The brilliant resource ‘U2 & Dublin ’76 to ’80‘ published a photograph yesterday from the 1976 ‘Falling Asunder’ music tour which had never been digitised before.
The Boomtown Rats, Cheap Thrills, Nightbus plus Billy McGrath (tour organiser) and Phay McMahon (lights). July 1976
This groundbreaking ‘rock revue’ showcased The Boomtown Rats, Nightbus and Cheap Thrills and was the first nationwide tour of Irish rock bands. A 29-seater bus toured all over Ireland in July 1976 taking in at least 15 different venues.
The ‘Much More Music Disco’ and the ‘Taylor Lightshow’ were part of the four-hour package. Admission was usually £1.
The Munster Express (16 July 1976) wrote
Each of these bands play a different and varied set musical set of which at least fifty per cent is original material. The Rats music has been described as a sound summit of Rhythm and Blues whereas others prefer the funky sound of Nightbus or the more pastoral mellow music of Cheap Thrills
JULY 1976
14th – Little Theatre, Gorey, Wexford
15th – Atlantic Ballroom, Tramore, Waterford
17th – City Hall, Cork
18th – Caroline Ballroom, Clonmel, Tipperary
19th – Town Hall, Killarney, Kerry
20th – Mount Brandon, Tralee, Kerry
21st – Glentworth Hotel, Limerick
22nd – Town Hall, Westport, Mayo
23rd – Hotel Ormond, Nenagh, Tipperary
24th – Teach Furbo, Galway
25th – The Crescent, Athlone, Westmeath
27th – ?, Newbridge, Kildare
28th – National Stadium, Dublin
29th – Town Hall, Dundalk, Louth
30th – White Horse, Drogheda, Louth
In terms of identifying the individuals pictured.
Front row (from l-r)
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
I thought 3rd from left was Charles O Connor of Horslips fame!…..if not he’s a ringer for him!
Bob Geldof deserves a mention of having the idea in the 1st place – we used the UCD Ents office to get the ball rolling – the photo location was a bg derelict house that was ‘falling asunder’ (!) on the UCD Belfield grounds up near RTE on the Stillorgan Road – and after so many gigs (15) on the trot all 3 bands esp the Rats were so tight no wonder couple of months later they blew UK away – Nice find Tx B
Awesome photo,
Night bus and Deke were the freedom of my teenage years, started me on the path to a job in the industry
Jimmy Faulkner played with Greg for that tour and I suspect he’s the mystery face far right – hope that helps !
thanks for the comment Deke. Have added in your information. Best wishes.
That’s Tom McDermot Drummer with Cheap Thrills and still working with bands in Dublun not Alan Dixon .
thanks for the comment John. Have added in your information. Best wishes.
Brendan Kilty, not John Quinn was the bass player with Cheap Thrills. John Quinn was the lead singer.
Thanks Brendan, I’ve edited. Are you in picture? Best wishes.
As i sit before a blazing fire on this Christmas day my head is reeling through the year of 76. Great memories of playing drums with great players in
Nite Bus….and even better memories of hotel shenanigans and interesting people along the way. Billy McGrath provided The calm words of reassurance
When necessary and Fachna OKelly provided the visceral mojo which we generously accepted. The Rats were burning by the end of the tour and
Geldof was always going to take them in one direction. I still meet some of the musicians playing today and feel very lucky to be playing still searching my way around the drum kit.
Sean O’Reilly.
Good to hear your still enjoying the music Sean and the memories .It’s all a bit hazy but it was good to be part of it. All the best, John Quinn ,formerly Cheap Thrills and later with you in the Cutbacks from time to time.
Thanks John
Hope your still playing with the Cutbacks….yes it was great to be a part of the tour and let’s face it a little part of Irish Rock History…. I know Tom McDermott from Cheap Thrills is still active and Greg Boland from Nite Bus also. Anyway all great memories and hopefully a few more left.
Sean
No. 7 is not Eamon Doyle.
No. 11 is Joe Lahart who was replaced by Eamon Doyle (not in pic) on bass in Night Bus. Jimmy Faulkner (RIP) is also not in pic.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Sean, have made edits. Cheers.
No. 7 is Dermot (“Dosser”) O’Sullivan, the Cheap Thrills’ keyboard player who fractured his arm (on a night out) just a few days before the start of the tour. So Dermot never actually performed on the tour, other than as a drinking participant (particularly on the night of the “free” bar in the Vienna Woods in Cork) and Cheap Thrills had to quickly refine their set list accordingly. It had to be refined (and diminished) even further when John Quinn became ill during the tour.
Gary (No. 3 in photo).
Thanks Gary! Do names for numbers 12 and 15 look ok to you?
Yes Sam, both are correct.
The Vienna Woods was the drunken night Bob Geldoff turned the PA off on Cheap Thrills when they were opening with Jesus is just all right and Gary Dixon avenged them by turning on the house lights when The Rats were doing a strobe light fight for There’s a riot going on.
Slow motion fight with full house lights was brilliant.
Ended with Get up stand up and all three bands on stage. Good memory.
I’ve only a vague recollection of that one…..anybody remember Fachna OKelly and the bag of magic which lit up the bus journeys.?…..
I didn’t inhale though Sean.
At least your in presidential company there John,😎