Continuing my research into the social history of Dublin youth subcultures in the 1970s and 1980s, I’ve been trying to compile a comprehensive list of venues that were used for punk and new wave gigs from c. 1976 – 1984.
Name / Address / Status
- Baggot Inn (Baggot Street. Still there but unrecognisable)
- Dandelion Market (Developed into St. Stephens Green Shopping Centre)
- Ivy Rooms (Parnell Street. Now Fibber Magees.)
- Magnet (Pearse Street. Renamed ‘Widow Scallons’ and then developed into a Spar)
- McGonagles (South Anne Street. Demolished. Rebuilt and now Hackett London store.)
- Moran’s Hotel (Talbot Street. Now O’Shea’s Hotel.)
- Olympic Ballroom (Pleasant Street, Dublin 8. Closed but building still standing.)
- Project Arts Centre (East Essex Street. Temple Bar. Still in use.)
- SFX (Upper Sherrard Street. Demolished and developed into flats.)
- TCD Student Bar (Exam Hall)
- Toners (Baggott Street. Still there.)
- Top Hat (Dun Laoghaire. Developed into Roller Disco, Fun Factory and now apartments)
- TV Club (Harcourt Street. Demolished (?) and developed into Garda HQ)
- UCD Student Bar. (Demolished.)
- Underground Bar (Dame Street. Now Club Lapello)
Can you think of anymore?
Other places that I’ve heard about include The Youth Expression Centre (Temple Bar), The New Inn (New Street), The Loft, Slattery’s (Capel Street) and Bruxelles (Harry Street). Do they fit the bill? Or did they come a bit later?
Notice for upcoming U2 and The Blades gig at The Baggot Inn, 1979.
dfallon
hXci
Sam
The Magnet became the Widow Scallons and it is now a SPAR shop
Thanks Mark. Have edited accordingly.
The infamous Star dust. A month to the day before the Stardust was burnt down, the ska bands the Specials & Beat played there. I think I was 15 at the time.. Roughtest gig I was ever at. The place was full of skinheads/ Skas and drink was on sale so I suppose it was to be expected. At the end the bouncers gave up trying to stop people getting on the stage. You could hardly see the Specials on stage with the amount people on it.
Thanks for the story 80′s guy.
That Stardust gig gets a mention in a recent book by one of the Specials. Played for St Martin’s in Maypark with a load of those skas/skins. i remember loads used to go to the disco in St Brigids and then gave out hammerings to the Raheny/Clontarf hippies getting off the bus after drinking in The Plough, Flowing Tide.
The Blades headlined Lark in the Park, St Annes’ 1983, over where the bandstand used to be [known as the place to get pot back then]. Rhythm Kings supported. Huge crowd, think it was first ever Lark. It was the second version of The Blades, they blew everyone away, unbelievably powerful that day, fucking hammered it.
Cleary was back there in ’86 with The Partisans, doing Elvis Costello covers and I think Marvin Gaye. Think that was the year of the riot in Blackrock whe n Aslan were supporting Hothouse Flowers. Blades used to play the Crofton[?] on the airport road. Notorious for kick offs in there. Remember The Commotion, used to play somewhere on Gt Denmark St. Think that’s where Roddy Doyle got Commitments name, that type of music.
You could order bootlegs of all the Blades/ska stuff from some lad in some rundown building on Liffey St. Still have Blades ones from SFX benefit and RTE in Concert.
@ Niall, the place the Commotion used to play after Tommy Dunnes Tavern in Parliament Street got to small for them was the Inland Revenue club in Denmark Street, circa 1985. I think Aslan used to play there a lot as well.
Hi, Does anyone remember a nightclub in building beside the stag head on Dame court, Eircom are now in it. Thanks
Sides?
The State Cinema in Phibsboro…The Ramones played there and I think Siouxsie played the old cinema in Cabra…The Stella???.
The Grand – Cabra
And The Underground, Dame Street was on the go till 1988
Yes – Ramones played State Cinema (now Des Kelly’s). Didn’t see them, but did see The Wombles there. Siouxie may have played The Oasis in Cabra.
Also, Upstairs at the Earl Grattan (Now Nealon’s) on Capel Street had gigs in the mid-late 80′s – not sure about earlier.
You’re right. I went with my my sister and nephew to see The Wombles in The State. I remember my nephew getting hysterical because he could see the faces of humans under the Womble costumes. Till then he thought The Wombles were real.
Yes, The Stella in Rathmines was used a couple of times. I saw Elvis Costello there on his first Irish gig. He broke 3 strings in the encore but just kept thrashing away!! I also saw The Boomtown Rats there.
The Sportsman’s Inn in Mount Merrion also put on loads of gigs. Bands I remember there include Desmond Dekker, The Radiators From Space, The Atrix etc.
In Trinity, there were many rooms used. The Clash pleayed ina lovely hall to the right after you walk through the arch enterance, The Adverts played in the Junior Commons Room over the arch and loads of gigs in The Buttery & the atrium of the new wing.
The Underground was on Dame St. facing the end of George’s St. (It became a ladancing club for a while!).
The TV Club is now the site of the Garda HQ. I saw Max Romeo play there!
THere were gigs in the Stardust Club in Artane including The Greedy Bastards (Thin Lizzy, Boomtown Rats & Sex Pistols mix), The Darts, The Specials(?)…
In Kevin St. Tech. College, I saw The Boomtown Rats & The Vipers.
Most big gigs happened in the National Stadium on the SCR. Too many to list here but my faves include Chuck Berry, Horslips, Dr. Feelgood, B.B. King, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, The Pogues, Elvis Costello…..
Hi John,
Did you see any gigs at Moran’s Hotel, I am lead to believe this was the top venue before McGonagle’s.
Jeff
The boomtown rats used to play in morons hotel.
Similar but not strictly venues:
don’t forget the Lark in the Park outdoor events in St Anne’s Raheny and in Blackrock; they usually features the brilliant Those Handsome Devils and some of the usual suspects.
In Blackrock, Dave fanning had to get on the PA system and appeal for better behaviour; he included some ‘industrial language’ The follows days he was ‘castigated’ by concerned-mothers-of-easily-influenced-teenagers in the Letters pages.
I didn’t realise the SFX had been developed, certainly the Olympic Ballroom was demolished and developed, as was the Knackers yard across the road! TV club demolished.
Just scrapping in to the timeframe is also The Sportsman’s Inn Mount Merrion, funny story about Dave Moloney and Phil Byrne (Vipers and Revolver respectively). Late one evening they stole the tape recording the Sergeant used for emptying the bar, you know the “moving towards the door” routine, it was actually on tape, so they drove around the car park playing it loud and proud. Next week Dave joined the Rhythm Kings and was loading his kit in for the residency and the guy says to him, “Don’t I know you?”….. eh…. eh …. no!
The last time I visited Belfield in 1996 the old Students’ Bar building was still there and in use as a computer centre – has it been demolished since then It was originally a small tatty prefab building and had a brick extension built in the mid 70s.
