The Hitchers
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The Hitchers are a band from Limerick city, Ireland who formed in early January 1989.
Contents |
[edit] Band members
Andy Gallagher - Vocals, Guitars.
Niall Quinn - Vocals, Drums.
Hoss Carnage - Bass, Vocals.
Eric Fitzgerald - Guitars, Vocals.
[edit] History
Timeline:
- 6 January 1989: “10.6 Rothmans & a Stolen Barrel of Heineken Please” officially shorten their moniker to “The Hitchers” – a name derived from the Rutger Hauer ‘80’s road movie, The Hitcher.
- 20 January 1989: First gig in Limerick Youth Service Center non-alcoholic teen disco “The Oasis Club”.
- Summer 1989: following several line up changes and a local band slam win, -first studio recording emerges “The Streaking Chicken From Mercury Who Exposed Himself to Everything E.P.”.
- Spring 1990: “Alice is here” on “The Reindeer Age”, a compilation of Shannonside bands. The Hitchers win ‘Skool Band 90’ Band slam (see press below). First T.V. appearance on ‘Jo-Maxi’.
- Aug 1990: Video for ‘Alice is here’ shown on Network 2s Puirini.
- 18 October 1990: Release second single ‘Blame it on His Hormones’.
- April 1991: Perform ‘Blame it on His Hormones’ and ‘Dirty Diane the Deceased Citroen’ on Network 2s Scaoil Amach an Bobailinn.
- 5 March 1992: New three-piece line up, Andy, Niall and Hoss, release third single ‘Holy Spirit Level’.
- Autumn 1992: Niall wins inaugural Hot Press Songwriter of the Year award for ‘Red Mohair Jumper’.
- Summer 1993: Invited to play RTÉ 2fm Cork Rocks …Cassette EPs ‘Spermgargle’ and ‘New Improved Spermgargle’ released.
- Spring 1994: Red Mohair Jumper’ makes final of 2TV new band challenge.
- Autumn 1994: The Hitchers become a four piece with the addition of Eric Fitzgerald on guitar. Release fourth single ‘She’ll Be Sorry’.
- Summer 1995: The Hitchers play Freiburg Music Festival, Germany and support ‘A House’ on southern Irish tour.
- Feb 1996: Sign to Murgatroid Independent Record Company and spend first half of 96 in Xeric studios recording debut L.P.
- 7 January 1997: ‘Killed It With My Bare Hands’ is The Hitchers fifth single and their first for Murgatroid.
- Mar 1997: Debut L.P. ‘It’s All Fun & Games ‘Till Someone Loses An Eye’ is released in Ireland. The Hitchers perform on Kenny Live.
- April 1997: The Hitchers First UK dates coincide with the release of ‘Killed It…’ in Britain. Positive reviews in the UK press (see press below). Video shown on MTV's Alternative Nation and on No Disco.
- June 1997: Support The Divine Comedy (band) in Belfast’s Mandela Hall. The Hitchers set later broadcast by BBC on Steve Lamacq show. Double A-side single ‘You Can Only Love Someone’/’Strachan’ released in Ireland & UK – receive positive reviews in NME/Melody Maker. Single of the fortnight in Hot Press. See press below.
- July 1997: Coventry City F.C. manager Gordon Strachan phones to wish the lads well on first major UK tour as ‘It’s All Fun & Games…’ is released in the UK. The Hitchers kick off their tour with an appearance at the Phoenix Festival and while in London record session for John Peel at BBC Maida Vale.
- Oct 1997: ‘Big Mug’ is final single lifted from ‘…Fun & Games…’.
- Spring 1998: Monthly trips to UK for showcase and demo-ing second L.P. Spend St. Patrick’s weekend playing in Paris, France.
- April 1998: In Belfast on the day Good Friday Agreement is reached as nominees in best Irish single category of Heineken Hot Press awards. –‘A Life Less Ordinary’ by Ash (band) wins.
