Welcome to the irishrock.org site
This site is an attempt to document as many irish rock bands as possible.
For more background information, please read the introduction
and FAQ pages.
Please also take a look at our want and trade lists
(empty links at the moment, sorry -- just send us your sale/trade list and we'll work something out!).
Latest News
5 February 2010: Another New Book
• The Complete Guide to Ireland’s Top Ten Hits 1954 – 1979
by Eddie Kelly. This is a greatly expanded version of Eddie's earlier book
on the charts of the 1960s. I haven't seen it yet but I can't imagine
it being anything less than essential. My only wish is it covered the full top 20,
if for no other reason than to have the opportunity to read bios of the many
obscure Irish artists who only managed one single which barely scraped into the top
20. But such a book would undoubtedly have been unfeasibly large. Publishled in hardback
last month by originalwriting.ie
14 January 2010: Dave Kearney RIP
Dave Kearney, lead guitarist with The Movement (1967-68), died on January 14 in Canada,
where he'd lived since the 1980s. Dave's fuzz solo on the A-side of the band's debut single "Tell Her"
(Target/Pye 7N 17443, January 1968) is simply outstanding.
He died in January 2010
January 2010: Recent CDs I Need
• 051 Compilation CD. Can't find it anywhere, can't mailorder it.
• Sunflower Nights CD. Made several arrangements to get this and all fell through.
December 2009: Another Shop Closure
Cork's only independent music retailer Plugd Records is due to close on the last day of the year.
The hope is they'll reopen in new premises in 2010.
December 2009: Two New Books
• Holywood Star: The Life and Times of a Rock & Roll Misadventurer
by Eamon Nancarrow is an account of Eamon's adventures in the music
business as lead singer for Guilt Edge, No Hot Ashes, Nellie Dean and others.
Reputedly highly entertaining though I haven't read it myself. It is available from
Amazon.
• Cork Rock by Mark McAvoy details the city's rock & roll history and
considers the many
quirky bands it produced. Again, I haven't read it myself yet but it looks interesting.
Available directly from Mercier Press.
17 November 2009: Freebird Records to close
The recent spate of record shop closures in Dublin contines with latest victim
Freebird Records announcing its closure this month. According to the Evening Herald
(who managed to turn it into a U2 story --nice one lads-- claiming Freebird
made the band's name, by stocking their records perhaps? Hmm.. )
the shop will close on Saturday 28th. This means both branches,
the Secret Book & Record Store branch on Wicklow St and the old Comet
shop premises on Cope Street. Correction/Update: it seems only the Cope Street branch
is closing, the Secret Book & Record Shop part will remain in business.
Freebird has been around since 1978 and I first
remember visiting the shop up the rickety stairs on Grafton Street somewhere.
It moved several
times over the years and I must admit I assumed they'd weather the
current storm best and be the last to go, but their second-hand policy was odd
[who keeps boxes of records on the floor that are 'not for sale'??] and in truth
I hadn't bought anything in there in ages. They are having a 50% off sale until
closure. Comet, Smile, Record Collector, Rhythm, Borderline, who's next?
From Freebird's myspace page... "it would seem that the music store as a exciting
place and dare we say it, a holy place, is hopelessly out of fashion. Maybe as
everything is free and people get fed up having such randomness of 13,000 songs
on their walkman just maybe the record store will be an excuse to actually go
outside and become a fan of something, you never know pin badges and posters on
the walls may be the new in.........we'll see. WE LOVE MUSIC, WE LOVE VINYL, WE
LOVE NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO BUY EVERYTHING."
1 October 2009: Blaze X, Rudi, Tinopeners reissues
New York reissue specialists Sing Sing Records have reissued several Irish punk singles
including The Tinopeners, Blaze X and the first two by Rudi ("Big Time" and "I Spy").
These can be ordered directly form the label's website www.singsingrecords.com.
21 September 2009: New Golden Horde site
Check out the new site at www.thegoldenhorde.org.
2 September 2009: New DIY Irish Hardcore Punk Blog
In fact it's been active since February this year but I just discovered it now.
Lots of
vintage and more recent punk and hardcore downloads. Grab the
early Paranoid Visions stuff while you can, and the 1977 fanzines too.
Isn't it time someone
did a fanzine archive blog? I've got time to PDF some zines but thats about all.
Someone else will have to organise this (maybe Loserdom?)
Meanwhile, check out the blog here.
16 August 2009: LOOKALIKES one-off reunion gig
Saturday 5th September at the Button Factory in Dublin.
Check the Button Factory site for more details.
9 August 2009: If you're not straying out of doors this eve........
ROGHA JOHN SPILLANE - RADIO NA GAELTACHTA (RTE) - SUNDAY 9TH AUGUST - 9PM
Two hours of eclectic Irish music with sage commentary compiled by John Byrne,
including Roger Doyle, Pumpkinhead, Skid Row, Sonny Condell, peridots,
Dr.Strangely Strange, Mick Hanly, Supply Demand and Curve, etc.
Also available online for the next 7 days.
4-5 August 2009: More Restructuring.
Through some site restructuring it's possible some old links don't work anymore.
Hopefully the structure is now easier to navigate. Comments and criticisms welcome.
1 August 2009: youtube now officially a pain in the arse.
Videos are being removed (or expire) from youtube as fast as I add them to the
video channel account, so I've given up on it. Expect administration of the youtube
video list to be as bad as with the message board from now on (sorry).
July 2009: Fanning Archive Blog!
Check out the new Fanning sessions archive.
Unofficial, of course, but how else could it exist?
Contributions are welcome, so start digitizing those old tapes of yours and add to the archive.
18 June 2009: Popup Annoyance Removed
The webcounter service I was using recently changed hands and the new operators
endorse annoying popups, so I've deleted it. If anyone still experiences popup adverts while browsing
this site, please let me know ASAP. Between 29 January 2004 and June 2009, the web counter
registered 163623 page views, most of those in the past year. Not bad...
Spring 2009: Hot Press Website
Thanks to those who responded to my request. This is now sorted.
+++ STOP TEASING ME YOU BASTARDS+++
I regularly receive offers of stuff which sounds brilliant and incredibly
useful but unfortunately far too few people actually follow through
on these promises.
So please, if you've offered me something, then get it sorted out!
Get it down from the attic and send it to me to the address(es) opposite.
12 January 2009: You Tube video channel
I've created a youtube account to gather together Irish rock videos.
The username is irishrockorg and if you look at the favourites you'll find
them. The following link should do it: irishrock.org youtube favourites.
Of course I have no control over videos being removed, etc.
I realise I could probably do the same for myspace pages but it's such an irritating site!
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