Outdoor concerts at TCD cricket pavilion (?)
Theatre L, Belfield
Ian Dury & the Blockheads played at the Stardust in Artane just a few weeks before the tragic fire in 1981
JJ Smyths would have had some punk bands.
I’m pretty sure I saw some non Metal bands in Bruxelles in the late 80s
There was also the Elphin in Dun Laoghaire.
I’m not sure when The New Inn was knocked, but I was at gigs there in the mid 80s.
Was The Capel Inn on Capel Street hosting gigs back then?
Venues list from ‘In Dublin’ mag, October 1978:
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt249/Ed_Butler5/Ven10001.jpg?t=1275981506
Thanks for that Ed! Nice one.
Couple more for you:
Barnstormers on Capel street (later moved to another venue behind Moss st. between Pearse and Townsend st.)
The White Horse Inn, Burgh Quay
hydra
The ramones played the old cabra grande cinema in 1980, and the state cinema in 1977, the gorehounds in basement xchange record shop on bachelors walk, tommy dunnes tavern on parliment street (now the front lounge) and even bubbles disco played host to early punk gigs,/ the crofton airport hotel hosted the radiators,/ the old war memorial hall in terenure hosted the virgin prunes and the strougers,/ bolton street tech’ hosted punk gigs by the process/ navan road assembly hall hosted the strougers, the fabulous fabrics, the kamikazees, the assassins, the process.
cheers
bitzy
Cheers for that Bitzy!
Cheers for the mention Bitzy.Ciaran Killeen (killers(assassins). Great days to be in Dublin(except for the lack of money) U2 in the dando and dc nein in mcgonagles blades in the magnet. The Strougers on R.T.E.
Great blog too.
I think the Boomtown Rats’ first gig was at Bolton Street tech.
I saw U2 doing a lunchtime gig in Kevin Street Tech. Lawks.
Yeh the stardust played host to the STIFF tour in 78′ or 79′, featured wreckless eric, rachel sweet, jane aire and the belvederes etc, then the greedy bastards (AS MENTIONED ABOVE) with ex-pistols. There was a bar on burgh quay (cant remember name) that featured the outcasts, love murders etc. There was a legendary gig in Dublins mansion house featuring stiff little fingers
CHEERS
BITZY
hi Bitzy,
Any information you have would be a great help. I am working on a web page & hoping to display poster & ticket stubs etc.
Do you have a list of dates & venues you played? I am looking for information on most venues.
Do you know who supported XTC on their 3 dates at McGonagle’s, in October 78. I know that D.C Nien, Rudi & the Outcasts supported them in 79.
Jeff
quite possibly The Atrix, who supported them 2 or 3 times, once in the glass walled canteen in UCD! very loud.
Hi Bitzy,
If you want to mail me directly my email is 1999barcelona@live.co.uk
Jeff
bitzy,
the be Stff tour was in ’78. I have the poster that I got at the gig as the wallpaper on my PC
ok the iveagh rooms was a gig site,if thats the right word.the tudor rooms was another where punk bands played.canrt rem which of them was the back of a hotel,under floor,where was it up from findlaters church on ther way to mountjoy square.whatever its called.a band called the assasins plyed there,also oi band the business,maybe future slaves not sure.of course the meeting pint in dorset st,now a pub again thank gawd…the wellington!!!!!!!!!!!!!!why not check hotpress didnt they do a GIG GUIDE back then.of course niall the hippy probably charges to check as per bono and the committee!!!!!!i still have the ticket for the business,i think skin appeal were around at the gig.
Hi,
I am researching the Dublin scene from 1977 to 1980, could you help? I am looking for dates and venues of gigs played by bands such as U2, The Blades, D.C. Nien, The Atrix, The Vipers, Rocky De Valera, The Strougers, The Threat & Revoler etc.
Howya, i was in the strougers so if you need any information on the above bands e-mail me
cheers
bitzy
just remembered us being at a gig at the mansion housse with slf and a big riot outside with finglas punks.also 3 of us got lift with slf to their rds gig after interviewing them.they were the days.the stranglers played the state in phibsboro and there was aggro at that with the dublin punk mafia.saw geezer with a busted nose at that.remember barbara fitzgerlad selling imprint at the magnet bar.at liberty hall saw the boy scoutz,they were an all girl punk band and were great.frank o neill charging the crowd with a fire extinguisher,he was in complete chaos and sang for complete chaos,the skin/punk band back in 78/79.they played marian college in ballsbridge because joe morris in the band like me went to school there.the ringsend teds were going apeshit threatened punks at the gig like me with knives.it was scary.a hm band called asia also played.ringsend had a lot of teds then before lala and the skinheads from ringsend house flats took over.history eh!!!!
Hi yea mad merories been loads them gigs from Jam@tophat tho Outcasts was mental Advance records had ad in window saying free bar at gig Outcasts car was broken in to for tray Harp and mad frank on stage crazy times iam Lynchy by the way hung around wit greenhead etc….
Gerry,
Valdermo here………..I saw that you mentioned Joe Morris and getting some crap from Teds,wasnt that at Funderland?They were singing’black betty bamalam…
gerry here forgot about this website.no was complete chaos gig in marian college,3 bands played,teds came into hall and were looking for any punks.met joe morris at slf gig with some skin pals,great lad.met eamon delaney yesterday,great craic.we used to do neu carnage punkzine.great fckin days.
I’m researching an update to my book “U2 – A Diary,” and wondering if anyone has information about U2 playing a gig at the Sportsman’s Inn — guessing it would’ve been in the 1978-1979 range, or maybe early 1980.
I’ll ask around Matt. My uncle John put on the ‘Dando’ gigs, he might know more.
All the best.
Please let me know the name of the cinema in Blackrock, Co Dublin !!
Not sure if this is the one you mean but there was a cinema in Blackrock on Main Street called ‘The Regent’ – locally also known as the ‘Tunnel’ du to it’s poor sound. It stopped being a cinema in 1961. It later became a shop and then an indoor market. Its demolished now, but I don’t have any date for the demolition. It was originally called the ‘ Blackroc Kinematograph Theatre’ which opened in 1914 but closed in 1929.
hope this help you
<info taken from 'The history of Dublin Cinemas' by Marc Zimmermann
Cheers
Anto
[...] Fanning & The Sportman’s Inn, Classic Dublin Punk/New Wave Singles (The search continues…), Dublin Punk & New Wave Venues (1976-84), The Blades; Revelations (Of 45s) & The Blades Are Sharp, The Atrix, The Spies, & D.C. [...]
Has anyone got copies of Hot Press from 1977 to 1980
Tried the National Archive?
Hi,
No but I will do, thanks for the lead
Yes, I have a good few copies of Hot Press from this period, and NME’s and Sounds, as well as Irish New Wave fanzines. I have a few posters as well. I’m working on a book/memoir on this period and its great to come on here, and see all the people making contact with names and memories. I’m at eamondelaney10@hotmail.com
Maybe see some of you at the launch of ‘Where were You?’ Garry O’Neill’s photo book on Nov 25. Gallery of Photography, I think..
