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Rock music in Ireland
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<h2 id="1960s">1960s</h2> <p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/Showband/xQkRSHK5">Showband</a></p> <p>In the 1960s being part of a 'Showband' was essentially the only way a professional musician in Ireland could make a living. <a href="/facts/Van_Morrison/bqu8nuJ1">Van Morrison</a>, <a href="/facts/Henry_McCullough/W2gYGLSr">Henry McCullough</a> and <a href="/facts/Rory_Gallagher/lDWUKAQS">Rory Gallagher</a> started working in Irish showbands, but went on to put Ireland on the rock music map. Van Morrison, growing up on <a href="/facts/Hyndford_Street/fgsxLjPu">Hyndford Street</a>, was inspired by fellow resident <a href="/facts/George_Cassidy_(jazz_musician)/Vyz4Ybgc">George Cassidy</a>, a jazz musician.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> Cassidy taught Morrison how to play <a href="/facts/Tenor_saxophone/3wjSPvBF">tenor saxophone</a> and <a href="/facts/Music_notation/eubaB0AK">music notation</a> lessons, which made them bond and become friends.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> Van Morrison achieved international success in the 1960s with the beat group <a href="/facts/Them_(band)/Sx6kwRCA">Them</a> before launching a very successful solo career. Rory Gallagher formed the blues rock trio <a href="/facts/Taste_(Irish_band)/hsQRVNCy">Taste</a> and went on to achieve critical acclaim in his solo career which lasted until his death in 1995. He is considered by many music critics to be among the greatest rock guitarists of all time. The Strangers from Balbriggan were also very popular and had a unique sound. Their record "Strangers" made # 6 in the Irish charts. </p><p><a href="/facts/Eire_Apparent/V6H46jbd">Eire Apparent</a>, a rock band from <a href="/facts/Belfast/GIhSKnIv">Belfast</a> who formed in 1967 is noted for launching the careers of <a href="/facts/Henry_McCullough/W2gYGLSr">Henry McCullough</a> and <a href="/facts/Ernie_Graham/II8wtd7V">Ernie Graham</a>, and for having <a href="/facts/Jimi_Hendrix/9uK1D4ps">Jimi Hendrix</a> play on, and produce, their only album.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="1970s">1970s</h2> <p>The early 1970s saw a growth of Irish rock music. One band that rose to international prominence was the hard rocking <a href="/facts/Thin_Lizzy/Fra7x0cK">Thin Lizzy</a>, led by <a href="/facts/Phil_Lynott/g4GS9q8k">Phil Lynott</a>. Another Irish band, <a href="/facts/Horslips/tcQqGVM4">Horslips</a>, broke new ground by mixing hard rock with traditional Irish music to create a new genre – <a href="/facts/Celtic_rock/upmhbu1W">Celtic rock</a>. They challenged the idea that an Irish band had to leave the country to be successful. They stayed in Ireland instead of moving abroad to chase success. They were successful in Ireland but never achieved much international success. The early 1970s paved the way for another band that would remain based in Ireland but would go on to dominate the music world – <a href="/facts/U2/4nxeFIy8">U2</a>. U2 began their musical career in 1976 and went on to become internationally known. Irish success in this period on a more commercial basis was led by Waterford born pop singer/songwriter <a href="/facts/Gilbert_O%27Sullivan/GJn8h590">Gilbert O'Sullivan</a>, whose achievements included two UK No. 1 singles ("<a href="/facts/Clair_(song)/R4nw0Bqz">Clair</a>" and "<a href="/facts/Get_Down_(Gilbert_O%27Sullivan_song)/c4o8jHo8">Get Down</a>") and one United States No. 1 ("<a href="/facts/Alone_Again_(Naturally)/IjuFFkrU">Alone Again (Naturally)</a>") </p><p>In the mid-70s, with a <a href="/facts/Roots_revival/9M1XkDxx">roots revival</a> of traditional music burgeoning, folk rock fusion groups such as <a href="/facts/Planxty/RQ0VXNXT">Planxty</a> and <a href="/facts/Moving_Hearts/meuRBY28">Moving Hearts</a> as well as singer-songwriters like <a href="/facts/Christy_Moore/vEysxWrW">Christy Moore</a> and <a href="/facts/Paul_Brady/EtJqH8YC">Paul Brady</a> rose to prominence. </p><p>The late 1970s saw the height of the <a href="/facts/Punk_rock/voBjpcpS">punk rock</a> movement. Irish bands such as Northern Ireland's <a href="/facts/Stiff_Little_Fingers/jhsXUBGu">Stiff Little