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Bio:
Hard rock trio described in 1988 in the pages of rock weekly Melody Maker
as "Ireland's best kept secret"!
Formed as an R&B trio in 1983 with Steven Boyd (guitar/vocals), Davy Stewart
(bass/vocals) and Stevie Shanks (drums). Stewart left and the band expanded to a
five piece with John 'Harv' Harbinson (vocals), the Count (keyboards) and Russ Nesbitt
(bass). The band was playing a Bon Jovi-style AOR at this stage. Russ Nesbitt
was replaced by Glenn Kingsmore (ex The Defects,
Western Justice). When Harvey left, he
wasn't replaced and Stevie and Glenn took over the vocals. Gary Murdoch took
over on drums in 1988 and remained with the band until it's demise. This quartet is the
lineup which made the recordings listed below.
The band released three singles and recorded an album in 1989 which was never released.
(If anyone has details of the third single missing from the discography below
please get in touch).
Glenn Kingsmore and Gary Murdoch had been in Western Justice
with guitarist Roy McAllister (ex Rabies).
Murdoch had also been in Persian Blue.
(mid-80s), Rabies (1981-83) and Subculture (circa 1981).
Gary Murdoch is the brother of Buck Murdoch, singer with The Defects.
In 1996,
Gary Murdoch and Steven Boyd took part in a one-off Defects reunion concert.
Steven Boyd and Steven Shanks currently play in Queen tribute band Flash Harry.
Notes: A third track "Temptation" was recorded during the sessions for the debut single.
Bio:
Short-lived Belfast punk covers band who supported
The Defects
on occasion. Gavin Wright went on to start Culture fanzine. Henry
Gribben was replaced by Gary Murdoch, brother of the Defects singer Buck. He and
Chris Nesbitt next formed Rabies.
Rabies photo courtesy Chris Nesbitt
Bio:
A more serious continuation of Subculture, Rabies played
a mixture of originals and covers and built a growing live reputation over their 2-3 year
existance.
According to It Makes You Want To Spit! a good live tape of a gig on 26 Novemebr
1982 exists which bears this out.
They continued the close association with The Defects,
supporting them on many occasions.
Gary Murdoch
left for local rock outfit Persian Blue. The band split in 1983. Gary Murdoch later
teamed up with Rabies guitarist
Roy McAllister in Western Justice. Alan Graham and Chris Nesbitt
later formed the Sensitive Boys with Buck Murdoch
(ex The Defects) and
Glenn Kingsmore (ex The Defects,
Western Justice).
Bio:
After a stint with Persian Blue, Gary Murdoch teamed up with
ex Rabies guitarist Roy McAllister and Glenn Kingsmore
of The Defects
who switched
from drums to bass. The resultant trio was a forerunner to Ashanti.
Western Justice recorded three demos, the third including "Fashion Show".
Sensitive Boys (at the Cavalier Hotel?) photo courtesy Chris Nesbitt
Bio:
My thanks to Chris Nesbitt for bringing this band to my attention. The Sensitive
Boys were a short-lived
outfit who played classic punk covers during the summer of 1986. Alan and
Chris were both ex Rabies; Buck (ex The Defects)
and Glenn Kingsmore (ex The Defects,
Western Justice). Alan Graham moved to New Zealand in 1999.
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.