The Mahones

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The Mahones are a Canadian Celtic punk band, whose blend of Celtic folk with alternative rock was a popular draw on the Canadian live music circuit in the 1990s.

The band was formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1990 by Fintan "Finny" McConnell and Barry Williams, as a one-off band for a St. Patrick's Day party.

According to their website (www.themahones.net), the name was chosen to rhyme with The Ramones. However, in an interview with the Calgary Herald (Wednesday, September 21, 1994), McConnell commented on the name of The Mahones, referring to the fact The Pogues were originally called Pogue Mahone: "When I picked the name The Mahones it was because of the Irish saying 'pogue mahone' (which translates: kiss my ass) and also because they didn't want to use it because they couldn't get played on the radio." [1]

The band's cited influences included The Clash, The Pogues, The Who, The Waterboys and Hüsker Dü. The group's lineup has changed a number of times, with McConnell and Williams as the main constant members. Pogues members Terry Woods and Phil Chevron joined the band on tour in 2003.

In 1999, bassist Joe Chithalen died in Amsterdam shortly after a concert. He had accidentally ingested food containing peanuts, and did not previously know that he was allergic.

The Mahones are currently on a 2006 tour of Canada, Europe, Australia and the United States.