit RRUK8197900, IRL 1979) gimmick foc + insert, pressed on red vinyl
A new wave "ethno forgery" release, unrelated to the Galway band.
7" - Falklands/Follow Me Home (Relentless Records RS 100, 1982)Different band to the above.
7" - Blue Sky (1983)
The Gas are a relatively well known UK band who released several snappy powerpop
records on Polydor and on their own Good Vibrations label, though the band was
associated with the legendary Belfast label. This is undoubtedly the source of the
confusion which leads to them being described as an "Irish mod band".
The Gas manager in 1981 was Bob Johnston who also manged The Ruts and who helped
organise gigs in England for Belfast band the Bank Robbers in September 1981; when Good
Vibrations relaunched the following year, it released the Bank Robbers debut
single which had been awaiting release since mid-1981. The Gas were probably
considered by Good Vibes, but the label had gone under again by the time these 1983
releases came about.
Polydor singles: "Ignore Me" (1981), "Treatment" (1981), "The Finger" (1982)
and "Breathless" (Polydor, 1982). LP "Emotional Warfare" (1982)
Lineup: Dell Vickers (bass/vocals), Donnie Burke (guitar/vocals), Les Sampson (drums).
This garage band from Portland used a jug (like the 13th Floor Elevators) and released the "Halloween Everywhere" LP plus a single. Their website is here. No relation to the Dublin band.
A late 80s/early 90s Italian pop duo who recorded for RCA. There were also Spanish and Japanese bands using this name, and most recently what looks like some underground metal variation reminiscent (in packaging at least) of Neurosis.
LP - s/t (RCA PL 71920, Italy 1988)A Japanese synth band a la YMO with striking cover artwork. The '20s fashion theme is carried through all their releases.
This was a post Hudson-Ford band, like the Monks (of "Nice Legs, Shame About The Face" fame). They released two singles ("I Never Go Out In The Rain" and "Gotta Get Out Of This Rut") on Eagle Records in 1980-81 and a self-titled LP on Stately Home in 1984. Check the related groups section of the official Strawbs website. No relation to the Irish band.
Sometimes offered as "minimal synth" and described as Irish, David Ireland was in fact English and was probably based in Holland in the late 70s. He co-wrote a song on dutch progressive pop-rock band Kayak's Starlight Dancer album in 1977. Kayak mainman Ton Scherpenzeel produced this single the following year. I'm sure I've seen a self-released dutch-press solo LP from around the same time (I should've nabbed it and stuck it on ebay, eh?)
7" - Zoo Games / Nuclear Love (Polydor 2650 512, 1978) (PS)The band who recorded this fantastic single for CBS was NOT the Paul Brady outfit from Dublin -- see their entry for more about this confusion. More details of the UK band are emerging all the time thanks to the efforts of various ethno/cultural archeologists. Check youtube for recordings taken off acetates, etc.
My current guess is this band was from Liverpool. Anyone know better? The Lower Pool had two two tracks ("Minus A Nickel", "The Tune Of It") on the Guru Weirdbrain LP (1985) which couldn't be more different. "Minus A Nickel" is pure honky tonk country+western and pretty awful. "The Tune Of It" is lo-fi bedroom tunelessness which evokes the spirit of Daniel Johnston. Both tracks are credited to F.Maher, one Frank Maher. That was all I knew about him until a single turned up on ebay credited to the Lower Pool Band, both sides by Maher, and sporting a (p) 1979. On Made To Measure Records with no other clues as to its date or origin. It's poorly recorded sub-Lou Reed. A second single on Made To Measure appeared in 1980, credited to Frank Maher. It carries the credit "Production Marita & Frank at Keystone". Maher issued more solo material during the 1980s.
7" - Sunkie Days / Way Under (Made To Measure Records B5347/B.won2ok, 1979) (no PS)
An obscure NWOBHM trio who single was well received but the band petered out. Guitarist Jeremy Nagle was from Cork. He left in 1980 for London where he joined Megaton. He later returned to Cork in 1982-83 to join Driveshaft. Other members of Megaton were: Torvak, J. Gartland
7" - Aluminium Lady / Die Hard (Hot Metal Music HMM 69, UK 1981) (no PS)
Lineup: David Gough, Ian Irvine, Paddy Colohan, Tony Dolman (drums)
No relation to the classic powerpop trio from Derry.
