Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We’re so happy to be still Winging it
‘In America we were blessed to meet people like Sammy Davis Junior, and to do the gigs with Michael Jackson and Prince and all that.’
Over 40 years on from the day they formed Stockton’s Wing are still going strong – with a couple of new members in tow. The addition of young players Tara Breen on fiddle and Karol Lynch on banjo and mandolin have done more than bring down the band’s average age.
Speaking to The Beat ahead of the legendary trad outfit’s highly anticipated appearance at the Dublin Racing Festival in Leopardstown, lead vocalist Mike Hanrahan, explained the impact that new blood has had on the veteran musicians.
“It’s been amazing really,” he said. “Both of them were reared listening to Stockton’s Wing, we know both their parents and they have great respect for the band – most importantly we get along great together.”
“They introduce us to their new way of thinking and their ideas about music and musicians, and we’re not grumpy old hoors, we listen to them!
“I love playing with them, it’s a lovely experience.”
Along with new members comes a new attitude for Stockton’s Wing in terms of their live performance.
The band are revelling in playing their extensive back catalogue to old fans and new having achieved much of what they wanted to do over the years.
“I suppose you come at the music with a different attitude now,” Mike explains.
“When we were younger we were out to create a sound and a vibe for Stockton’s Wing.
“At the time there was a lot of energy in the band, it was very new and very innovative and new.
“It was an incredibly exciting to be in a band.
“It’s completely different now, we’re much older but we haven’t lost the energy and the music hasn’t lost any of it’s sparkle.
“We enjoy each others company when we meet and have a bit of a laugh, you know we’re not chasing anything anymore, we’re enjoying it really.”
Stockton’s Wing began their career in Ennis in 1977 and were born out of a fusion of All-ireland winning traditional musicians and the more contemporary styles of Hanrahan and others.
Taking their name from the Bruce Springsteen song Backstreets the band signed a deal with Tara Records after winning the Trad section of a music contest in Limerick, U2 won the rock section.
Since then, Stockton’s Wing have released 12 albums, and toured the US several times sharing the stage with musical greats like Michael Jackson and Sammy Davis Junior.
Their fondest memories however are of their days at Irish festivals like
Lisdoonvarna,
Ballisodare and
Kilfenora.
“Back in the 80’s there were some fantastic festivals around Ireland,” explains Hanrahan.
“People had access to the artists in those days – it’s not like now where they are
Stockton’s frontman Mike Hanrahan is enthused by their two new members and after 40 years on the circuit they still have the energy to keep going
barricaded away from fans. In those times it was a much freer vibe.
“In America we were blessed to meet people like Sammy Davis Junior, and to do the gigs with Michael Jackson and Prince and all that. “We’ve had so many great gigs, I remember all the good times, I don’t have the time to remember the bad ones.”
Is there still a future for traditonal and fusion players in the international arena?
“I think it’s tougher for new players nowadays,” says Hanrahan.
“Definitely the European circuit has eased up a lot.
“There are still opportunities for Irish bands to play the festivals – they are still the shop windows really.
“There are plenty of young Irish bands who are coming out with incredibly exciting music, and they’re doing what we were doing all those years ago.
Hanrahan remains philosophical on the future of Stockton’s Wing – for near future it seems the band are content to keep winging it.
“We were never really ones for business plans,” he laughs.
“Our objectives for the next couple of years is to stay alive stay playing and stay healthy.”