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Bio:
The Crack began as Crackers, initially a duo of Stephen Travers (ex Miami) and
Aonghus McAnally (ex Mushroom) when
both left Starband. They recorded a single "Move On" and then assembled a band that
included Tommy Lundy and Ronan O'Callaghan, both ex Tony Kenny Band, Dirty Work
and Katmandu. Crackers were initially described in some press sources
as a ska band! After the release of the debut single in 1980, McAnally left to
concentrate on his career as a TV presenter. Crackers then became The Crack,
under the stewardship of songwriting partners Tommy Lundy and Stephen Travers.
The Crack were a poppy AOR band.
Their Beatles-esque sound was often compared to Paul McCarthy & Wings at the
time. They tried to emulate
Horslips' success playing ballroom gigs with original material.
They appeared
on Anything Goes in 1981 performing "Listen" (an instrumental) and "When The Time Comes".
These recordings were produced by Barry Devlin.
Travers later played
bass on Devlin's (atrocious) solo LP "Breaking Star Codes" (RTE Records, 1983).
The band's self-released debut single charted in Ireland and led to a deal with CBS
and a a couple more minor hits during 1981-82 and more TV appearances,
including a track inspired by and in tribute to John Lennon which
was available on youtube last time I looked. Most interesting of all is
a 30 minute live performance recorded one Sunday afternoon in March 1982 at the
Top Hat Ballroom in Dun Laoghaire and broadcast in RTE TV's
oddly named "Campus Rock" show. Not a true llve gig, this has a live-in-the-studio
feel as there was no audience as such, just 30-40 bystanders.
This shows the band had a tougher, rockier sound outside the studio. The drummer
by this point was Martin McElroy.
This set is currently
available on youtube. If anyone can send me the full video, please get in touch.
They also recorded a children's novelty single
under the name Peter Pepper & The Pepper Pots in 1982.
The band had a succession of drummers including Pat Waller,
Barry Patterson and Martin McElroy (1982).
Stephen Travers currently plays with Johnny Fean.
This Crack should not to be confused with the UK band who released the "Going Out"
single on RCA in 1982 or the popular drug.
Notes: (c) 1982 A Pepper Company Production. This novelty single appears to have been some kind of tie-in.
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.