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Bio:
The Detonators was Howard Ingram's band, previously known as Roche 4 (and once
as Skull) with Ali McMordie on bass, whose replacement (when McMordie left in
1977 for the pre- Stiff Little Fingers Highway Star) was
Paul McIlwaine (guitar/vocals), prompting Howard (who was originally the guitarist
with Roche 4) to switch to bass, which is when they became The Detonators.
In 1977 they attempted to record a single for Good Vibrations but the session
was a disaster due to incompetence on the part of Wizard Studios, and they ended
up recording two tracks for George Doherty at Hydepark Studios very shortly
thereafter. Doherty overdubbed a siren-like synth sound on one of these tracks
("Light at Your Window") without consulting the band and released both on the
Belfast Rocks compilation LP on Rip Off Records in 1978.
The Detonators supported the Buzzcocks at the Ulster Hall in Belfast in 1978.
They split in late 1978, by which time Rod Murray had been replaced by Steve Mulree. Murray and
Gourley went to university while Ingram and McIlwaine joined The Tearjerkers.
In 2002, The Detonators reformed briefly in Sheffield to celebrate their 25th anniverary and
recorded a live CD including a few new tracks. The reunion lineup was McIlwaine, Ingram,
Murray, and Gourley.
Howard Ingram had been in a mid-70s school boy band called The Essence which
included Barry McIlhenny of Shock Treatment.
The singles on Local Records ("Need Love Tonight") and Big Blast ("The Dance EP") are by a
different Detonators
1990 reunion, live recording
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.