Fingers</a> and <a href="/facts/The_Undertones/2EvoxHo3">The Undertones</a> as well as <a href="/facts/Dublin/Fv8ezm8a">Dublin</a>'s <a href="/facts/The_Radiators_from_Space/GbnIQtsT">The Radiators from Space</a>, <a href="/facts/The_Boomtown_Rats/IIAt2n5U">The Boomtown Rats</a>, Berlin, <a href="/facts/The_Blades_(band)/f260LLPF">The Blades</a>, The Vipers and the avant-garde <a href="/facts/The_Virgin_Prunes_(band)/9CVxcqwK">The Virgin Prunes</a> were in the midst of the new genre. </p> <h2 id="1980s">1980s</h2> <p>The 1980s saw the rise to stardom of the most successful Irish rock band, <a href="/facts/U2/4nxeFIy8">U2</a>. Since the release of their album <i><a href="/facts/Boy_(album)/efgqkdgR">Boy</a></i> in 1980, U2 has grown to become one of the biggest rock bands in the world. In fact, <i><a href="/facts/Rolling_Stone/HhCFoJ9F">Rolling Stone</a></i> claims this band to be "the biggest band in the world."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> Band members <a href="/facts/Bono/LWHXEyw6">Bono</a> (Paul Hewson), <a href="/facts/The_Edge/GUQxQKCD">The Edge</a> (David Evans), <a href="/facts/Adam_Clayton/qSSxpwff">Adam Clayton</a>, and <a href="/facts/Larry_Mullen_Jr/tALDbxVU">Larry Mullen Jr</a> have brought international attention to this unique genre. Within four years of starting the band, they were signed onto <a href="/facts/Island_Records/p59XgBjo">Island Records</a>. Their 1987 album, <i><a href="/facts/Joshua_Tree/VqtGBGVG">Joshua Tree</a></i> sent them over the top. Now, in the third decade of their career, they continue to achieve enormous commercial and critical success. Throughout their career <a href="/facts/U2/4nxeFIy8">U2</a> have kept their base firmly planted in their home town, <a href="/facts/Dublin/Fv8ezm8a">Dublin</a>. The band, especially frontman <a href="/facts/Bono/LWHXEyw6">Bono</a>, are also well known for their social conscience and their involvement in various international causes. Along with the 1980s came <a href="/facts/County_Donegal/ABbl3HoH">County Donegal</a> group <a href="/facts/Clannad/XFxFCEhK">Clannad</a> who were, at the time, innovators in bridging the gap between <a href="/facts/Pop_rock/JVJoxYrq">pop rock</a> music and traditional Irish music. </p> <p>Following the disbandment of <a href="/facts/The_Undertones/2EvoxHo3">The Undertones</a> in 1983, lead vocalist <a href="/facts/Feargal_Sharkey/4CrH0cup">Feargal Sharkey</a> pursued a solo career while the other band members formed <a href="/facts/That_Petrol_Emotion/HapnczNg">That Petrol Emotion</a> along with an American vocalist, Steve Mack. </p><p>In 1986 <a href="/facts/The_Saw_Doctors/gSzu43eB">The Saw Doctors</a> from <a href="/facts/Tuam/KWJzdvm9">Tuam</a> in <a href="/facts/County_Galway/pRPYJqvI">County Galway</a> formed however the band would have to wait until the nineties and noughties for major success. <a href="/facts/Orchestral_pop/uxRf1kcV">Orchestral pop</a> band <a href="/facts/The_Divine_Comedy_(band)/VrJGAfzj">The Divine Comedy</a> from <a href="/facts/Enniskillen/x6jTcwnn">Enniskillen</a> also formed in the eighties. </p><p>In the 1980s <a href="/facts/The_Pogues/sU4jWRDQ">The Pogues</a> became very successful with their radical new take on the fusion of traditional Irish music with <a href="/facts/Punk_rock/voBjpcpS">punk rock</a> attitude. This style of 'punked-up traditional Irish music' has also taken off outside Ireland and the UK, especially in the United States. Other Irish artists to gain fame in the 1980s were <a href="/facts/Sin%C3%A9ad_O%27Connor/WU1r6tnt">Sinéad O'Connor</a> and the <a href="/facts/Heavy_metal_(music)/WsIPhM9e">heavy metal</a> group <a href="/facts/Mama%27s_Boys/jtfXpjoT">Mama's Boys</a>. Former <a href="/facts/Thin_Lizzy/Fra7x0cK">Thin Lizzy</a> guitarist <a href="/facts/Gary_Moore/wy0R6rQc">Gary Moore</a> achieved success in his 1980s solo career but returned to his <a href="/facts/Blues_rock/8R8cjQYc">blues rock</a> roots in the 1990s. The 1980s witnessed a lot of interest from foreign shores Cactus World News were one of the bands which managed to garner success outside Ireland (United States, UK Germany) without become hugely successful they charted continually internationally. </p><p>The 1980s also saw the birth of rock band <a href="/facts/Aslan_(rock_band)/0flrSTMs">Aslan</a> from <a href="/facts/Finglas/fB1VgEEG">Finglas</a> and <a href="/facts/Ballymun/rflNpVol">Ballymun</a> in <a href="/facts/Northside_(Dublin)/FtaKVc81">North Dublin</a>, the third biggest selling Irish act in Ireland. </p><p>In 1981 the <a href="/facts/Slane_Concert/lJ42GnGm">Slane Concert</a> at <a href="/facts/Slane_Castle/UeCYuevD">Slane Castle</a> in <a href="/facts/County_Meath/wqpnWVpg">County Meath</a> began which is still held most years. </p> <h2 id="1990s">1990s</h2> <p>In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dublin based group <a href="/facts/My_Bloody_Valentine_(band)/5Sn0NQkv">My Bloody Valentine</a> pioneered a new style of rock, <a href="/facts/Shoegazing/nGdAGr8K">Shoegazing</a>, and received much critical acclaim. A new crop of Irish rockers claimed success in the 1990s including <a href="/facts/The_Cranberries/sC7axybg">The Cranberries</a> from <a href="/facts/Limerick/3Argmh9U">Limerick</a>, <a href="/facts/The_Golden_Horde_(band)/T7e8fSdR">The Golden Horde</a>, <a href="/facts/Indie_rock/WwHEa2bQ">Indie rock</a> bands <a href="/facts/Blink_(band)/lH4yDBQY">Blink</a>, <a href="/facts/The_Frames/RMQ6sGI8">The Frames</a> and the critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful <a href="/facts/Whipping_Boy_(Irish_band)/0CcQHRho">Whipping Boy</a> and The Revenants<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> – all from Dublin, <a href="/facts/Alternative_metal/W2uS6Yoh">Alternative metal</a> band from <a href="/facts/County_Antrim/e1orqgLY">County Antrim</a> '<a href="/facts/Therapy%3F/I9Led2QW">Therapy?</a>', <a href="/facts/Folk_rock/Q9zErsfh">folk rock</a> group <a href="/facts/The_Corrs/gVxVoal3">The Corrs</a> of Dundalk and <a href="/facts/Alternative_rock/7xRALNsG">Alternative rock</a> band <a href="/facts/Ash_(band)/gQkYjadw">Ash</a> from <a href="/facts/Downpatrick/FWt0WnHR">Downpatrick</a>, <a href="/facts/County_Down/8AyqhHlE">County Down</a>. </p><p>From 1990 to 1997 the <a href="/facts/F%C3%A9ile_Festival/V6WDA4la">Féile Festival</a> was an annual rock music festival held in <a href="/facts/Semple_Stadium/4I8HA1qT">Semple Stadium</a> in <a href="/facts/Thurles/tq21WCQd">Thurles</a>, <a href="/facts/P%C3%A1irc_U%C3%AD_Chaoimh/8nzUSxMD">Páirc Uí Chaoimh</a> in <a href="/facts/Cork_(city)/MQKCwx4l">Cork</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Point_Theatre/hRc9Qte1">Point Theatre</a> in Dublin. </p><p>At the very end of the decade <a href="/facts/The_Undertones/2EvoxHo3">The Undertones</a>, a popular band in the 1970s and 1980s, reformed without vocalist <a href="/facts/Feargal_Sharkey/4CrH0cup">Feargal Sharkey</a>. </p> <h2 id="2000s">2000s</h2> <p>The 2000s have continued the theme in Ireland, revealing such great musical artists as singer/songwriter <a href="/facts/Damien_Rice/3D1dfrgt">Damien Rice</a> who has achieved international critical acclaim. Groups such as <a href="/facts/Snow_Patrol/osxWkvfD">Snow Patrol</a>, <a href="http://www.nineLies.net">Nine Lies</a>, <a href="/facts/The_Thrills/PDqKPKXT">The Thrills</a> and <a href="/facts/The_Script/pXqqBHUN">The Script</a> have also had significant international success. This decade has also produced a number of acclaimed solo singer/songwriters such as <a href="/facts/Paddy_Casey/mpJM8Dtm">Paddy Casey</a>, <a href="/facts/Duke_Special/Wws5bJwD">Duke Special</a>, <a href="/facts/Damien_Dempsey/wnSmnhfh">Damien Dempsey</a>, <a href="/facts/Bressie/Mynq8Rwc">Bressie</a>, <a href="/facts/Declan_O%27Rourke/Y20wQCCK">Declan O'Rourke</a>, <a href="/facts/Chris_Singleton_(musician)/SvkmuuJt">Chris Singleton</a>, <a href="/facts/Cathy_Davey/HW6XqnRb">Cathy Davey</a>, <a href="/facts/Gemma_Hayes/oer4rznT">Gemma Hayes</a>, <a href="/facts/David_Kitt/eW7rteps">David Kitt</a>, <a href="/facts/Mundy/FEfzHFXT">Mundy</a>, <a href="/facts/Jinx_Lennon/FRwrGASt">Jinx Lennon</a> and <a href="/facts/Simple_Kid/Qqzyr8cx">Simple Kid</a>. </p><p>Other bands from Ireland that formed in the 2000s include <a href="/facts/Nine_Lies/NByJKNw6">Nine Lies</a>, <a href="/facts/The_Coronas/EG5LRY09">The Coronas</a>, <a href="/facts/The_Blizzards/XA8xFSp4">The Blizzards</a>, <a href="/facts/Royseven/XmEGc0gk">Royseven</a>, <a href="/facts/Two_Door_Cinema_Club/y9C3zTTp">Two Door Cinema Club</a>, <a