A-Z Artist Index Compilations Record Labels Media
Help Us! Contact Us Resources Timeline
Bio:
Derry punk band active by 1979 also known as the Idle Threats, both name variations
used either by accident or design. Their early material included titles like "Theres Little Green Men
on the Moon (And They Eat Little Bits Of Green Cheese)" and "Why Don't You Switch Off Your
Television Set (And Go And Do Something Much Less Boring Instead)", indicating they didn't
take themselves too seriously.
Eddie McDaid, Carmel Skipper & Peter Doherty all left in 1979. John Quigley became the lead singer
and Ronnie McKnight joined on bass. He was later replaced by Gabriel Coyle (AKA Charlie Manson).
Later bass players included Bill Vale and Joe Campbell.
They were slated for inclusion on the unreleased Derry scene sampler LP funded by Derry City Council
on the ill-fated Shoestring label. This resulted in a demo
produced by Colm Arbuckle (now with Radio Foyle). The bands sound had evolved by this time,
and had become darker and more serious, influenced by Siouxsie and the Banshees, Gang Of Four and
Joy Division, with Joe Campbell on bass and drummer Micky Griffith as the main songwriter. Titles
include "Ghost Stories" and "Its A Lonely Beach Now".
The Idol Threats supported Stage B at the Pound in Belfast and opened for
the Undertones at the Ulster Hall in December 1980 (billed as Idle Threats).
They also appeared at the end of a BBC Northern Ireland documenrary about children growing
up in 'the troubles' performing "Ghost Stories". Does anyone have this on video?
The band relocated to England but never actually played out again and split up in 1982.
Drummer Mickey Griffiths played with Dick Tracy & The Green Disaster and
was later in The Rip Offs.
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.