Irish acts of the 80's/90's- where are they now ?

Having just dusted off my copy of 'Immigrants, Emigrants and Me' to satisfy an inexplicable urge to hear '100 hundred ways to kill a love' by Power of Dreams, it made me think about whatever happened to the rash of bands that the country seemed to churn out in the late 80's and early 90's ?

Those were the days when it seemed every town in Ireland had churned out a band, yet none of them could make it in the UK. My favourite from the time was Something Happens - who were fortunate/unfortunate enough to secure Top 10 hits in 2 of Europes smallest record-buying markets ('Parachute' in Belgium and Switzerland), but got to about as far as No 41 in the UK.

'The 4 of us' made it into the UK charts, but their music was a bit individual, so didn't have the staying power.

Therewere loads of other bands though - some good (Something Happens, The 4 of us), some ok (An Emotional Fish, A House, An Tua Nua) and some were just pushing their luck (Cry Before Dawn, Cactus World News).

So where are they now.....?

The only one I know anything about is Gerry Fish (lead singer of Emotional Fish) doing the compering to 'Songs from a Room' and the odd additional musical thang.

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

The only one I know anything about is Gerry Fish (lead singer of Emotional Fish) doing the compering to 'Songs from a Room' and the odd additional musical thang.

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No, that's John Kelly, from the Mystery train. Gerry Fish is in the mud bug club (or something)
Some of them have re-formed (4 of us), some have gone on to other projects.


So, were you watching Reverb lastnight?

Not a bad program, except for the annoying trying-to-be-funny "comedians" commenting on the clips

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Something Happens - who were fortunate/unfortunate enough to secure Top 10 hits in 2 of Europes smallest record-buying markets ('Parachute' in Belgium and Switzerland), but got to about as far as No 41 in the UK.

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I was in the Netherlands in late 1990 and it had been a hit there too.

Dunno what the drummer's doing now but bassist Alan (Byrne is it?) is the music producer for the late late now. Ray Harman writes music for tv (theme of that Irish "prime suspect" type thing is his) and Tom Dunne is of course spinning whatever CDs NME and Q are telling him to on today fm.

I think Parachute was withdrawn as a single in the UK because desert storm kicked off in jan 91. If it wasn't withdrawn it was certainly struck from any playlists of major stations anyway so the effect was the same.

As for stopping at 41 -Microdisney did it twice in a row with 'town to town' and then 'singers hampstead home' How frustrating must that be?

Jerry Fish is touring and playing live all the time with The MudBug Club. They played Oxegen last time it was Witnness! I was going to post about the four and us and Something happens but I was beaten to it!! :)

The Stunning are the Walls? Is that right?

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Originally Posted by Gareth

The Stunning are the Walls? Is that right?

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Yep. Joe and Steve were the brothers in the Stunning.
Gerry did present other voices last series, which may be where the confusion is.
Nick Kelly (The Fat Lady Sings) is back touring again with a new album
as is Dave Couse (A house)

any word on Engine Alley? used to like them.

Rollerskate Skinny's second album is back on sale in Tower. Does anyone remember Bawl? Well they are mainly Pony Club now. Kerbdog are back. Playing Oxegen. Hmmm...*thinks* I will remember more older ones later.

Can't believe ye have all forgotten the best band ever to come out of Limerick
TUESDAY BLUE ! :o

Dont forget "Fatima Mansions"...what a weird and wonderful band!

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

Can't believe ye have all forgotten the best band ever to come out of Limerick
TUESDAY BLUE ! :o

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:) they did a re-union gig about 18 months ago here in town at the warehouse.

Singer Mike Ryan still performs live under the name Bone,

Bassist Ralph Lindheim still lives and works in the Limerick area I believe (IT/Graphic design I think) and was playing bass with local country-rocker Joe Brown last time I saw him -as was guitarist

Dave Keary who has also toured with River Dance
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Ray Fean has played as a session drummer for god knows who at this stage -most prolifically with Donal Lunny and River Dance.

Keyboard player Tom Jones is back in Shannon where I believe he rents, services and distributes vending machines. Rock'n'Roll!!!

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Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

:) they did a re-union gig about 18 months ago here in town at the warehouse.

Singer Mike Ryan still performs live under the name Bone,

Bassist Ralph Lindheim still lives and works in the Limerick area I believe (IT/Graphic design I think) and was playing bass with local country-rocker Joe Brown last time I saw him -as was guitarist

Dave Keary who has also toured with River Dance
.
Ray Fean has played as a session drummer for god knows who at this stage -most prolifically with Donal Lunny and River Dance.

Keyboard player Tom Jones is back in Shannon where I believe he rents, services and distributes vending machines. Rock'n'Roll!!!

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Thanks for the update... is Shibumi available on CD?

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

Thanks for the update... is Shibumi available on CD?

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They had a website posted at the time but I can't find it now -but yeah they'd an LP which I believe was basically Shibumi on CD with extra stuff.

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Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

Dunno what the drummer's doing now but bassist Alan (Byrne is it?) is the music producer for the late late now. Ray Harman writes music for tv (theme of that Irish "prime suspect" type thing is his) and Tom Dunne is of course spinning whatever CDs NME and Q are telling him to on today fm.

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They occasionally reform for gigs - done a few in Whelans anyway.

btw you missed off Tom Dunne's best work since the band split - Bill Cullen on gift grub :D

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

Can't believe ye have all forgotten the best band ever to come out of Limerick
TUESDAY BLUE ! :o

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Yeah Remember them CTID - what was that fantastic song they had out? Is it available anywhere?

Those Nervous Animals from Sligo had a couple of good numbers too.

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Originally Posted by sirhamish

Yeah Remember them CTID - what was that fantastic song they had out? Is it available anywhere?

Those Nervous Animals from Sligo had a couple of good numbers too.

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Well sir hamish

They had a few singles released including " Love Me Simple" (my favourite one by them), and "Tunnel Vision" . There was a video for "LOve Me Simple" which featured a swinging lightbulb... don't know if there was one for Tunnel Vision or not maybe Lionel Richie can enlighten us ;)

Tunnel Vision - that's the one. Lead singer had a beard, I think.

CTID - haven't forgotten that PM by the way - can remember you clearly now!! The fog that occupies the space between my ears has parted!! = for now!! :o :D

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Originally Posted by sirhamish

Those Nervous Animals from Sligo had a couple of good numbers too.

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"my friend john" was about their biggest i think.

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Originally Posted by the 12 th man

"my friend john" was about their biggest i think.

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That's it = is it available I wonder.?

What would I do without you Fooriepersons - who needs a memory??

What happened to The Frank & Walters? I loved Afterall.

Got the first album by the 4 of Us. Good band, but seemed to get no promotion overseas.

Reamonn is a fairly successful band in Germany fronted by Reamonn Garvey, who is Irish. Been here for years. :)

F&W had plenty of excellent real pop songs. Up until recently they were still doing the college tours. The 4 of us do very well in the US AFAIK.

Great topic.

How about Cactus World News? I have a copy of Live for Ireland on tape that has that killer live cut of "The Bridge"

I aslo had a tape of the album that had The Bridge on it, but it was lost when I wrecked a motorcycle bak in 92 or so.