href="/facts/Ham_Sandwich_(band)/2S7bVjtk">Hamsandwich</a>, <a href="/facts/The_Answer_(band)/l9oH48tH">The Answer</a>, <a href="/facts/Codes_(band)/msQLvKxv">Codes</a>, The Chakras, <a href="/facts/Fred_(band)/4S5QLW2y">Fred</a>, <a href="/facts/Hybrasil/4dqEwuCQ">Hybrasil</a>, <a href="/facts/Heathers_(band)/YQw8ECoo">Heathers</a> and <a href="/facts/Adebisi_Shank/bJJ7Vzzn">Adebisi Shank</a>. </p><p>There are many rock concerts and festivals annually in Ireland which began in the 2000s, and continue to run today. Most notably <a href="/facts/Oxegen/szAIRJyL">Oxegen</a>, <a href="/facts/Electric_Picnic/yD394z5B">Electric Picnic</a>, <a href="/facts/Indiependence/FrBDaMJ4">Indiependence</a> and <a href="/facts/Belsonic/UQbGA634">Belsonic</a>. </p> <h2 id="2010s">2010s</h2> <p>In the late 2000s and 2010s many unsigned bands emerged from both north and south of the border, such as, <a href="/facts/Hozier_(musician)/IfDWS7sI">Hozier</a>, <a href="/facts/Fontaines_D.C./2Q7wCm1j">Fontaines D.C.</a>, <a href="/facts/Axis_Of/yfNJKB3P">Axis Of</a>, Time Is a Thief, <a href="/facts/Jody_Has_A_Hitlist/sTADa9Yn">Jody Has A Hitlist</a>, <a href="/facts/Girl_Band_(Irish_band)/1QfNB4Yz">Girl Band</a>, <a href="/facts/LaFaro/7xBvo1ob">LaFaro</a>, <a href="/facts/Fighting_with_Wire/3T0eRAQJ">Fighting with Wire</a>, RUN iN RED, Podracer, Dead Label!, Chewing on Tinfoil, Kasper Rosa, Black Svan, Words That Burn & Two Glass Eyes, and the best of the bunch, Strangers With Guns. </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://irishrockers.com">IrishRockers.com contains an extensive list of Irish Rock artists</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.irishrock.org">The Irish Rock Discography</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.cluas.com/opinion/great_irish_musicians.htm">Article questioning the influence of contemporary Irish rock musicians</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.nineLies.net">Official site of Irish rock band Nine Lies</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111126222222/http://rockmusic.anlar.tv/">Irish Rock music videos with contact links</a>[usurped]</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/van-morrison-seeking-the-man-inside-6104374.html <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/van-morrison-seeking-the-man-inside-6104374.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/van-morrison-seeking-the-man-inside-6104374.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/van-morrison-interview-keep-er-lit-book-lyrics-release-date-albums-a9435686.html <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/van-morrison-interview-keep-er-lit-book-lyrics-release-date-albums-a9435686.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/van-morrison-interview-keep-er-lit-book-lyrics-release-date-albums-a9435686.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>https://discoverbrighton.org/van-morrison/ <a href="https://discoverbrighton.org/van-morrison/" target="_blank">https://discoverbrighton.org/van-morrison/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Eder, Bruce. "Review of Eire Apparent's album Sunrise". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 January 2011. <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/sunrise-r36461" target="_blank">http://www.allmusic.com/album/sunrise-r36461</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"U2 | Rolling Stone Music". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2017-09-29. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101116144052/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/u2/news/artists/14845/88140/88173" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20101116144052/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/u2/news/artists/14845/88140/88173</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Kelly, Nick (November 25, 2012). "Great 'Scott': the unsung masterpiece of Irish rock". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. <a href="http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/great-scott-the-unsung-masterpiece-of-irish-rock-26310414.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/great-scott-the-unsung-masterpiece-of-irish-rock-26310414.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>