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Bio:
Reggae/rock quintet reminiscent of The Beat.
While there is something odd about a white boy from Limerick singing
with a slight Jamaican accent, The Outfit were a good band.
The did classic reggae covers as well as original material.
They released a couple of singles on Scoff Records during 1982-83 and
also made several promotional videos.
The band was originally known as The Street Urchins before
a name change in 1981. Prior to that there was another band named
The Outfit from Fermanagh, who took part in the 1980 Tramore
Band Competition.
The Street Urchins was originally a four piece.
Ger Costelloe and Brian Healy had previously been in Ravengale
(active ca 1979-80); the Healys and Brendan Wallace had
previously been in The I.O.U.s (same late 70s/early 80s period).
The Street Urchins played punky reggae in and around Limerick.
Their first real break came when they were given a spot at the 1981 Carnsore
Point Rally, an Anti Nuclear festival held at Carnsore Point. When they
arrived at the band entrance for the festival, they were told that they
were not on the list, only to discover they'd been entered as "The Sea
Urchins". This precipitated an immediate name change to The Outfit.
The Outfit went went down a storm at the 1981 Carnsore Point Rally, which earned them
a lot of exposure in the media. They made their Dublin debut as
a support act at the Baggot Inn on Saturday and Sunday
February 27-28, 1982. They also played a TCD lunchtime gig on March 4th.
Paul Healy joined in mid 1982, expanding the lineup,
and Mike Ryan joined on keyboards. This expanded lineup signed to Scoff
Records in 1982, releasing two singles. They split ca 1984.
Ger Costello went on to several outfits including Out Of The Fog,
Giant Kites and The O'Malleys. Brendan Wallace and
the Healy brothers then formed The Groove in 1984.
Mike Ryan later formed Toucandance.
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