Welcome

Yes I am still active as of 17 Apr 2018 but suffering a terrific work load.

Welcome to the irishrock.org site. We are attempting to document as many Irish rock bands as possible, concentrating on the years 1966-1991, but often straying outside that period. For more background information, please read the Introduction and FAQ.

Thanks to Pete and thumped.com for hosting us these many years. There's plenty of Irish music coverage and more to be found on the thumped site.

Yes, 2017 has been a very quiet year here at irishrock.org. As was 2016. Simply put, an increasing workload at my job, a demanding family life dominated by bratty pre-teens (the sooner they all get jobs, the better!) and my rapidly disintegrating mental and physical faculties (I turned 50 not long ago) mean that what free time I had is under increasing pressure, and I am unable to give this site the attention it deserves at present. This pains me, believe me.

But please keep sending us your contributions. These are gratefully received. Please don't email me to ask if I want something - the answer is yes, so just send it already! It takes me ages to acknowledge emails or other contributions but this is due to poor time management and my own incompetence, not disinterest or ingratitude. Please keep sending stuff in.
Read here to see how you can help us. Speaking of which . . .

Did You Work For An Irish Record Label Or Pressing Plant?

We're very keen to hear from anyone who worked for an Irish record label (M&D not A&R), distributor or pressing plant, especially during the '60s or '70s. Basically anyone with first hand knowledge of the nuts and bolts of pressing records in Ireland before 1990. We'd particularly like to talk to anyone who worked in either of the two pressing plants (Carlton and EMI) or anyone who had dealings with either plant on a regular basis. Ideally the production manager with a full set of log books would drop me a line... we live in hope! See the contact details for how to get in touch.

Announcements

The Neverending Search for Vinyl

We are always in need of vinyl by Irish artists. If you're a collector and you wish to trade, please take a look at our want and trade lists. If you've got records or demo tapes by Irish artists lying in a box in the attic or gathering dust somewhere then why not donate them to our archive?

HELP! WE NEED THIS RECORD
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HELP US FIND A COPY PLEASE !!!

Also looking for: Davey & Morris LP, MacManus Brothers LP, Radiators Ghostown LP with poster sleeve, Undertones Japanese first pressings, Blue Angels CD, Backwards Into Paradise 45, Assassin EP on Solid, Blue Russia - Russian Around 45, MacMurrough 45s on Gael Linn, Skara Brae 45s on Gael Linn, Male Caucasians 45, Scoff at the Sportsmans 45, McAnnix 45, Peasants EP, Peggy's Leg 45, Skid Row - Misdemeanour Dreams Felicity 45, Strike - Radio Songs 45, both Subtonics 45s, Cherry Brogues 45, Taste 45s on Major Minor, Tir Na Nog euro PS 45s, and many more!

I Have Zero Power or Influence

If you are in a band or are a songwriter looking for recognition or feedback, I cannot help you further your career, sorry. But I wish you luck.

Hey Hot Press! How about a free subscription?

I'm far too much of a luddite to pay for electronic media. Help us re-write Irish rock history (and fix many of the mistakes you made) by giving us free access to the archives. How about systematically digitizing all of Bill Graham's pieces?

Boomtown Rats Neon Heart cassette

Could the person who sent the scan of the Boomtown Rats Neon Heart cassette please get in touch again?

Latest News / Announcements

Big Tom RIP 17-Apr-2018

Tom McBride (1936-2018) AKA Big Tom, the 'king of Irish country music' has died aged 81. He formed Big Tom & The Mainliners in the 60s and from 1975 onwards fronted Big Tom & The Travellers. He was managed by Top Rank and was indeed the king of Irish country music for many years. He released many albums on Emerald Gem and Denver Records.

Unlike most of the creeps who embody the Irish country music scene, Big Tom's records were sometimes almost good. He came very close to recording something of value on occasion, but somehow managed to fall just short of the mark. Fans will of course disagree.

Big Tom in Pictures @RTE

Cypress Mine LP re-issued on 25/10/2017

With little or no fanfare, the excellent and frankly impossible to find Cypress Mine LP has been reissued by the Spanish Pretty Olivia label. The double-LP set includes the original Exit Trashtown album plus unreleased and other recordings on the second disc. The price is € 20 plus shipping. If you buy it mailorder, be sure to ask the Pretty Olivia mailbots to please package the LPs well, as the two copies I bought turned up with gouged spines thanks to shoddy packaging. Despite promises of replacement sleeves from Pretty Olivia months ago, I am still confronted with horribly mutilated spines every time I punch in the code for the Record Room.

Get it here.

Oct 20: The Sussed EP on Spit Records

Spit! Records have reissued The Sussed's 1981 single as a 4 track EP with two bonus tracks. 300 copies were pressed and apparently half the pressing has sold since it's release on Oct 6. So get yer skates on. It's £ 8.99 postpaid in the UK, £ 10.99 in Europe, and £ 11.99 ROW.

Get it here.

Hey U2! Where are my complimentary tickets for Croker?

Or Amsterdam is cool too. Two tickets please. Update: No tickets materialised.

January 2017: Cromwell reissue is released on LP and CD

On Guerssen's Got Kinda Lost imprint. It sounds great so go out and get it.

November 2016: Images Not Displaying

Thanks to all who took the time to contact me to let me know that images are not displaying on the site. I think it's a server problem. I'm trying to get it sorted ASAP.

17 December 2015: Mick Lynch RIP

Very sad news of the untimely death of Stump frontman Mick Lynch reported by the band on facebook.
Notice on rip.ie

3 September 2015: Al O'Donnell RIP

Folk singer Alistair O'Donnell died today. Very sad news. Check out his two LPs, released on Trailer (1972) and Transatlantic Records (1978). There are some great performances on them, including some definitive renditions of well known songs. It's a pity there weren't more.

20 January 2015: RIP Edgar Froese

14 December 2014: Dorian Mood download album

XXV, presumably referring to the 25th anniversary of the Can't Stand Still mini-LP, contains most of that album (one track is omitted) plus three tracks from the 1985 demo. Let's hope this leads to a full discography CD. Meanwhile the downloads are available on tax-dodging Amazon and elsewhere.

31 October 2014: The Slowest Clock unreleased LP

The unreleased debut LP by The Slowest Clock "Smile Futurismo! All I Heard Was Purple" has been released on Eye Unseen Records. Recorded in 1989, these recordings were shelved for financial reasons and then went missing. None of these recordings were not included on the Life Still CD from 1994. If you know their two EPs, then you'll want this CD. No vinyl version, alas! Check out the track on youtube. Highly recommended.

9 June 2014: Eamon Gibney RIP

Notice on rip.ie

17 January 2014: Austin 'Stac' Coll RIP

Austin Coll passed away yesterday (Jan 16) in Zwolle, The Netherlands.

Special thanks to thumped.com