A-Z Artist Index  Compilations  Record Labels  Media
Help Us!  Contact Us  Resources  Timeline

Toy With Rhythm

From: Dublin

Active: 1981-85

Style: Synth Pop

Lineup:
Lineup 1984-85:

Bio:

Bright synth pop outfit formed circa 1981 by bassist/keyboards player and main songwriter Ed Darragh (ex Boy Scoutz, Modernaines) with singer Flo McSweeney, guitarist Niall MacSweeney (no relation and also AKA Niall O'Sullivan to avoid confusion) (or is that incorrect?) and drummer Brian Despard. Despard had played with Aura (1971), Medium Wave Band (1974), Dave Prim Band (ca 1974-76), Jimi Slevin Band (ca 1977-78) and The Cheaters (1979).

Toy With Rhythm were winners of the Maxell Star Award in 1983 which resulted in the debut single issued the same year and the mantle of Next Big Thing. When this didn't bring the expected success, the impetus disappeared. Flo McSweeney began to moonlight with Les Enfants and left in December 1983. She subsequently replaced Christy Moore in Moving Hearts before following a solo career. Further lineup changes ensued, leaving only Darragh and Despard as original members in 1984, but which time the band was an eight piece.

Flo McSweeney's replacement was Suzie Jukes AKA Suzanne Rhatigan (ex Fifth Avenue), who'd worked with Stano, the Rhythm Kings and the Modern Heirs. Willie Demange (ex The Visitors) became the bass player and wrote the A-side of the band's second single "Cartoon Hero" released in June 1984. Suzanne Rhatigan was replaced by Jenny Newman (later in The Great Divide). Rhatigan followed in Flo McSweeney's footsteps again by joining Les Enfants. Toy With Rhythm split in 1985

Ed Darragh later fronted R&B outfit Geoffrey's First Affair, formed in 1986. Her performing career was cut short in 1987 by the kidnap of a family member and it's aftermath, involving the need for police protection. Geoffrey's First Affair released one single. She later worked in TV production. Willie Demange joined The Fountainhead. Sometime bassist Jim Tate now works in the National Concert Hall.



Discography

• Junior Discovers Electricity / Mentally Destroys
7" - Lunar Records - LOON 22 - June 1983 - PS


• Cartoon Hero / The Informer
7" - Vixen Records - FM 017 - June 1984 - PS



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: Boy Scoutz, Geoffrey's First Affair, Les Enfants, Modernaines



A-Z Artist Index  Compilations  Record Labels  Media
Help Us!  Contact Us  Resources  Timeline