The Fountainhead -

The Fountainhead was an Irish modern rock band, formed in Dublin by multi-instrumentalist Pat O’Donnell and guitarist/vocalist Steve Belton. They cut a three-song 12″ in 1984 on their namesake Fountain label, followed by the 1986–88 China/Chrysalis albums The Burning Touch and Voice of Reason. Stateside, they gained alt-radio traction with “Seeing Is Believing.”

Members: Pat O’Donnell (vocals, keyboards, guitar, organ), Steve Belton (vocals, guitar), Peter McKinney (drums), Philip Rennicks (keyboards), Willy De Mange (bass), Jim Corr (guitar)

Background

Pat O’Donnell and Steve Belton teamed in 1982 under the Belton & O’Donnell name. Belton previously played guitar with Square Meal. Both musicians developed electronic pieces through Project Arts Centre and composed soundtracks for performance artist Nigel Rolfe. Their studio assignments included sound credits on the B-side of the Virgin Prunes 12-inch “New Form of Beauty.” Belton & O’Donnell also performed at Dublin venues across the 1982–84 period.

Contest organizers awarded the duo twenty hours at Windmill Lane Studios for a 1984 recording project. They recorded “Rhythm Method” and adopted the Fountainhead name. Fountain Records issued the resulting three-song 12-inch. Irish radio play led to a management agreement with Kieran Owens and a contract with China Records.

Rhythm Method

The Fountainhead released their debut EP, Rhythm Method, in 1984 on Fountain Records.

A1. “Rhythm Method” (7:47)
B1. “Move On In” (3:38)
B2. “Take the Blame” (3:47)

Sessions spanned 1983 through 1984 at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin with co-producer and engineer Kevin Moloney. The Dublin engineer worked extensively at Windmill Lane and later engineered and mixed U2 live material issued on Wide Awake in America. U2 graphic designer Steve Averill prepared the textured Rhythm Method sleeve.

The Burning Touch

The Fountainhead released their debut album, The Burning Touch, in June 1986 on China Records.

Session drummer Graham Broad joined O’Donnell and Belton, who wrote all nine songs and handled the remaining core instrumental work.

“Rhythm Method” drives an industrial beat beneath a serpentine lead figure, then builds sparse effects toward a crescendo. “Seeing Is Believing” angles direct keyboard lines against a rough, growled lead. “Feel It Now” surges through a tough bassline, intricate percussion, and a raspy lead. “When the Lifeline Ends” slows beneath haunting text and restrained electronic lines, then breaks into programmed accents. “Faraway” drifts through slow, sleepy organ figures and sensuous guitar phrases.

A1. “Rhythm Method” (4:23)
A2. “Seeing Is Believing” (4:20)
A3. “Feel It Now” (5:43)
A4. “When the Lifeline Ends” (5:30)

B1. “Sometimes” (4:23)
B2. “Open Up” (4:38)
B3. “So Good Now (With You)” (4:20)
B4. “Faraway” (4:16)
B5. “Take My Life” (5:10)

Sessions took place at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin with producer-engineer Brian Tench, who also engineered and mixed the 1985 Kate Bush album Hounds of Love.

Averill designed the sleeve around photography by Irish artist-photographer Conor Horgan. The front places black-and-white portraits at opposite edges around a yellow central panel. Averill next designed the U2 album The Joshua Tree. Horgan shared art direction and illustration on the 1986 Cactus World News album Urban Beaches.

China lifted “Feel It Now” as a March 1986 single (b/w “Open Up”), and the song reached No. 30 in Ireland. In July, “Rhythm Method” followed (b/w “Faraway”). Chrysalis later serviced “Seeing Is Believing” to US clubs in remix and LP versions.

Five-Piece Lineup

China added drummer Peter McKinney, keyboardist Phil Rennicks, and bassist–synthesist Willie Demange for live work in 1986, ahead of the Self Aid concert. The quintet appeared at Self Aid in Dublin on May 17 and supported Queen at Slane Castle. United States dates followed late in the year. One Self Aid performance of “Feel It Now” appeared on the Live for Ireland charity album.

Live / Sometimes

China issued “So Good Now” as a live single in February 1987 (b/w “Heart & Soul”). The 12-inch edition added “Sometimes” and appeared under the titles Sometimes and Live.

Two songs from The Burning Touch appear in live versions beside the non-album “Heart & Soul.”

A1. “So Good Now (With You)”
B1. “Heart & Soul”
B2. “Sometimes”

Sessions occurred on December 9, 1986, at the Whisky in Hollywood, where producer-engineer Mike Frondelli recorded the final show of the first US tour. Group members co-produced the overnight mix. Frondelli mixed the 1985 Oingo Boingo album Dead Man’s Party and produced material for the film Weird Science.

Stephen “Horse” Frondelli designed the sleeve with the band.

Revised Touring Lineup

The five-member lineup dissolved after the 1987 live release. Later concerts used bassist Feargal Andrews, drummer Wayne Sheehy, and keyboardist Daragh Connolly alongside O’Donnell and Belton. Jim Corr later replaced Connolly on keyboards.

Voice of Reason

The Fountainhead released their second album, Voice of Reason, in May 1988 on China Records.

Drummer–percussionist Pete Van Hooke joined the founders as the only additional performer named on the original LP. O’Donnell and Belton wrote all ten songs.

A1. “Someone Like You” (4:10)
A2. “Angel” (4:17)
A3. “Still Dreaming” (4:04)
A4. “The Price You’ve Got to Pay” (3:58)
A5. “This Generation” (4:10)
B1. “Future Days” (4:03)
B2. “Driving in My Car” (4:18)
B3. “The Nowhere Train” (4:37)
B4. “Step by Step” (4:26)
B5. “The Rain Came Down” (4:40)

Sessions took place at Crescent Studios in Bath with producer-engineer Paul Hardiman. Recent Hardiman projects included the Chris de Burgh albums Into the Light and Flying Colours.

Designer Mark Millington built the sleeve around a pale monochrome portrait by London photographer Alastair Thain. The front shows O’Donnell and Belton seated at a table beneath a black title block. Millington designed concurrent T’Pau sleeves while Thain photographed 1987 covers for Eurythmics (Savage) and Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (Mainstream).

China lifted “Someone Like You” as a February 1988 single (b/w “The Price You’ve Got to Pay”); 12-inch and compact-disc editions added “Future Days.” In July, “Angel” followed (b/w the non-album “I Like It Like That”), with the non-album “Leaving It All Behind” added to the 12-inch edition.

The compact-disc album added live versions of “So Good Now (With You)” and “Sometimes” from the Hollywood concert. Dame Dame/Impact Records handled the 1992 Spanish LP edition.

Later Activity

The group broke up around 1990 following lineup changes and the end of the China contract. Willie Demange joined Conor Goff and the Crash, while Peter McKinney moved through the Waterboys and the 4 of Us. Phil Rennicks later worked with Norman Teeling and the Prunes. Pat O’Donnell released the 1988 solo album The Almighty Kick on SRS Records. Belton joined the late-stage lineup of Cry Before Dawn.

Discography