Canadian synth-pop duo 1982-86, comparable to Midge Ure-era Ultravox.
12" - Living With Passion (TGO Records TGO-107, Canada 1983)
Pub rock/punk. Often listed on eBay as an Irish band (and in Henrik Beck
Poulsen's book "77: The Year of Punk and New Wave") because the single was
pressed in Ireland but the band was most probably from Liverpool, the home of
their label Far In Records, which was distributed by Lightning Records. Some
copies include this label flyer insert.
Lineup: Phil Roberts (v/g), Colin Pritchard (g), Ian Mallett (b),
Micky 'Smiffy' McAlinsky (d)
Famous for recording the original version of "Hanging On The Telephone" later covered by Blondie.
Though guitarist Brian Willoughby was from Northern Ireland, this band is listed here. Brian had been playing in the same London folk clubs as Dave Cousins (pre Strawbs) and had already toured the world as guitarist for Mary Hopkins before becoming involved in No Sweat, who recorded one single for Pete Townshend's Eel Pie label. They forced Clive Culbertson's band to alter their name to The Sweat. Brian then joined the Strawbs in 1979 and has been involved with them ever since. See www.strawbsweb.co.uk for more details.
7" - Work On Her/Gimme Some Action (Eel Pie EPS002, 1978)
A UK band from Hackney, East London who played in Belfast several times and are often mistaken for a Belfast band. They were included in It Makes You Want To Spit! as a joke. "Dirty Harry on the Falls Road" is a great song title! And of course there was a Northern band called Music For The Deaf . . .
7" - Nice To Be Back / Dirty Harry on the Falls Road (Music for the Deaf MFD1, UK 1981) (PS)
Powerpop.
7" - Right Direction/B.I.N.Y.C. (Jet 190, UK 1980)Probably toured in Ireland, resulting in the single on Release. They followed this up with an LP which featured the Kick Horns horn-section-for-hire.
7" - Artist / Spain (Release RL970, 1979) (company PS) A=awful / B=good guitars
Notorious London based punk/glam band. Lead singer Sean Purcell was from that den of vice known as Clonmel, Co.Tipperary. Raped's gutter-punk singles and the Cuddly Toys very Bowie damaged Guillotine Theatre LP are well worth tracking down. Sean moved to Galway in the 80s where he joined Time In Motion
Black Maria re-christened for an EP of Lennon/McCartney covers.
7" - One And One Is Two - Rox Records - UK - 1979 - PSSee Steve LDK's excellent blog for details.
7" - s/t EP - Ellie Jay - UK - 1981 - PS
Lineup: Steve Alcoran, Nick Miller, Trevor McBride, Josh Kirby
Not the Dublin band.
Lineup: ???
Not sure how this one came to be known as an Irish band, as it's clearly a USA pressing.
This error is occasionally repeated on ebay by sellers copying from older sources. I can't
recall the original source. I remember discussing it with someone ages ago but I've forgotten
the details. Secret Rocker were an NYC area band with at least two singles on
their own SRI label. 'Rock Drill' is credited to Kelley/Burnett and is (c) 1980 SRM Inc. It's not
bad, starts out great, gets a bit bogged down in the middle, finishes OK. Now a minor collectable.
Cool label design.
This band's second single was released on Good Vibrations in the main GOT series instead of the GVI series usually used for 'international' bands, i.e. bands from outside Northern Ireland. Both singles are pricey and recommended.
7" - Wot's For Lunch Mum? (Not Beans Again!) / College Girls //
Detroit garage band.
7" - I Found Out/It Ain't Easy (US 1984) (PS)Mistakenly identified as Irish by this website, Speed Limit were American and their lone single, produced by Mark Stewart (ex Pop Group, On-U-Sound) was released in 1981 on Play Records through Red Light Productions. The latter had an address in LA. The EP is synth based and has been variously labelled synth-pop and post punk, and described as "mixing elements of dub and popPunk" and sounding "like house-remixes of GIRLS AT OUR BEST or DOLLY MIXTURE at times." It has surfaced in the Hyped2Death reissue series.