Cheers
Eamon ‘Dev’ Delaney (Complete Chaos)
eamon delaney or devo as he was known spoke to me yesterday and says he has loads of old hot presses.let me know if yr interested.
I have copies of the Hot Press from that era as part of the Vipers archive, have to scan them yet though.
Also have Heat I think it was and the NME where they mentioned the Vipers.
Mr. Fisher, who supported Dr. Feelgood in the Stadium? Or were you still in the bar?
Hi Robbie,
Would be great if you could scan anything for me, I am after, gig guides & live adds for any of venues around Dublin.
Hi Robbie,
I might be able to help. My email is matchgrams (at) gmail.com
What’s the research for?
Arthur Phybes Band in the Stadium and Queens Belfast……….
Jeff – we have a lot of U2 dates listed on U2tours.com (use the SEARCH page), but we also know they played a lot of concerts that have long since been forgotten.
Also still interested in any information that I asked about earlier — a U2 gig at the Sportsman’s Inn in the early days.
Jay – does your uncle happen to have a list of all the U2 dates at Dandelion?
Hi Jeff,
Yep, he has written a brief background to the gigs and has a full them here:
http://johnfisher.ie/Dandelion_Market.html
The list comes from a ‘an almost contemporaneous list that (he) recently found that was written within a year of the last gig’.
I’ve asked about The Sportman’s Inn. My ma doesn’t remember such a gig. I’ll ask my uncle though next time I see him.
Cheers Matt.
have copy of new musical express fr 1977 with article on the belfield punk death at the rads gig if anyone int.harrowing.
Definitely interested in taking it off your hand if you no longer want it. Will drop you an email.
found that hot press detailing death of patrick courtney at the belfield punk gig,undertones first outside belfast,..
Does anyone happen to have any U2-related photos from the late 70s or early 80s? I can be reached at matt … at … u2diary.com
I have U2 interviews in small Irish fanzines, I think. My email is eamondelaney10@hotmail.com
i still have that nme which chroniclles death of poor geezer at rads undertones etc gig in belfield.a few folk have scanned and copied same but no prob if needed again.
Has anyone mentioned the Top Hat, in Dun Laoire ? Saw The Clash and The Jam there. During the Jam gig the back third of the venue was just full of people beating the shit out of each other. Also, the first Dublin punk festival held in what was St Anthony’s Hall (?) on the quays just down from the Ha’penny Bridge and featured The Citizens (my first band), The Skank Mooks, The Virgin Prunes and maybe some others. I’ve actualy recently received a couple of pics, via facebook, of The Ramones at the State Cinema and I was also at their gig in the cinema in Cabra, after which the stabbings occurred. The story ogf the stabbings was front page news on the nest days Evening Press but I know for a fact that at least three of those stabbed were Cabra skins or mods (or scumbags) who attacked people coming out of the gig.
Oh, saw XTC play a big cabaret venue, down Talbot St direction, on the left. Tuxedo’d bouncers and Tommy The Bottle Of Milk ending up on top of a huge human pyramid in front of the stage. Also The Buzzcocks played in some club down Mary St way, you had to walk through a yard to get to it, I recall, or maybe I bunked in.
I was at that Buzzcocks gig – I’ve still got the ticket. It was in a place called the Santa Anna Concert Club on Mary Street. I don’t remember a yard but I do remember going down stairs into a basement. The stage was very low – perhaps knee height and the people in the front row kept on getting pushed onto the stage and the bouncers were sending them to the back – we eventually made our way to to front but got chucked off to the side when we ended up on the stage – great memories. I seem to recall a pool table at the back of the venue. The support band that night were The Sinners. That was the only gig I ever went to there.
Also, not sure if this has been mentioned before, but I saw U2 one lunchtime in Kevin Street Tech – I was still in school so it was about 1978/79.
Anyone else remember gigs at Kevin Steet ?
Cheers
Anto
Cheers for the memories Anto.
Hi Anto,
Would you be able to send me copies of any ticket stubs you still have from that era?
Has anyone got any photo’s of the venues 1976 to 1980. I am looking anything on McGonagle’s, Baggot Inn, Magnet Bar, Moran’s Hotel, Meeting Place, TV Club, Stardust, Top Hat, Dandelion Market, Dingo’s, Toners etc.
My email is 1999barcelona@live.co.uk
Jeff
Yep, thats right about the venue, I could never remember the name. I think Diggle broke a string on the first song! Bastard when that happens! I suppose I’ll have to go to the Academy!
Hi Anto
This is a link to the Buzzcocks live in Santa Anna Concert Club Mary street Dublin 1978.
It says it was recorded in Lesser Free Trade Hall in Leeds but thats me and my brother Cathal in the front row minute “58″. Eamon Carr of Horslips was there that night dressed in Electric Blue Drapes and Blue Suede Brothel creepers. Hardly punk but a Real Cool Dude
Turlough Hill
Strange Movements
Emmett,
Did you see XTC @ McGonagle’s in 78?
I think that place there The Buzzcocks played might have been called Dingwalls (or something like that). It was on Wolfe Tone Street, if memory serves me correctly.
I’m puzzled by the Talbot Street venue. Any more hints?
i reckon the talbot street venue was at the very end of the street(left hand side) just as you walked under the railway bridge.it was many things…..it used to be called the superama cinema then it was a nightclub etc
bitzy
Not sure about the TV Club being where Garda HQ is now, I think it was a bit further up, past the road that brings you round from the Bleeding Horse. Reason I think that is I distinctly remember coming out from the Ramones playing there (1984 or 85?) and there was loads of people sitting on the steps of the old train station (now the Odeon) holding their ears.
Another venue was the Revenue Club at the corner of Gardiner Place and either Hill St or Nth Great Georges St. Steady Eddie and Pete the Roz used to run the Danceline Club there.
CIE Hall in Marlborough St used to have the odd gig too, I remember seeing Paranoid Visions there
Does anyone remember these bands, or the members of them? The Gamblers, Sordid Detail, Sasperilla, Velvet Values, Biro’s, VHF, The Bach Street Kids
Sordid detailS were a 3 piece,Paul Bibby – Drums,
Ingmar Khian -Vocals/Guitar.
Johnny Byrne- Bass.
I remember their stensils on the paving slabs leading to and from The Dandelion on the Green.
The Bach Street kids? I knew that sounded familiar, I have a copy of their one and only publicity poster!
My brother was the sax player, later to become the Legendary, award winning, late night DJ on Moloney After Midnight, Mike Moloney.
Now semi-retired and living in Sligo (after a nostalgic appearance on Radio Nova for several months) and living the life, I have asked him for the lineup for this post.
More later!
