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The Radiators (from Space)

From: Dublin

Active: September 1976-March 1981; 1988; 2003-

Style: Punk

Lineup:

Bio:

Outstanding punk (first) and powerpop (second) albums. The official website tells the bands story very well so I am not going to repeat too many details here.



The Radiators from Space 1977: Megaray, Crashe, Holidai, Rapid, Chevron.

The original band formed in September 1976 with Steve Rapid (vocals), Phil Chevron (guitar), Pete Holidai (guitar) Mark Megaray (bass) and Jimmy Crashe (drums). The lineup recorded the early singles and the first LP and lasted about a year.

The Radiators organised the Belfield Punk Festival (at UCD) in the summer of 1977 featuring themselves as headliners plus The Undertones (still to release "Teenage Kicks"), The Vipers, Revolver and The Gamblers. During the first bands set a fight broke out and one member of the audience was stabbed. He later died in hospital. This event generated a lot of bad press for punk in general and the Radiators in particular in Ireland, especially after the tabloid press sensationalised the story.

Steve Rapid left in September 1977 to start The Creative Dept in Dublin, providing artwork for many Irish bands most notably U2. He also fronted a number of bands including The Modernaires.



The Radiators from Space late 1978/early 1979 lineup with Billy Morley center.

The band continued as a four piece for the next couple of years. Billy Morley (AKA Billy Luger of Revolver) had a short stint as second guitarist between September 1978-March 1979, i.e. approx 6 months, but doesn't appear on any recordings. The band shortened their name to The Radiators during this period.


 
left: The Radiators trio in 1979. Right: Final lineup 1980-81.

Mark Megaray (AKA Mark Hogan) left in August 1979 for the Eric Bell Band, NWOBHM act Girl, and then Auto Da Fe and wasn't immediately replaced. The remaining trio recorded the last couple of singles. Neil Whiffen (bass) and Nick Hurt (keyboards) joined the band in October 1980 for the last few months of it's lifetime during which they undertook their last Irish tour. The Radiators split in March 1981.



The Radiators in 1979 (Chiswick Records promo photo)

The band reformed in 1987 for a one night only benefit concert in Dublin on 13 September for an AIDS charity, and again briefly in 1988 to record two new tracks to coincide with the first re-release of "Ghostown" on Chiswick. The live recording was issued on International AIDS Day in 1988.



The Radiators in 1979

In 2003, three original members Steve Rapid, Phil Chevron and Pete Holidai began playing low key gigs as The Radiators (Plan 9) with Cait Riordan (ex Pogues, bass) and Johnnie Bonnie (ex Those Handsome Devils, drums). This lineup U2 at their 2005 stadium shows in Dublin. The band has since resorted to their original name, Jesse Booth has taken over on bass, and a new album is scheduled for release later this year (2006).


 
On the cover of New Wave fanzine, 1977 .. and Hot Press.

Steve Rapid AKA Steve Averill left to form The Creative Dept. He also dabbled in fanzines, music journalism and fronted several bands, most notably The Modernaires. Phil Chevron recorded solo material and was later in The Pogues. Pete Holidai was involved with The Reasons and Light A Big Fire. Mark Megaray joined Auto Da Fe.





Dates

• 1977 - Marquee in Kilkullen during a Carnival
• 14 Jan 1978 - The Arcadia, Cork


Discography

• Television Screen / Love Detective
7" - Chiswick Records - S10 - UK - April 1977 - PS
7" - Chiswick Records - NS10 - UK - 1977? - PS, repress
7" - Nova Records - 6.12112 AC - Germany - 1977 - PS
7" - ??? - France - 1977 - PS
7" - CBS Records - 5354 - IRL - May 1977 - PS

Notes:
"Television Screen" reached #17 in the Irish charts, making it the first top 20 punk single anywhere. It entered the official Irish charts on 30 June 1977 for a short, 2 week run. The Irish CBS edition is very hard to find with PS. Original Chiswick copies have catalogue number S10 instead of NS10; Chiswick were required to adopt a two letter prefix when they signed a distribution deal with Anchor Records in 1977, so later copies are "NS" instead of "S".



• Blitzin' At The Ritz / Not Too Late
7" - (1977) unreleased

Notes:
Cancelled 2nd single. These non-LP versions were later released on the cassette edition of the Buying Gold in Heaven compilation album.



• Enemies / Psychotic Reactions
7" - Chiswick Records - NS19 - UK - September 1977 - PS
• Enemies (edit, mono) / Enemies (edit, stereo)
7" - Chiswick Records - NS19P - UK - 1977 - no PS, promo only
• Enemigos (Enemies) / Acciones Eléctricas (Electric Shares)
7" - Chiswick Records - 02.1341/8 - Spain - 1977 - PS


• Sunday World / (Why Can't I Be A) Teenager In Love
7" - CBS Records - 5527 - IRL - September 1977 - PS
Irish only release, 2nd Irish single; cancelled/withdrawn and now very hard to find.


