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From: Dublin
Active: 1982-
Style:
Lineup:
- Derek Herbert - vocals
- Ronan O'Hanlon - guitar
- Mick Cosgrave - keyboards
- Derek Ryan - bass
- John MacEvilly - drums
Bio:
Pop/rock with soulful vocals, a tad obvious at times but the real problem was a
lack of memorable tunes on their album. "Slipaway" was a minor hit and remains a
decent song.
Les Enfants were formed circa 1982 by Ronan O'Hanlon and John MacEvilly. Derek
Herbert (ex Luminants, an XTC style band, and Shattered Light, who played hard
rock; Derek also sang on Paul Angle's 1982 single)
joined in September 1982. The band began
to build a reputation playing the
clubs in Dublin.
June 1983 advert.
Flo McSweeney (ex Toy With Rhythm) joined in
December 1983 and had an immediate effect on the band's live show but was unable
to commit. She turned down an offer to join full-time in April '84, when the band
signed a six LP deal with Chrysalis Records. She later joined Moving Hearts.
The Irish only debut single "Take The Girl" was released in 1984. The band appeared on
Anything Goes performing it. They also recorded a demo for Dave Fanning's Show in June 1984.
They relocated to London sometime after.
Flo McSweeney's replacement was Suzanne Rhatigan, also ex Toy With Rhythm,
though the band later dropped her.
They recorded their debut LP "Touche" for Chrysalis in 1985 which spawned the
minor hit "Slipaway". They made numerous TV appearances around Europe (including "The Tube")
and toured heavily in support of it but they LP never really took off. By
1986 they'd been dropped by Chrysalis.
The band appeared at Self Aid in March 1986 and split sometime after. Derek Herbert later
fronted The Big Noise.
Rather than return to Dublin, Suzanne Rhatigan remained in London doing as many auditions
as she could. Under the name Kerri Wells she almost represented the UK in the 1985 Eurovision
Song Contest with "Dancing The Night Way" but finished second to Vikki Watson in the national
contest. She became an in demand
session singer, appearing on many Stock, Aitken & Waterman singles during 1988-94.
She recorded her singer-songwriter solo debut album "To Hell With Love" in 1992, which failed
to sell and her label Imago then went down the tubes. She re-emerged fronting pop punk band
Rhatigan in 1995, who have released a number of records.
Discography
• Take The Girl / Surprise
7" - Chrysalis Records - CHS 2807 - IRL - 1984 - PS
Irish only release with green+white Chrysalis label
• Slipaway / Miracle of Love
7" - Chrysalis Records - CHS 2813 - 1985 - PS
7" - Chrysalis Records - 107 190 - Germany - 1985 - PS
• Slipaway / Miracle of Love // Take The Girl / Surprise
2x7" - Chrysalis Records - CHS D 2813 - 1985 - foc with free 45 [CHS 2807]
• Slipaway / Miracle of Love / Surprise
12" - Chrysalis Records - CHS 12 2813 - 1985 - PS
12" - Chrysalis/Ariola Records - 601 671 - Germany - 1985 - PS
• Shed A Tear (There You Go) / Stay With Me
7" - Chrysalis Records - CHS 2828 - 1985 - PS
• Shed A Tear (There You Go) / Stay With Me / Outside
12" - Chrysalis Records - CHS 12 2828 - 1985 - PS
• Touche
LP - Chrysalis Records - CHR 1487 - 1985
LP - Chrysalis/Ariola Records - 206 815 - Germany - 1985
side one:
Shed A Tear (There You Go)
Slipaway
Taking Your Love Away
Nothing Has Changed
Playing With Fire
side two:
Dreaming Of You
Funny
Flesh And Blood
When Summer Comes
Alone Again Tonight
• various artists - Live for Ireland
2xLP - MCA Records - MCGD 6027 - IRL - 1988
See Compilations section for full track listing.
tracks: A Sense of Freedom (live)
Help!
We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more
information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can
use, or spare copies of any releases,
then please get in touch.
See Also: The Big Noise
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