Hi Robbie, Thanks for the info, it would be great to see the poster, if you can find it. Is there anyone in your family that was not involved in a band or the music scene in the ’70′s. Thank you again for all the help you have given me.
robbie when is that book coming out.was a huge vipers and revolver fan,used to do neu carnage punkzine in 1978 on.still into punk,ska and oi.
I have a poster somewhere in the archive saying “The Vipers, Gamblers plus support”
I remember that Ramones gig, or rather the words “One, two, three, four” followed by distortion and noise, unrecognisable as music. But Fun!
Hi Robbie,
Strangely enough my memories of seeing the Ramones are the same, “One two three four” in between each song.
Hi all,
Sorry I’ve just returned to this thread and have missed a few people’s questions / comments.
Jeff, yes, I was at loads of gigs in Moran’s Hotel. It was definitely one of the top gigs in town at the time. The Boomtown Rats and The Radiators From Space both had residencies there – The Rads took over from the Rats. At their first gig, THe Rads came out in jumpsuits with the legend “Bye Bye Rats, Hello Rads” scrawled on them. One great night there was the eve of THin Lizzy’s Dalymount Park gig. It was Phil Lynott’s birthday and he got up on stage with the Rats. I was in the front row and ended up acting as an unexpected ‘bounce’ trying to keep people off the stage so that the gig could keep going … P.S. I have no recollection of U2 playing in The Sportsman’s Inn but that isn’t any guarantee!!
Robbie, I don’t remember who supported the Feelgood’s in the Stadium but I remember Bob Geldof standing up at one point and shouting up at the band that “I’ve got a new band and one day we’re gonna be bigger than you!!”
Other venues I have now remembered include;
- Liberty Hall – Paul Brady and a memorable gig of The Pirates (Johnny Kidd’s old band)
- Christchurch (the bit that is Dublinia now) – RTE used to film a TV show there called The Cathedral & I made a video there for Cactus World News doing a gig there.
- At the bottom of Talbot Street was a club called The Fiesta Club which was a “Bunny’ club loosely styled on the Playboy club. I remember seeing The Drifters and some other biggish American acts there. This might have then changed into the venue that Emmet mentioned in his comment.
- The City Arts Centre on City Quay / Moss St. I saw Belfast punk band The Outcasts there. It was billed as a Demolition Party and the place was pretty well trashed by the end of the night!
- I have some video footage from The Underground Club on Dame Street (more recently Club Lapello)? Great gig of The Rhinestone Rattlesnakes (a version of Scottish rockabilly band The Shakin’ Pyramids).
- The Cottonwood Cafe on Johnson’s Court, off Grafton Street where the legendary Johnny Thunders played one of his last ever gigs.
I think the Fiesta Club on Talbot St used to be the Superama cinema? The Supremes played one of their last shows there in 1977.
HI John….
I used to frequent the Underground a lot back in the 80′s. I was going out with Colm Dempsey (drummer) at the time and did the whole groupie bit and helped him set up his drums etc. What a funny venue that was. You had to practically go over the stage to get to the loo! I have some photos of then too.
I think I remember the Rhinestone Rattlesnakes – and the Plops!
Plops — Gig at the Underground 26.12.87
xx
Formed in 1987:
Pat ‘Kipper’ Kinsella – vocals/guitar
Bernard ‘Shay’ Diffley – guitar/piano/keyboards
Dave Kelly – bass (from 1988)
Colm Dempsey – drums. (My fella back then
Recorded a one-track demo in Temple Lane Studios in 1987 called “The Buck Stops Here”.
Live they played the Underground a lot, but the highlight was the Trinity Ball in 1988.
Hi Geraldine,
Yeah, I remember playing in the Underground once and it was a bit disconcerting that every time someone went to the loo and had to lift my bass up so as to not whack them on the head! It would be great if you find any photos that can be shared – I’m sure the gang on this blog and at ‘Classic Dublin Gigs’ would love to see them!
I seem to remember the name ‘The Plops’ (classic!) and judging by the name of the track they recorded, they were big Radiators fans! Must be time for them to have a re-union gig!!
the tv club was where garda hq is on harcourt st.big ruck by the dublin punk heavies against the anti nowhere league,forced them to stop playing.the pirahnas the brighton surf punk band were also on.the gig by ramones in cabra was chaotic up front we saw english punk taken away with mashed face after he upset some of the local heavies.it was on evening press next day.in january 1980 was big fight between punks,skins,and mods.front of irish indo,think date was 14th jan.angus mentioned in article.
I was at that Anti Nowhere League in the TV club i had just tuned 16 and my mate ANTS ans i traveled down from Drogheda on the train. Not knowing the dublin scene and where to go for a pre gig drink with like minded punks etc we ended up having a few beers in a pub across from Connoly station next to the north star hotel i think. On our way to the gig we bumped into 4-5 dublin punks who were also going to the ANWL gig so we tagged along. On the way to the gig the we noticed how abusive they were to members of the public shouting at the girls pasing by “lickerout, lickerout” and other obscenities at innocent passers by. I dont remember much about the individuals of this group of dublin punks but one of the was called WHOPPY this is an important detail for explanation later. When we arrived a the venue entrance ANTS and i were totally shocked at the sight of blood all over the floor of the entrance hall just inside the door. I dont remember many of the other bands but i remember the Barracudas i was enjoying them until they got phlemmed off the stage. Next up was the ANWL if i remember correctly they started their set with snowman and about 4-5 songs later a bloke got up on stage and invited lead singer animal to a fight. Animal obliged and in the blink of an eye had the bloke on the ground and with the microphone still in his hand punched the bloke in the face a couple of times which could be heard through the PA speakers, the bloke that took on animal was none other than the aforementioned WHOPPY. this nonsensical act of stupidity messed up the gig. ANTS and i couldnt believe it was one of the dublin punks we had met earlier. animal licked him alright.
A few gig memories for starters. I still have the ticket stubs for most. Anyone else at these?
The Stranglers – Top Hat, Sept 1978
‘Black & White’ had just come out and The Stranglers were probably the biggest band around then.
Supported by a very dull U2 who were heckled by an inpatient crowd.
The Jam – Top Hat, Oct 78
Supported by The Vipers
Introduced on stage by Wellers dad.
Be Stiff – Stardust, Oct 78
Lene Lovich, Rachel Sweet, Wreckless Eric, Jona Lewie and Mickey Jupp on last. Mickey Jupp’s set cut short as the whole show had over run.
The Greedies – Stardust, Dec 78
Thin Lizzy (with Gary Moore) played first, a great set with ‘Roisin Dubh’ sounding incredible. Then Steve Jones & Paul Cook came on to play along.
Penetration – Edmund Burke Hall, Feb 1979
Brilliant! Supported by The Attrix. Gavin Friday there in a black PVC outfit. My first sighting of him.
The Stranglers – National Stadium Oct 1979
Promoting ‘Raven’, a bit flat, they had lost their momentum. Hugh Cornwell very annoyed to be spat at!