• Prison Bars / Teenager in Love
7" - Chiswick Records - NS24 - UK - (November 1977) unreleased - PS
Cancelled 3rd single; test pressings in PS do exist


• TV Tube Heart
LP - CBS Records - 82314 - IRL - 1977 - with lyric booklet & colour cover with slightly different photo
LP - Chiswick Records - WIK-4 - UK - 1977 - promo copies w/lyric booklet
LP - Chiswick/EMI Records - CWK-3004 - UK - 19?? - repress
LP - Chiswick/Ariola Records - 550104 - Netherlands - 1977 - "marketed by RCA" sticker
LP - Chiswick/Metronome Records - 0067.051 - Germany - 1977
LP - Movieplay Records - 17.1370/3 - Spain - 1977
LP - Movieplay Records - MOV 9.037 - Portugal - 1977
LP - Sounds Marketing System - SP18-5153 - Japan - 1984 - insert+obi
CD - Teichiku Records - TECP-22131 - Japan - 1990

Notes:
The original Irish edition has a colour (instead of monochrome) cover and an alternative photo of the band on the front. it carries the text "licensed from Midnite Records".
The CD booklet of the 1990 Japanese edition includes lyrics which have clearly not been copied from the promo lyric booklet. See here for examples (link not working, sorry).



• Million Dollar Hero / Blitzin' at the Ritz (live)
7" - Chiswick Records - NS29 - May 1978 - PS
• Million Dollar Hero (uncredited remix) / Blitzin' at the Ritz (live)
7" - Chiswick/EMI Records - CHIS106 - September 1978 - no PS
• Million Dollar Hero (radio edit) / Million Dollar Hero (LP version)
7" - Chiswick Records - NS29P - May 1978 - no PS, radio promo
• Million Dollar Hero (radio edit) / Blitzin' at the Ritz (live)
7" - Chiswick Records - NS29P - 1979 - no PS, radio promo
Apparently there is 5th variation of this single -- anyone have the details?


• Walking Home Again / The Hucklebuck / Try And Stop Me
7" - Chiswick Records - NS45 - (July 1978) unreleased


Agnes Bernelle & The Radiators - Kitty Ricketts / Things
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS720 - IRL - 1979 - PS


• Let's Talk About The Weather // Hucklebuck / Try And Stop Me
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS722 - IRL - June 1979 - no PS
7" - Chiswick Records - CHIS 113 - UK - June 1979 - PS
• Let's Talk About The Weather / Confidential
7" - Chiswick Records - 021407/3 - Spain - 1979 - PS
• The Hucklebuck / Try And Stop Me // Let's Talk About The Weather
7" - bootleg - Japan? - 2006 - PS

Notes:
In 2006, a white label bootleg repress of LUNS722 with new picture sleeve was issued in Japan. It included an insert with reproductions of the original LUNS722 A and B labels.



• Ghostown
LP - Chiswick Records - CWK-3003 - UK - 1979 - inner sleeve, 1st press with custom labels
LP - Mulligan Records - LUN 036 - IRL - 1979 - 1st press with poster sleeve
LP - Mulligan Records - LUN 036 - IRL - 1979 - later press with stickered UK Chiswick sleeve
LP - Chiswick/Metronome Records - 0067.064 - Germany - 1979 - insert
LP - Chiswick Records - 2S-068-62059 - France - 1979 - inner sleeve
LP - Chiswick/??? Records - ??? - Spain - 1979 - retitled "Ciudad Fantasma"
LP - Chiswick/Ariola Records - 200 352 - Netherlands - 1980 - inner sleeve & custom labels; "marketed by RCA" sticker
LP - Chiswick/Polygram Records - 40003 - Greece - 1980 - inner sleeve
LP - Nippon Columbia Records - YX-7241-CW - Japan - 1980? - insert+obi
LP - Sounds Marketing System - SP18-5160 - Japan - 1984 - insert+obi
LP - Chiswick Records - WIK 85 - UK - 1989 - different cover + 2 bonus tracks
CD - Chiswick Records - CDWIK85 - UK - 1989
The classic second Radiators LP, panned at the time of it's release by some ape at NME.

Notes:
The original Chiswick pressing had custom labels. Later pressings used the generic Chiswick tone-arm label. Chiswick reissued in the album in 1988 with new cover artwork and two bonus tracks recorded in 1988 ("Under Clery's Clock" and "Plura Belle"). The corresponding CD edition was resequenced (was the LP?)

The first Mulligan edition was issued in a poster sleeve which was replaced by stickered Chiswick sleeves imported from the UK. This poster sleeve was a stopgap measure while waiting for the Chiswick sleeves to arrive. The delay in the release of the Mulligan version was exasperating for an eager Irish public, and demand was such that local shops in Dublin imported the Chiswick edition directly from the UK. Approx 1000 Chiswick copies had been sold before the Mulligan version finally became available. Mulligan later placed a full-page advert in Hot Press claiming only 455 copies had been sold, but this count related to the Mulligan issue only and excluded imported copies. So the album was not selling shamefully low! Thanks to Pete Holidai for explaining the story behind this legendary advert. Needless to say, this poster edition has become very hard to find.



