Thin Lizzy was an Irish rock band that released twelve studio albums between 1971 and 1983. They started as a power trio fronted by bassist–singer Phil Lynott with guitarist Eric Bell and drummer Brian Downey, the one other constant member. This lineup released the 1971–73 albums Thin Lizzy, Shades of a Blue Orphanage, and Vagabonds […]
U2 is an Irish rock band that emerged in Dublin’s late-1970s new wave scene. As of 2023, the band contains its four founding members: singer Bono, guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton, and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. U2 released three short-players and signed with Island Records for their 1980 debut album Boy, a strident set […]
The Boomtown Rats are an Irish rock band that released six albums between 1977 and 1984 on Ensign and Mercury. Singer Bob Geldof was an outspoken figurehead who later marshaled the all-star charitable projects Band Aid and Live Aid. In 1977, the Boomtown Rats joined London’s new wave with their self-titled album and the uptempo […]
Rory Gallagher (March 2, 1948 — June 14, 1995) was an Irish blues-rock and hard-rock guitarist active from the late 1960s to the early ’90s. He first gained prominence as the frontman for the Cork power-trio Taste, which released two albums in 1969 and 1970. Launching his solo career in 1971, he issued four albums […]
Van Morrison (born Aug. 31, 1945) is an Irish singer–songwriter, best known for the hits “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Mooondance,” “Domino,” “Wild Night,” and “Jackie Wilson Said.” He first gained prominence as the frontman of Them, a mid-1960s R&B/beat band that rode the British Invasion with tracks like “Gloria” and “Here Comes the Night.” In 1967, […]
Gary Moore (April 4, 1952 — Feb. 6, 2011) was an Irish blues-rock/hard-rock/jazz-rock guitarist with a musical career that spanned more than 40 years. He first emerged as a member of the Limerick rock combo Granny’s Intention, which issued the album Honest Injun on Deram in 1969. This was followed by two albums with blues-rockers […]
Horslips was an Irish Celt-rock/folk band that released four albums on self-press Oats between 1972 and 1975. They renamed the label Horslips Records for five additional albums and two live discs up through 1980. Outside Ireland, their 1973 concept album The Táin appeared on MCA and their 1976–77 albums The Book of Invasions and Aliens […]
Chris De Burgh (born Oct. 15, 1948) is an Irish singer/songwriter who launched his five-decade career with the 1975 A&M albums Far Beyond These Castle Walls and Spanish Train and Other Stories. His songs combine lyrical storytelling with arrangements steeped in folk, art pop, and lavish orchestration. Stateside, De Burgh achieved his biggest successes with […]
Clannad was an Irish family group from Gweedore, County Donegal, that moved from Gaelic folk-rooted records in the 1970s into spacious keyboard-led work that shaped the Celtic/New Age crossover of the 1980s and 1990s. Their early albums—Clannad, Clannad 2, Dúlamán, and Crann Úll—centered on close vocal harmonies, harp, flute, acoustic strings, and traditional material drawn […]
Mellow Candle was an Irish folk-rock band, first formed in 1963 as a girl trio. After a one-off single in 1968, they reconfigured as a five piece. Their singular album, Swaddling Songs, appeared in 1972 on Deram. In the late ’90s, the album’s popularity spread globally across the internet, prompting a release of 1969–71-era material […]
Tír na nÓg was an Irish folk–psych duo comprised of guitarist–vocalist Sonny Condell and onetime Emmet Spiceland multi-instrumentalist Leo O’Kelly. They made the 1971–73 Chrysalis albums Tír na nÓg, A Tear and a Smile, and Strong in the Sun. Condell made the praised 1977 album Camouflage and co-founded the folk combo Scullion. Members: Leo O’Kelly […]
Microdisney was an Irish sophisti-pop band that released the 1984–85 Rough Trade albums Everybody Is Fantastic and The Clock Comes Down the Stairs, followed by the 1987–88 Virgin titles Crooked Mile and 39 Minutes. Members: Cathal Coughlan (vocals, keyboards), Sean O’Hagan (guitar, harmonica), Mick Lynch (bass, 1980-83), Rob Mackahey (drums, 1980-83), Ed Flesh (bass, 1983-87), […]
Supply Demand & Curve were an Irish progressive/jazz-rock group active in Dublin from 1970 through an August 1978 Project Arts Centre engagement. The group developed from Jazz Therapy and issued the 1976 self-titled album on Mulligan. Early drummer Roger Doyle pursued electroacoustic composition, while bassist Brian Masterson later established Windmill Lane Studios. Members: Jolyon Jackson […]