The Revillos – Liberty Hall (May 1980)
Mayhem/aggro at one point and The Revillos stopping and restarting one particular song and Fay Fife screaming at the crowd!
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Grand Cabra, Oct 80
Supported by Micro Disney. Banshees abandoned stage (before end of ‘Switch’?), no encore, cos of crowd trying to get on stage and bouncers not stopping them. Severin slammed his mike stand down in a temper.
Hi PJM,
Would it be possible for you to send me scan of the stubs you have?
Also could you send me your reviews of the concerts?
I am working on a web page covering U2 and the Dublin bands around 1976 – 1980.
I would be greatful for any help you could give.
My email is 1999barcelona@live.co.uk
Jeff
Would it be possible for you to mail me scans or photocopies of the ticket stubs you have?
Jeff
Punk/New Wave venues pre 1984:
Hirchfield Centre/Flickers
CIE Hall
Sides 84/85?
The Buttery
Youth Expression Centre
The Underground is now Club Lapello
Venues:
I mentioned Dingwalls on Wolfe Tone Street earlier. That should have been Dingo’s Rock Palace. Spotted it on that In Dublin scan.
Chariot Inn, Ranelagh. Now Superquinn. Saw XTC there.
Crofton Airport Hotel. Went to a gig there, The Resistors, maybe? Audience stood in disused outdoor swimming pool and the band played at its edge. Or am I having false memory syndrome?
There’s a mention above of The Clash playing Trinity. That was the Exam Hall. They did two gigs on the one day. A 6.00 and a later one. I also saw The Buzzcocks. Also, The Radio Stars and The Gladiators. Jaysus, it’s all coming back.
Another place on Mary Street. The Steering Wheel or The Spinning Wheel? The Gravediggers played there.
Let me think …
Great stuff. Cheers for the comments!
DC Nien played the Crofton Aiport Hotel in Spring 1980 possibly a sunday night? Supported by Chant!Chant!Chant!. Audience in a pit and looking up at band on what seemed to be a very high stage so what you say makes sense.
XTC in 1979, I thought it was the Sportsmans? Me and a friend were selling copies of XTC singles for the record company. Nobody was buying until we suggested the record company guy take the singles to the XTC dressing room and get them signed then make an announcment from the stage “signed XTC singles available in the foyer“, we sold out instantly! Gavin Friday and Guggi were at that gig.
Unless XTC also played the Sportsmans but they DEFINITELY played the Chariot Inn in Ranelagh.
I think I might have been at that DC Nien/Chant!Chant!Chant! in the Crofton Airport. And, you’re right, I think the gigs there might have been on Sundays. Don’t know how I remember that.
Hi
Yes it was The Spinning Wheel.
Strange Movements did a Thursday Night residency there for a while after The Magnet got too dangerous. Larry Mullen U2 used to go every week.
Turlough Hill (Singer)
Strange Movements
Hi Folks,
Those Early Top Hat Gigs, If Anyone Has Any Pics or Stubs from them They’d be Much Appreciated, Am Currently Researching Notable Dulbin gigs over the past 50 years and Have a fair bit of stuff that could be of some use to someone,
Also Looking for any reviews, pics etc of The Phoenix Park Racecourse Gig in 1983 (Dublin Festival 83)
With
U2
BIG COUNTRY
SIMPLE MINDS
EURYTHMICS
STEEL PULSE
PERFECT CRIME
Cheers Folks My Email is lukegilligan2006@hotmail.com
What a great day that was – Phoenix Park Racecourse 1983. I was only 16. I have great memories… my 2ltr bottle of Club orange being confiscated by the bouncers on my way in
Simple Minds headlined as far as I remember and U” supported them…
I bought The Perfect Crimes single afterwards… had it for years but its lost now sadly.
Big Country absolutely rocked…and Annie Lennox stopped one of her songs because some twit was throwing plastic bottles (not me obviously as mine was confiscated!)…
40,000 people in the sunshine and the smell of beer and boxed wine!
I had my ticket on my wall for a long time but that is sadly lost now also.ys
great days
Wrong –
U2 Headlined and Simple Minds .. etc supported
I remember the bouncers confiscating everything on the way in alright, including innocent bottles of 7up etc and then selling them back to people. There were small plastic cups of orange juice for some ridiculous amount and it was a hot, hot day. Some punks broke the cold water pipe going into the toilets and set up an impromptu water fountain.
Some of the bottles being thrown at Annie Lennox were filled with piss and she was not happy “We’re not animals, we’re human beings” There were also people on the roof of one of the stands and one guy stayed up for ages running around and dancing – the whole gig was stopped until he finally came down. looked for a while like he was only coming down if he fell.
A huge section of the fence was pushed over and thousands of non paying customers got in.
There were quite a few overdoses despite the whole of the drugs squad being there and one of the people I was with went blue for a while but fortunately came to. Helicopter ambulance was bricked and had to leave without landing.
There was a riot in Dublin that night as there was supposed to be a laser show from the top of Liberty hall but it was more like a couple of night watchmen with torches. A british journalist hiding in a doorway got to feel some Garda baton.
The lead singer from A Perfect Crime spent the whole gig after they played wandering around trying to get noticed and being pointedly ignored.
Almost got stabbed by a knife wielder in hot pursuit of someone else.
Holy moley – I don’t remember the riots – I was probably tucked up in bed with sun burn and exhaustion by then. I remember hearing about the railings being broken down, as I think that’s how my brother got into the concert, I remember Annie Lennox stopping alright after a bottle was hurled at her. Fantastic day all the same
Apart from almost being stabbed and watching someone turn blue it was a pretty good day, alright! One of my first gigs.
the racecourse gig i think had burning spear,big country and a couple of other bands.skinheads attacked a helicopter bringing in u2 i think,there were fughts all over the gig.a picture of skinheads appeared on the front or inside page of the INDO the next day and it was on all the papers-one of them hangigng from the helicopter landing forks
Remember seeing The Rads in a basement called Hawkins, formerly, the Tara Club, now a dodgy club on D’Olier Street with access from Hawkins Street.
Did The Fashions have a residency in The International Bar?
Desmond Dekker played there, and I remember seeing the Stars of Heaven there too. I think it had a different name depending on which door you used 21 Club / Hawkins?
desmond dekker also played there and rival skinhead gangs clashed,might have been bohs rovers etc.bouncers lost control and the special branch looneys arrived with batons outside.
The Fox and Pheasant off Capel Street was a brilliant venue.
Was around in them mad old days…have load pics from Dublin hanging around Advance records..me,gary bond,greenhead,jody cambell,stone,brum etc Went to loads gigs SLF,Jam,Undertones,Members,Outcasts,
I’d love to see them. Any of them online?
Hi sorry none on line..live in London now spent so much time coming over decided to stay lol…I have some them might try copy them will let ya know alright. Thats how got on this site looking up dublin punks see a book with lot my mates in it very amusing ;0
Can anyone remember the Punk Festival at St Anthony’s hall 28/11/78? I am trying to find a full list of bands that played. I have The Virgin Prunes, Skank Mooks & The Citizens.