7" - Sound Of Music EP (Play/Red Light Productions JK 100 ARE, USA 1981) (PS)LP on Dreamland Records. Different band to the Belfast Spider.
NWOBHM band with releases on Alien Records, Nik Records and RCA. Different band to the Belfast Spider.
this is incorrectly listed as being by Spider in several sources and is often attributed to the Belfast band. The picture is from an ebay auction and confirms that this is not the case.
7" - Do You Want To Die For England?/ Animals (Test Pressing TP-2, UK 1980) (PS)
Danish band who had a single released on Scoff Records, licensed from TIR.
This came about probably through John Borrowman, who moved to Copenhagen
after The Atrix split for the first time. Stalin Staccato toured Ireland
in June-July 1988. The Atrix had a single released on TIR Records in Denmark
under the name Afghan Trucks.
Lineup: Kenneth (v/g), Michael (g), Lars (b), Gert (d).
French progressive rock band with Irish singer Danny Brown, who
sings in English.
Lineup: Danny Brown (v) + four others
Alt/hard rock band.
12" - Underground īNī Round EP (Rain Records RAN 100, 1987)Early 80s band featuring well known music journalist Nick Kent
7" - My Flamigo/Veiled Woman (Demon, 1980) (PS)Mod band from Birmingham.
7" - I Like You / Tango / The Perv (Shoestring LACE 002, 1979) (PS)
A later incarnation of The Jets (UK). This is the second 'international' single (after The Shapes) to be released on Good Vibrations in the main GOT series.
7" - The Jets - Original Terminal/The Iceburn (Good Vibrations International GVI002, 1979)
Three Hands started out in Boston as a trio of Mark Kopenits (guitar, vocals),
Chas McCann (bass) and John Farrell (drums, vocals).
Their debut single was released in 1983 and is a good post-punk effort.
By the time they recorded for Scoff Records circa 1985, Mark Kopenits had left
and the band had relocated and expanded to a quartet. This version of the band
was led by guitarist Paul Lebel (ex Museum Directors). They recorded three singles
for Scoff Records. Most of the tracks were Farrell/Kopentis compositions. Paul Lebel's
now defunct website (paullebel.com) stated that the first two Scoff singles were recorded (or mixed?) at
Normandie Sound studio in Rhode Island and were produced by Deke O'Brien.
Irishman John Farrell played drums for Stagalee
at one point (can anyone confirm?). Further details to clarify the Scoff catalogue numbers
appreciated but I am not holding my breath.
MkI Lineup: Mark Kopenits (g/v), Chas McCann (b), John Farrell (d/v).
MkII Lineup: Paul Lebel (v/g), Wally Poz (g/v), John Olszewski (b/k/v), John Farrell (d/v).
Reputedly fine mod/powerpop from France.
7" - s/t EP (Smap Records SM 4502, 1979) (PS)
Mike Scott (ex Another Pretty Face) formed the Waterboys in the early 80s. After a number of acclaimed records, he recorded a more roots-based LP in Ireland called "Fisherman's Blues". This album was a paradigm of fake nostalgia, full of ludicrous lyrics evoking an imaginary past, about standing on windswept clifftops and sailing the seven seas and all the rest of it. Utterly fake in my opinion (can you tell I didn't like it?) but very influential in Ireland, spawning the so-called raggle-taggle bands and rotting the impressionable minds of many of my contemporaries.
C86 band from Glasgow circa 1986-1992 who recorded for Head and Sub Aqua Records and have appeared on the Leamington Spa compilations.
7" - Beat Girl (Head Records HEAD 2, 9/1986)Mid-80s electro synth pop band who released just one single. It sounds exactly as you'd expect: busy, cluttered, overproduced, synth heavy pop music. Ingmar Kiang (ex Max, New Versions) plays bass. The German 12inch plays at 33rpm and clocks in at 24:45.
7" - Carried Away / Closer To The Ground (Irrepressible PRES1, UK 1984) (PS)
