Derry punksters are still setting the tone – and getting a kick
Chilled Undertones are loving their no pressure gigging
Forty years after first setting foot in Dublin, The Undertones are back to play an eagerly anticipated pre Christmas show next month.
In April of 1977 The Derry Punk outfit supported The Radiators From Space at The Baggot Inn, the start of a musical journey that has seen them become one of Northern Ireland’s most successful bands.
“That was our first time ever in Dublin, Damian O’neill told The Beat.
“It was just magical, the band (The Radiators From Space ) looked after us so well that night.”
The Undertones would go from strength to strength until 1983 when Feargal Sharkey left the band, later vowing never to perform with them again.
That was until The Undertones reformed in 1999, with new singer Paul Mcloone stepping successfully into Sharkey’s shoes.
“Back in 99 there was his multimedia centre being opened in Derry and the organisers asked if The Undertones would play at the opening ceremony – we just kind of went for it,” says Damian.
“We didn’t even ask Feargal because we knew he’d say no.
“We knew Paul Mcloone through our drummer so we asked him to try out, and quickly knew it was going to work.
“He’s a great front-man and a great singer – he had big boots to fill but he passed the audition.
“It was only meant to be a one off but we decided to do a few more gigs and 20 odd years later here we are..
The band’s transition was made easier by the fact that the songs were written by the entire band and so taking on a new front-man was not a massive issue.
“You have to remember we wrote the songs, Feargal (right) didn’t – if he had, we’d have left it because that would have been sad.
“But we had every right to reform with a new front-man because they’re our songs”.
Since then The Undertones have released two further albums and are enjoying themselves now more than ever.
Free from the pressures that come with trying to establish themselves as a new band on the scene, they have found a new lease of life on the road.
“It feels natural now, explains Damian.
“It’s funny, when I talk about The Undertones I usually talk about these days rather than the old days. It feels right.
“Back then it was your job and all the tension that comes with that – like having hits or not having hits.
“We spent weeks in minibuses and argued a bit – I loved it for what it was back then and I love it now, it’s just different.”
“There’s no pressure now – we play when we want to play it’s kind of weekends only with a couple of weeks on
tour so it’s not as hectic. It’s just different.”
So what can fans expect from an Undertones gig today?
“We’re much more chilled now and we’re more determined to have fun on stage, there’s not as many hang-ups, which were good because it could give you an edge.
“Basically I think it’s taken us years and years to appreciate how good we are, it’s a celebration with our fans now, playing all those great songs.”
The Undertones have left a lasting legacy for young Irish bands to aspire to and O’neill has singled out one young band in particular as heirs to their throne.
Cavan rockers The Strypes are admired by the Undertones and O’neill says that they remind him of The Undertones in their heyday.
“The new Strypes record is great – they’re a great live band and they remind me a lot of us when we started.
“We got kind of lucky with timing in that the punk thing happened for us, we were able to make a record, and we got our break.
“I think – like The Strypes – you really have to be extra special to get noticed nowadays.”
The Undertones play at Dublin’s Academy on December 2, tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
‘We’re much more chilled now and we’re more determined to have fun on stage, there’s not as many hang-ups, which were good because it could give you an edge’