I have a poster for this gig. The full lineup, from the top, is the New Versions, Berlin, the Virgin Prunes, the Strange Movements, the Skank Mooks and the Citizens. It was my first gig, and very memorable ; a wild show, with fires being burned down the front of the stage as people set alight some reams of computer paper thrown around as part of the Prunes typically avant garde shock-art set. A women in a wheelchair was whirling around the moshpit, and kids from nearby Oliver Bond flats snook in to join the show. The Strange Movements had a single, Dancing in the Ghetto with Good Vibrations records and the New Versions had Regine Moylett as a singer, subsequently a long time PR person with U2. She and her sister Susan ran the famous No Romance punk and fashion bondage shop in the Dandelion..
I would really LOVE to get a copy of that poster if you could scan it. Thanks.
As I would I!
All the best.
Hi Eamon,
Thanks for the the info on the concert, that’s a great help. If you could scan the poster that would be brilliant.
Jeff
Hi Eamon,
I would also love a copy of that poster.
email me at
callaghanproductions@gmail.com
Turlough Hill (singer)
Strange Movements
I remember Strange Movements trying to play but not being let on. The Prunes were out there that night. The Mod-ls were regulars in the Crofton and had a Sunday night residency in Mc Gonagles.
Anyone remember when and were the Buzzcocks played in Dublin in 1979. The Sinners were the support that night, Aidan O’Rouke says it was on Mary Street, but can’t remember more than that.
buzzcocks played the santa anna concert club in mary st
bitzy
Hi Bitzy,
Many thanks for that, Aidan & Bernard (The Sinners) could not remember were the gig took place apart from it was on Mary Street.
Can anyone remember what date it took place?
Jeff
Hi Bitzy,
Your info was correct, I have found an article in Hot Press that confirms the venue.
Many thanks Jeff
hey gerry,get back to work! B.B. watching you
Sat 28th April ’79 – Rocky Devalera and The Gravediggers – Dandelion Mrkt Sun 6th May ’79 – Zebra – Dandelion Mrkt
I saw Gene Pitney at the Stardust and Roy Orbison in the, Carllton Cinema.
Seamus Ennis played in, The Chariot Inn, Ranelagh as did many a time, Anne
Byrne and Paddy Roche. I managed a group, The Prestons, who also played
there and who also played, The Bernie Inn, off Grafton Street
Stay in tune guys ‘n girls
James Molloy
Yes, will that that St Anthony’s Hall gig poster and will send it..I will also try to look for other stuff. Also have a few Irish singles from that period. Are people familiar with the Just for Kicks LP, a compilation of Dublin bands : New Versions, Teen Commandments, Sacre Bleu, U2 and Zebra, a reggae band….
Eamon, I digitized the whole album in Nov 2010 and put up the tunes on the blog but I was asked to take it down (I think unfairly) but the bloke who put it together (C.McNally).
Here was the text that went with the post:
Just For Kicks was a pivotal 12 track, black vinyl LP compilation, released by Kick records in December 1979, showcasing the very best of unsigned, new wave Dublin bands.
Kick Records, based out of 24 Upr. Fitzwilliam Street, was run by former UCDSU president Charlie McNally. I’ve asked around and McNally’s whereabouts seem to be unknown at the moment. If anyone has a contact detail for him, please get in touch. (Update: I’ve got in contact with McNally and plan to meet up with him in the New Year)
It is a highly rare and coveted collector’s item due to its limited pressing, the inclusion of U2 and for the fact that The Edge played bass on the Teen Commandments’ track “Something’s Better than Nothing”. Thus becoming the earliest recorded collaboration by a member of U2 with another act.
The Executive Producer was Charlie McNally, the Recording Engineer was Johnny Byrne, the record was ‘Assisted by’ Paul Thomas, Master Production was by Windmill Studios. The cover was designed by Martin Devane while it was pressed by Carlton Productions and printed by Massey Bros. Ltd. ‘Origination’ by Reynard Graphics. Dave Fanning (RTE Radio 2) supplied the sleeve notes.
Though it’s not that surprising that neither The Vipers or The Radiators from Space were included in the compilation, seeing as they were comparatively well-known, I wonder why The Blades weren’t included. Too much of a mod/soul influence?
This is the first time any of the songs below have been uploaded online. Enjoy.
Loving this blog! I thought Just for Kicks was a bit later. The reason the Vipers were not on it I suppose was they were effectively defunct. Proof of this being Dave Moloney, the drummer, was the drummer with Teen Commandments (They had a working title of the Reasons. Dave and Phil Byrne of Revolver fame, were good mates). The remnants of the Vipers were still in London with a new Drummer and eventually became Paul Boyle and The Background I think. Dave has written a memoir, called “Mind Your Toes”, because he will be dropping some big names. We are looking at publishing options, once we get it proof read and filtered for slander!!! Pete Holidai of the Rads co-wrote with Phil and produced the tracks (Private guy and Baby left me came out on vinyl, Italian Girl was a B side as I recall), so the Rads must have been defunct too by then.
I only went looking for the SFX the other night while waiting for someone and had time to kill…..now I know why I couldnt find it! been demolished
I went to see Echo and the Bunnymen there 2 nights in a row 1985 or 1986…totally awestruck. Does anyone remember those gigs?
Pretenders, SFX, June 18, 83 or 85, blistering hot day! Blistering hot gig.
I was at two of those gigs, and two before then in ’83 and ’84. The first night in 85 was, I think, the best. I found the set list somewhere online and was surprised by how clearly it came back. Great cover versions – She Cracked by the Modern Lovers and Friction by Television especially.
Some of you may like this, have a look through the albums, I’ve uploaded loads of pics, Including a good few of the above gigs
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Classic-Dublin-Gigs/272423591202
Did I imagine seeing Eddie & The Hot Rods in Moran’s? Anyone else remember?
Anyone remember a band called Mirror Freak from the mid 80′s? Led by Ken Serval, who still plays around Dublin as Jason b. Badd. I have a recording of them playing the Underground on Dame street in 1986 which I might post on YouTube. I’d love to get a photo of them.
@europhile. I was at the Eddie & the Hot Rods gig in Morans. I still remember the Boomtown Rats at the back heckling them and chucking pint glasses at the stage.
@Jeff, check with Smiley Bolger. He promoted some of the gigs in Morans. He had Jesse Hector and the Gorillas (Chiswick Records) booked but they cancelled. So Full Circle filled in. Smiley also promoted a great Sunday night session in McGonagles where I saw the Lurkers, XTC and Echo & the Bunnymen amongst othes.
The Clash in Trinity College.
AC/DC in the Olympic Ballroom.
The Greedy Bastards somewhere obscured by chemicals – the Top Hat?
Gene Pitney in the Stardust.
The Atrix wherever I could find them.
The Virgin Prunes ‘A New Form Of Beauty’ in the Douglas Hyde Gallery. Like nothing before or since, utterly game changing, still trying to figure it out.