Dr. Strangely Strange was an Irish folk–psych combo that released the 1969–70 albums Kip of the Serenes and Heavy Petting. Songs for a planned third album later appeared on the archival disc Halcyon Days. Members: Tim Booth (vocals, guitar), Ivan Pawle (bass, keyboards), Tim Goulding (vocals, keyboards), Joe Thoma (fiddle, mandolin, 1980-present) Formation Dr. Strangely […]
Fruupp was an Irish symphonic-rock band that released four albums on Dawn between 1973 and 1975. Members: Vince McCusker (guitar, vocals), Peter Farrelly (vocals, bass), Stephen Houston (keyboards, oboe, cello, violin, 1971-74), John Mason (keyboards, 1975-76), Martin Foye (drums) Inception The band formed in 1971 when guitarist Vincent McCusker enlisted singer/bassist Peter Farrelly, keyboardist Stephen […]
Peggy’s Leg was an Irish symphonic-folk band that was active for three years during the early 1970s. The band released one album, Grinilla, in 1973 on their self-ran Bunch label. A non-album single followed in 1974. The final lineup of the band included original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell. Members: Jimi Slevin (guitar, vocals, 1972-74), […]
Taste was an Irish blues-rock power trio, active between 1968 and 1970. They made two turn-of-the-decade albums on Polydor before guitarist/singer Rory Gallagher disbanded the group and launched his solo career. Two live documents and a mini-album of unreleased early recordings appeared post-breakup. Members: Rory Gallagher (vocals, guitar, 1966-70), Eric Kittringham (bass, 1966-68), Norman Damery […]
Andwellas Dream was an Irish psychedelic pop trio that released the 1969 CBS album Love and Poetry. As the four-piece Andwella, they released the 1970–71 Reflection albums World’s End and People’s People. Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist David Lewis release three seventies solo albums. Andwellas Dream members: David Lewis (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Nigel Smith [Nigel Portman-Smith] […]
Mushroom was an Irish folk-rock band that released the 1973 album Early One Morning on Hawk Records. Members: Aonghus McAnally (guitar, recorder, tin whistle, vocals), Colm Lynch (percussion, wind chimes, wood chimes, vocals), Alan Brown (bass, 12-string guitar, vocals), Michael Power (organ, harpsichord, Moog, vocals), Pat Collins (violin, electric mandolin, vocals) Background Mushroom emerged on […]
Flibbertigibbet was a folk band formed in 1976 in South Africa. In 1978, they released the album Whistling Jigs to the Moon on Stanyan Records. Vocalist Alison O’Donnell and guitarist David Williams hailed from Irish folk-psych legends Mellow Candle, which issued the 1972 Deram album Swaddling Songs. Members: Alison O’Donnell (vocals), David Williams (guitar, mandolin, […]
Zerra One was an Irish modern-rock band that released three indie singles and a 1984 self-titled album, produced by Todd Rundgren, followed in 1987 with The Domino Effect, produced by Barry Blue. Members: Paul Bell (vocals, keyboards), Andreas Grimminger (guitar), Adrian Wyatt (bass), Korda Marshall (drums, 1983-87), Mike Mesbur (drums, 1982-83) Background Zerra One formed […]
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 […]
Blue in Heaven was an Irish rock quartet, formed in 1982 in Dublin. On Island Records, they released two 1984 singles and the 1985/86 albums All the Gods Men and Explicit Material. After one further EP, they reconfigured as the Blue Angels for a 1990s run. Members: Dave Clarke (drums), Declan Jones (bass), Shane O’Neill […]
Eire Apparent was an Irish psychedelic pop band that made the album Sunrise, produced by Jimi Hendrix and released in 1969 on Buddah Records. Members: Ernie Graham (vocals), Chris Stewart (bass), David Lutton (drums), Henry McCullough (guitar, 1967-68), Mick Cox (guitar, 1968), David “Tiger” Taylor (guitar, 1968-69), Peter Tolson (guitar, 1969), Steve Jolly (guitar, ?-1970) […]
Ruefrex were an Irish New Wave/post-punk band from Belfast, formed in 1977 and active for 10 years. The band released three small-press singles between 1979 and 1983, followed by the 1985 album Flowers for All Occasions on Kasper/MCA. Members: Paul Burgess (drums, 1977-87), Tom Coulter (bass, 1977-86), Ivan Kelly (vocals, 1977-78), Jackie Forgie (guitar, 1977-82, […]
Silent Running were an Irish modern-rock band from Belfast that released the album Shades of Liberty with assorted singles on EMI/Parolphone in 1984/85, followed by two albums on Atlantic during the latter part of the decade. Members: Peter Gamble (vocals), Tony Scott (guitar), Richard Collett (bass), Ian Gault (drums), Alex White (keyboards, 1984) Silent Running […]
The Adventures were a Northern Irish pop-rock band formed in London. On Chrysalis, they released four singles and the 1985 album Theodore and Friends. They surfaced on Elektra with the 1988/89 albums The Sea of Love and Trading Secrets With the Moon. Polydor issued their final album, Lions and Tigers and Bears. Members: Terry Sharpe (lead […]