- August 1998: Record second L.P. in just eleven days at Xeric studios just before it closes for good.
- Nov 1998: ‘I Can’t Breath in Outer Space’ – the first single from the new L.P. is released in UK & Ireland. Bob Geldof describes The Hitchers as ‘…the best Irish band in the last twenty years…’. [1]
- May 1999: The Hitchers second L.P. ‘For the Want of Some Better T.V.’ is released in UK & Ireland. However shortly after it’s release Murgatroid cease trading and release their artist roster, which also includes The Shanks, Figment and Siobhan McGowan from their contracts. Link to album review in NME.
- Spring 2000: The Hitchers set up their own record label 4-3-3. Universal Pictures use the song ‘You Can Only Love Someone…’ in a new Steve Barron movie, Rat.
- April 2000: Bassist and founder member Hoss Carnage announces his retirement and plays his last Hitchers gig.
- Sep 2000: Frank Ryan - lead singer and guitarist with Limerick band Barberskum joins as the Hitchers new bassist and plays his first gig in Galway. ‘Rat’ is released in Ireland.
- Dec 2000: The Hitchers play the AMCs 1st birthday party in Dolan’s, Limerick. The gig is recorded for future release.
- Feb 2001: The Hitchers announce they are to split, saying that their 286th gig, in The Basement at The Globe on Thursday 15th, will be their last.
- Dec 2001: The Hitchers briefly reform to release their farewell CD EP ‘Liver’ with a gig at Dolans Warehouse, Limerick on 30 December.
- Spring 2002: Liver video receives repeat plays on Irish language TV's Pop TV (TG4) and No Disco (Network 2).
- Dec 2002: The Hitchers are back at Dolans Warehouse, Limerick on 29 December, despite having claimed to have split.
- Jan 2003: 'A Well Earned Break For The Firing Squads -The Hitchers 1989-2001' is released.
[edit] Discography
Albums:
 New Improved Spermgargle II |
 It's All Fun & Games 'Til Someone Loses An Eye |
 For The Want Of Some Better TV |
 A Well Earned Break For The Firing Squads |
EPs:
The Streaking Chicken From Mercury Who Exposed Himself To Everything - Released: July 1989 Formats/Reg: Cassette
Fruit - Released: by Xeric Records June 30th 1990 Ireland Formats/Reg: Cassette (Xer 06)
She'll Be Sorry - Released: by Lodge Records Nov 1994 Ireland Formats/Reg: CD (LDCDS 1005)
Liver - Released: by 4-3-3 December 2001, Ireland Format: CD (4-3-3CD01)
Singles:
Blame It On His Hormones - Released: by Xeric Records October 17th 1990 Ireland Formats/Reg: Cassette (Xer07)
Holy Spirit Level - Released: March 2nd 1992 Ireland Formats/Reg: Cassette
Killed It With My Bare Hands - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company Jan 1997 Ireland, April 1997 UK Formats: CD (Mur CD01)/ 7" Vinyl (Mur VINL 01)
You Can Only Love Someone... / Strachan - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company June 1997 UK & Ireland Formats: CD (Mur CD03)/ 7" Vinyl (Mur VINL03)
Big Mug - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company October 1997 Ireland & UK Formats: CD (Mur CD04)
I Can't Breath In Outer Space - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company November 1998 Ireland & UK Formats: 7" Vinyl (Mur VINL09)
[edit] Name Confusion
On 24 November 2003, a band also going by the name "The Hitchers" from Teesside, England released an album called "Unspoken Truths". This has allegedly led to at least one music fan purchasing the album in error [2]. This band released another album on 9 January 2007 ("Tees Valley Deadbeats") [3], which is likely to lead to more confusion for fans of "The Hitchers" from Limerick, particularly as internet searches now appear to produce many results that refer to the Teesside band [4] [5], and searches on Amazon.co.uk produce results for both bands without obvious differentiation [6].
