Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Back Four repositioned
Local band hoping to net a winner with debut single
This one’s a bit random – but bear with me. The Back Four are a band primarily the work of two gents who are well known within their fields. Singer, songwriter and guitarist Philip Mccarroll of local rock legends Payola alongside (and this is the random bit) Ian Stewart – former footballer with Qpr/newcastle and the player who put the ball in the West Germany net when Northern Ireland beat the then European Champions back in ’82.
Throughout a football career that took him to the Mexico World Cup in 1986, Ian Stewart always loved his music – even helping the Good Vibrations team fold record sleeves for The Undertones during his down time from playing football.
After hanging the boots up – he began working on putting on gigs and running a record label alongside Phil, who was someone who’d always taken pride in showcasing Northern Ireland music. Eventually the two decided to form a band which – all things considered – shouldn’t have come as a surprise. That said – Ian Stewart is by his own admission is not a singer and only ‘average’ on the guitar. Lyrics he seems to excel at however – and alongside Phil (and a host of other well respected NI musicians) – a most curious plan started coming together and a supergroup of sorts were born.
The Back Four’s first recording was set to become an anthem. Literally – in that both the IFA and UEFA signed off on it as the official anthem for the Northern Ireland team playing at the UEFA Under-19 European Championships. Which were supposed to, but sadly did not take place last summer. Undeterred, The Back Four shifted their focus – planning to record lost songs written by an old friend of Ian’s – the much missed guitarist Matthew Ashman, who played with Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow. (The later released the world’s first cassette single, obscure fact fans). The tracks
– demo’d by Matthew – were discovered on a cassette found by Sex Pistol’s drummer Paul Cook, (inset with Ian) who passed it on to Ian Stewart who he was friendly with – and Ian was impressed enough to want to share them with the world.
Are you keeping up? Possibly no. After all, it really is n odd story involving a wonderfully random collection of people. To get to the point – Phil, Ian and the rest of the band have now unveiled ‘This is Where it All Begins’, a big, bold ridiculously hooky riff laden ear worm. It’s a sin it’s been hidden for so long.
We’re told The Back Four will return to songs about football soon enough and that they plan to take to the stage when they’re allowed.
Furthermore Ian revealed he had an Ian Baraclough themed song all ready had Northern Ireland qualified for the Euros while – more worryingly – Phil had a crack at writing a new national anthem for the NI international team. Happily the former might still see the light of day but sadly – I’m assured the latter will not.
Phil’s passion for football (and his day job) and Ian’s passion for music (as well as his day job) really comes across in this project – it’s nothing but unbridled passion across the board. The aforementioned single is out now to stream and buy as a picture disc, with more music to follow. In the meantime, it got me thinking about other crossovers between sport and music here in Northern Ireland. Here’s a few tracks that immediately came to mind…