• Kitty Ricketts / Song of the Faithful Departed (acoustic)
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS732 - August 1979 - no PS
• Kitty Ricketts / Song of the Faithful Departed
7" - Chiswick Records - CHIS 115 - August 1979
• Kitty Ricketts [3:25 edit] / Song of the Faithful Departed
7" - Chiswick Records - CHIS 115 - August 1979 - no PS, radio promo [200 copies]
• Kitty Ricketts / Ballad of the Faithful Departed
7" - Chiswick Records - 0037.061 - Germany 1979 - PS


• Four On The Floor EP
7" - Big Beat Records - SW-57 - UK - March 1980


• Stranger Than Fiction // Prison Bars / Who are the Strangers?
7" - Chiswick Records - CHIS126 - UK - July 1980
7" - Chiswick Records - 0037.070 - Germany - 1980 - different PS
• Stranger Than Fiction (one sided)
7" - Chiswick Records - CHIS126 - 1980 - no PS, 1-sided, promo?
• Stranger Than Fiction // Paddy 'Guitar' Paddy / Who are the Strangers?
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS741 - IRL - August 1980 - different PS

Notes:
The 1-sided version of CHIS126 was offered for sale on ebay. The label is stamped "edited version" but I don't know any more details.
Paddy 'Guitar' Paddy was recorded at Regents Park Recordings in 1977



• Dancing Years / On Stage at the Roundhouse London February 1978
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS742 - IRL - September 1980 - PS
• Dancing Years / Dancing Years (instrumental)
7" - Chiswick Records - CHIS133 - UK - September 1980 - PS

Notes:
The B-side of the Irish edition was recorded live at the Roundhouse London in February 1978. It plays at 33rpm and contains three tracks "Electric Shares", "Sunday World" and "Enemies".



• Song of the Faithful Departed / They're Looting In The Town
7" - Chiswick Records - CHIS144 - UK - April 1981 - PS


• Buying Gold in Heaven LP - Hotwire Records - HWLP8503 - IRL - March 1985
K7 - Hotwire Records - HWLP8503 - IRL - March 1985 - with two exclusive bonus tracks
The cassette only bonus tracks are from a cancelled 1977 single.


• Dollars For Dreams
K7 - Comet Tapes - Comtape 6 - IRL - 1 December 1988
Recorded on 13 September 1987 at a one night only reunion concert for an AIDS charity.
Issued on World AIDS Day in 1988.


• Under Clery's Clock / Take My Heart and Run
7" - Chiswick Records - NS 128 - January 1989 - PS
• Under Clery's Clock / Strangers in Fiction / Take My Heart and Run
12" - Chiswick Records - NST 128 - January 1989 - PS

Notes:
"Under Clery's Clock" was recorded in 1988. "Take My Heart and Run" is a previously unreleased 1979 demo.



• Cockels & Mussels - The Very Best of
CD - Chiswick Records - CDWIKD 156 - 1995

Notes:
Collects all of the Ghostown LP, most of the TV Tube Heart LP, plus various non-LP singles and B-sides. A good overview of the band.



• Alive-Alive-O!
CD - Chiswick Records - CHF164 - 1996

Notes:
Thirteen tracks recorded live at the Roundhouse London in 1978, plus ten B-sides, demos and unreleased tracks



• Southend Kursaal 17.12.77
CDR - bootleg - ??? - 200?

Notes:
This 9 track live bootleg CDR was being offered for sale on a well-known 1976-77 punk website. This same concert has since been officially released as Live At The Southend Kursaal 1977 (see below) so avoid giving money to bootleggers and get the real thing.



• Midnite Demos EP
7" - Rejected Records - 1000038 - IRL - 31 October 2005 - PS, on various coloured vinyls [498 copies in total]
Recorded at Trend Studios London on 31 October 1976, produced by Eamon Carr & Jackie Hayden


• Live At The Southend Kursaal 1977
LP - Rejected Records - 1000039 - IRL - 2005 - with poster, on various coloured vinyls [480 copies in total]

Notes:
Recorded 17 December 1977 on the last date of their tour supporting Thin Lizzy. Taken direct from sound deck, edited and mastered by Pete Holidai. 24 minutes. A CD edition is planned.



The Radiators Plan 9

From: Dublin

Active: 2003-

Style: Punk

Lineup:



 

• The Television Screen 2004 EP
CDS - 625 Records - RADCDEP001 - October 2004
3 re-recordings from RTE Radio plus 1 live track


• The Summer Season EP
CDS - 625 Records - RADCDEP002 - 2005


• Trouble Pilgram
CD - The 625 Label - RADCDLP 003 - IRL - 20 October 2006



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: Auto Da Fe, Phil Chevron, Light A Big Fire, The Modern Heirs, The Reasons

External Links: Official Radiators Website, The Pogues

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