Jonathan Kelly (1947–2020) was an Irish singer/songwriter from Drogheda who recorded initially as Jon Ledingham with the Boomerangs and on two Pye solo singles between 1966 and 1968. Under the Kelly name, he released the 1970 Parlophone album Jonathan Kelly, followed by the 1972–75 RCA titles Twice Around the Houses, Wait Till They Change the […]
Turner and Kirwan of Wexford was the Irish musical partnership of multi-instrumentalists Pierce Turner and Larry Kirwan. The two formed in Wexford as Aftermath and cut a 1971 single for Polydor. Their singular album, Absolutely and Completely, appeared in 1977 on Peters International. Members: Pierce Turner (piano, strings, chimes, harp, vocals, clavinet, Moog, synthesizer, vibraphone), […]
Them was an Irish R&B–beat group from Belfast fronted by Van Morrison. Between 1964 and 1966, they released eight singles and the Decca albums The Angry Young Them and Them Again. Their popular songs include “Baby Please Don’t Go,” “Here Comes the Night,” “Mystic Eyes,” and the much-covered “Gloria.” When Morrison launched his solo career, […]
Spud was an Irish folk-rock band from Dublin that made the 1974/75 Philips albums A Silk Purse and The Happy Handful, followed by the 1977 release Smoking on the Bog. Members: Michael Smith (vocals, bass), Don Knox (vocals, fiddle, viola, harmonica), Dermot O’Connor (vocals, electric guitar, mandolin, harp, 1973-?), Austin Kenny (mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar, […]
Mama’s Boys were an Irish hard-rock/metal band that released the 1980–82 albums Official Bootleg and Plug It In on Pussy Records, followed by the 1983 Spartan breakthrough Turn It Up. They made three further albums through 1987 on Jive, followed by subsequent titles on Music For Nations and Intercord. Members: John McManus (lead vocals, bass, […]
Jimi Slevin (born June 1950) is an Irish singer/songwriter and guitarist from Dublin who fronted the symphonic-folk band Peggy’s Leg for two years during the early 1970s. In 1978, he assembled the band Firefly and released the album Getting There on EMI. As a solo artist, he released the album Freeflight on Claddagh Records in […]
Gillian McPherson is an Irish singer/songwriter from Belfast who released the 1971 album Poets and Painters and Performers of Blues on RCA Victor. She reemerged in 1987 with the single “Sweet Deceit,” released as Gillie on Gee Wizz Records. Background Gillian McPherson was born August 21, 1949, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She took up acoustic […]
Gilbert O’Sullivan is an Irish singer/songwriter from Waterford who grew up in Swindon, England. He first recorded as Gilbert on the late-1960s singles “Disappear,” “What Can I Do?,” and “Mr. Moody’s Garden,” then emerged under his full name with “Nothing Rhymed.” His 1970s run produced the international hits “Alone Again (Naturally),” “Clair,” and “Get Down” […]
Anno Domini was an Irish folk-psych band from Dublin that released the 1971 Deram album On This New Day. Members: Dave Mercer (vocals, guitar, bass), Kerry Scott (vocals, harmonica, percussion, 1970-71), David “Tiger” Taylor (guitar, vocals), John Evan-Jones (guitar, 1971), Trevor Jones (bass, 1971) Background Anno Domini (Latin for “In the year of the Lord”) […]
Joe O’Donnell (born Sept. 4, 1948) is an Irish violinist who played with various folk and rock bands between the late 1960s and mid-’70s. In 1977, he released the jazz-rock solo album Gaodhal’s Vision on Polydor. Discography: Gaodhal’s Vision (1977)
Jackie McAuley (born Dec. 14, 1946) is an Irish singer/songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist from Coleraine who briefly played with Belfast beat group Them in 1965. The following year, he turned up in rival group the Belfast Gypsies, which cut two singles and a 1967 album on Sonet. At decade’s end, he formed the folk-psych duo […]
The Bothy Band was an Irish Celtic folk-rock sextet that released four albums between 1975 and 1978 on Mulligan Records. Members: Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, vocals), Paddy Keenan (Uilleann pipes), Matt Molloy (flute), Mícháel Ó Domhnaill (guitar, vocals), Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (clavinet, vocals), Paddy Glackin (fiddle, 1974), Tony MacMahon (accordion, 1974), Tommy Peoples (fiddle, 1975), Kevin […]
Bob Geldof — aka Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof (born Oct. 5, 1951) — is an Irish singer, songwriter, bandleader, and philanthropist from Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, who rose to prominence as the frontman of New Wave rockers The Boomtown Rats, which released six albums between 1977 and 1984. As an actor, he starred as Pink in […]