The ‘Teenage Kicks’ gigs on a Sunday? afternoon in McGonagles.
Pat James on Radio Dublin and a bloke called Fred on Aungier Street who sold bootlegs. Freebird Records, Advance Records. No Romance.
Def Leppard in the TV Club just before they left for America and superstardom, January 1983?
Whitesnake and Mama’s Boys in the SFX. Motorhead in Belfield – stuck my head in Lemmy’s bass cabs and lived to tell the tale.
Status Quo in the National Stadium. Horslips there too, and out in Red Island.
Queen in Simmonscourt in November 1979 – moaning about them not bringing the full light show like on the front cover of Live Killers and then the thing being switched on and revolving into place and knowing that anyone less than a mile from it was going to be roasted alive. Freddie singing ‘Danny Boy’ and the audience not knowing the second verse.
I was recently awarded the freedom of the City of Dublin for being the only person who never saw U2 in the Dandelion Market. McGonagles, perhaps?
Phoenix Park 1983 – Big Country. I would have marched into hell behind those guitars.
U2 Croke Park 1985. Bad – remains the best memory I have of living in Dublin.
Brilliant Post, pure poetry!
Great post that’s got me thinking.
I suppose any of several gigs the Golden Horde played with the original rhythm section; the Stars of Heaven one lunchtime in the JCR and most nights in a later residency in the Underground; most gigs in the Underground 1983-86, especially a Cork band the 6655370s or something? the Pogues at McGonagal’s, their first Dublin gig? Microdisney tethered on a barge off the Virgin Megastore; TPE supporting Siouxie (or was it the Bunnymen) in the SFX; Fatima Mansions at the New Inn (oh and Johnny Thunders there too); I’ve written elsewhere of earlier forays into the Dandelion to see the Outcasts; the Triffids in the Buttery; Green on Red and Nikki Sudden there too; the Go Betweens outside the Pav and drinking with Lindy afterwards;
and I can never remember which headliner we saw in the Top Hat, having caught the last few bars of Teen Spirit as we came in from the fucking Purty Kitchen (Sonic Youth or the Muses)? I didn’t see the Smiths in the Exam Hall in ’83, but I saw them later in the Stadium and they were shite. REM played the SFX once or twice, the second gig was better.
Who should I be going to see these days (apart from Nick Lowe and Wilco)?
And while the Smyths played upstairs in Trinity, Irish Pop Supergroup, Flash Harry & The Kings of Swing, played downstairs to one man and his dog (claimed it was a guide dog, but all it could find were his balls!); Phil Byrne (Revolver), Dave Moloney (Vipers/Rhythm Kings), Pat Dunne (Pop Mechanics) and the balance of the Rhythm Kings who recently broke up: Lizard (Martin Maher), Richie Taylor. Then morphed into the Wilf Brothers with Mark Venner, I think. Trying to paste in the poster for this gig, but can’t seem to do it, so since I can’t get it onto twitter, here is a facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150940470113317&set=a.190651413316.128556.680433316&type=1&theater
Excuse the spelling of thr Horde! And it was Sonic Youth we saw, missing Nirvana. Mind you, TPE covered Teen Spirit shortly afterwards in the Olympic to great effect.
The Jam top hat..The Members Olympic ballroom tho not whole set due to fighting!!!Tenpole tudor UCD who was trying to get me through a window as Swords of a thousand men was starting..Smiths@SFX lot of flowers on stage..The Vipers at Mc gonagles wit Dave fanning doing warm up DJ..The Outcasts @some hall down docks with free bar dont remember much
Specials stardust brilliant gig even got on stage with them..4 B 2 @ Trinty college more fighting stopped half way through set..so many mad memories around Advance..Anyone remember Brums The Pretty?????
David, parallel lives:
The Jam top hat.. My brother was the drummer with the vipers playing support.
Olympic ballroom my first job.
Tenpole tudor UCD loved it, can’t remember who was playing support.
The Vipers at Mc gonagles …. as above
Specials stardust week before the fire? Wife was there before we started going out together.
memories around Advance..felt safe withthe Vipers badge, the “red sea” of punks parted to allow us in… well I was only 13!
Thats mad eh..Knew bloke called Kevin o sullivan think he was roadie for The Vipers you know him??Cant remember Tenpole support never got in that blasted window lol.You prob know some people i hung around with..Followed punk to London and iam still here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Legend that was Sully! I assumed he must have died in Action, never heard of him since! You can ask him does he remember our dog, Toby?
Punk tough guy comes in, one space on couch left, dog curled up, no bother to hard man, until dog shows the fangs, hardly moves, growls (the dog, not Sully!), Punk Rocker moves on, with some comment like stupid dog! Well that is how I remember it!
He had a WWII German helmet with the fleur de Lilles on it, tiny, have a picture of me wearing it on Facebook!
I remember the band commenting about him, that he was a good man to have in your side in a row!
I hope he is well and has fond memories, he may vaguely remember me, as I said, I was a young 13. Managed to Get Phiil Byrne and Dave together recently with the help of Jeff Muir of this blog. At Dave’s 50th we had the, one night only, Vipers reunion, without Paul Boyle unfortunately. He is somewhere in London, we exchange the odd nostalgic email! Do you have my details from this or that facebook link I put up?
Specials and The Beat.. 15th Jan. Could hardly see the bands at the end with so many skinheads on the stage….. mad gig ! 14th Feb place was burnt down. Remember seeing chains on the exit doors on the way in to see the Specials. Bit mad when you think of the whole idea of an emergency exit now a days.
Ur taking me back sully and his mad jackets had a leather one down to his ankles lol.Not in touch with him..I had The Vipers on 7 inch its still at me mothers
That was prob me and my mates at The Specials mental night ,remember drinking on the bus on route then wondering where the bloody hell am i….Was thinking a month later that could have been me in there!!!Went to Steel pulse got on stage again only for some 6 FEET 10 RASTA gently lifting me down and giving me toke of his ganga pipe then collasped…
Hi Paul
What a day that was in August 1983 – Phoenix Park – amazing. Was my first gig ever and the best bands in the world!! I can still feel the heat of the sun, the smell of the beer and the sound of those bagpipes… and then watching Jim Kerr do his stuff….wind blowing through his white shirt. There was a great band early in the day called Perfect Crime. I rushed out to buy their single ‘Brave’ after hearing them. I think there was a reggae band on also. They don’t make days like them anymore!
Liberty Hall, Went to see Fay Fyfe and the Rezillos there. Also UCD Belfield, The Blades. Olympic Ballroom, Specials, just got out of hospital that day after getting an ingrown toenail taken off!
Also say U2 at the dandelion.
What about the White Horse down from Tara St station? Maybe more of an 80′s thing but my band, and every band I know cut their teeth on one of Robbie Foy’s nights..
Any one remember a club called the “Noggin” it was around in 1980
The Nog Inn, Sallynoggin.
Not sure just found an advert in the “In Dublin” magazine “Rock at the Noggin”, Dublin’s biggest rock venue. Bands playing are Rogue Angel, Katmandu, The Lovers, Stepaside & Bogey Boys.
That’d be it.
Bob Marley at Dalymount
Great Rock n Roll Swindle (film) Edward Burke Theatre Trinity 1981/2?
the previously mentioned Charlie Mc Nally’s attempt to stage a Boomtown Rats gig in a mega tent at Leopardstown racecourse. Was it the Papal tent? Anyway Dun Laoghaire fire officer banned it. Lots of press at the time. The tent migrated to Tralee where it held the Rose for a few years. I think he also tried to run a festival at UCD soccer grounds.
also just remembered
a regular (weekly?) Gavin Friday cabaret at The Waterfront, a Dennis Desmond restaurant on the south quays.
the moylett sisters knickers shop in the Dandelion market
Punk and New Wave records- Freddy and his shop Advance Records on South King St across from the Gaiety, Golden Discs on Grafton St.
The Blades played the Woodlands Hotel in Greystones. ( I have a partial cassette recording)
I am just a frequent visitor to Dublin since the mid-eighties, but The Underground, what a fantastic place it was, best jukebox in the world. I also saw The Prunes at The Waterfront, Jesus and Mary Chain at the SFX, Mary Coughlan at the Baggot Inn. Those were great, if gritty times but with people being individuals and Dublin having a lot of character.
A few recollections from ’78 onwards: the Ramones at The State- life changing… The Clash at the Top Hat:The Prunes supporting caused a mini riot when Gav’s plastic strides split & everything fell out. He minced back onstage alone, up to the mic: ‘white riot-I wanna riot of my own’ . The N.I. Skins were apoplectic with rage!! After gig, missed the last bus & walking back past the venue in the pissings of rain, we were invited in by the clash crew. Spent an hour scoffing & drinking the rider, there was only about 20 people there in total incl. the band. They were great but couldn’t really get much time with Strummer as he was hogged by Snail. I suggested to Jonesy that he needed a haircut. ‘Just had it cut, u cheeky bugger!’ I was 16. Besides TheBlades/Chant Chant Chant/Side FX/Meelah XVIII gigs at The Magnet, what about the Comsat Angels/Teardrop Explodes(3 nights)/, Wah Heat(Wylie was gunning or a row with the audience-stunning gig nonetheless/Fall(Smith: Right, who nicked me fuckin tape recorder? 2 drummers played as I recall… Bunnymen gigs at McGonagles. All amazing as was the U2/Prunes…. 24 hour Dark Space at The Project was incredible too. NI bands were brill, Rudy, Protex etc. Geraldine mentioned the SFX Bunnymen gigs too, McCullough told the audience that his mother was Irish, which lead to a huge roar of approval only to be followed by: ‘so I suppose that makes me only… half thick! Hilarious! Smiths there too… I remember Eamon’s Complete Chaos in the Dando as well as U2(don’t mention the Black Catholics), The Outcasts(their skin’ead guitarist bit into a capsule in his mouth and mock blood flowed out… Honourable mention to all the DC Nein gigs,The Myster Men, The Threat(The high cost of living), Skank Mooks, The Low & later Into Paradise for some of the best gigs.
Brilliant comment Eugene. Thanks.
Mental was at most them gigs…Outcasts was a mad nite there car was broken in to and tray Harp disappeared down our throats..Used to Hang around Advance records (some crazy days there) Blades , Vipers Clash @top hat plus The jam…U2 dandilion market The members before riot erupted..Slf Ucd tenpole Tudor then Steel pulse coz used to b a skin…
Nice one Eugene.
Turlough Hill from Strange Movements here.
We started the Magnet Gigs and gave the Blades their first gigs supporting us with 2 or 3 other bands every week. We were also the first Irish band to get a record contract after the Boomtown Rats and Undertones. “Dancing in the Ghetto” on Good Vibrations Records.
I was at the Clash at Top Hat and upstairs after the show. Berlin were the support act . That was October 12th 1978, a wet and windy Thursday. They were all really cool. Strummer, Jonesey . Loads of booze and grub. Bernard Rhodes was there being a. real gent. He introduced me to the Clash as Ireland’s Johnny Rotten I remember the haircut comment.
The Prunes incident was at the Stranglers gig in the Top Hat the month earlier , (9th Sept 1978, U2 had brought them along as a surprise)where Gavin’s see through PVCs split and everything fell out. That was when they were playing a song called Art Fuck
All for now
Turlough Hill
Thanks for the comments Turlough.
Your welcome Sam.
More to follow later. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Dancing in the Ghetto is on youtube
Turlough Hill
Strange Movements
The Departure and The Mod-ls in McGonagles on Sunday Nights. Smiley Bolger on the decks and two great bands. Mod-ls were also on the Late Late in March 1980.
Looking forward to more photos, Turlough.
I was involved in RaS (Rock against Sexism) in 79-80-81. I’ve still got some stuff related to that time, if anyone is interested. We had a gig in the Magnet with U2, and in UCD with DCNien. Also some workshops in the Grapevine Arts Centre in Nth Frederick St. Can’t remember much offhand, but my siblings remember being involved in selling tickets on the door, and screen printing tee-shirts. It was great fun. I was a great fan of the Atrix at the time.
Any posters/leaflets etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Remember seeing Strange Movements & the Blades upstairs in Spinning Wheel near a wallpaper/paint shop on Mary St. I seem to recall Irish flag and Papal Flag with Strange Movements and footprints scattered on it.. I have a lot of ticket stubs for many of the gigs listed above, including U2 at the Stadium for £1.50 ( the Island Records homecoming), Stranglers/Atrix Stadium.
A wacky night I remember was the Fall in McGonagles with Smith holding the mike to a radio and creating distortion/feedback. Got a bottle of Harp from Steve Jones while standing at the side of the stage in the Stardust for the Greedies. My parents moved house when I was away on holidays in 1980 and my mother threw the treasured souvenir lurking in my wardrobe out.
does anyone remember the cimarons in belfield or the whizz kids and gloria mundi in the same venue,the skinheads gobbing a liffey full of spit at the whizz kids lead vocalist and gloria mundi putting up with abuse bacause one of them was a trans.i have most of the early punk releases down here and up north-good vibes,it records,rip off.whatever happened to ZEBRA the reggae band.i have a ticket stub from oi band the business in the iveagh rooms…..that gig in itself would fill a book….dublin band skin appeal were there.
I remember an off-duty Garda, pissed and dancing on his own to ‘LA woman’ in McGonagles c1985. I also remember Sharkbait and At Gunpoint in The Underground in Dame Street. On the day of Self Aid in 1986, there was an alternative gig called Self Aid Makes it Worse, organised by Eamonn McCann. It took place in McGonagles and The Underground and a newly emerging Hot House Flowers were on the bill. My favourite night club in the 1980s was Sides.