Those Nervous Animals
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Those Nervous Animals is an Irish rock band formed in Sligo in 1981.
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[edit] History
Although the group disbanded in 1988, since 1994 they perform together regularly on a part-time basis. The band's original songs are a mixture of funky, radio friendly pop tunes, and a selection of quirky material with an ironic or humorous twist. Their material may have been influenced by Talking Heads. The band was originally managed and produced by Riverdance composer, Bill Whelan. At their peak in Ireland Those Nervous Animals were a major draw, filling the Baggot Inn regularly on a Thursday night (there used to be huge queues) and performing on the bill at Self Aid in 1986. They also played The Stadium, the SFX and venues all around the country. There was big hype about the band at that time. Those Nervous Animals never played or released records outside Ireland.
The band released six singles, including Just What the Sucker Wanted, The Business Enterprise (My Friend John), How Does the Shopper Feel? and Damian. The early singles were on their own Dead Fly label. Some of these are included on their one EP, entitled Hyperspace released on Tara Records.
Those Nervous Animals were never signed by a major label. Although the band called it a day in 1989, they returned with a tour and a CD Single, Rocket Ship in 1993/4, on Danceline Records.
[edit] The Story Today
In 2001 Tom Dunne of Today FM put the song The Business Enterprise (My Friend John) on his Top 30 Irish Hits Volume 2. Christmas 2004 saw this album topping in the Irish charts, and one of the most requested tracks was the aforementioned Nervous Animals ditty. Today FM listeners voted the song number 16 among the best Irish singles of all time. My Friend John received a fair amount of plays on local radio in the Dublin stations and nationwide. In December 2002 the Animals performed in The Olympia Theatre as part of a benefit for the Children’s Hospital. They contributed a new track - Polar Bear - to the Simpatico album, in honour of the late Finn Corrigan, musician and sound engineer. The album Simpatico is available from the Dervish (band) website.
All the band members are involved in different projects nowadays, but come together regularly to perform. In 2006 Those Nervous Animals played a number of gigs in the Sportsmans Inn (Kielys of Mount Merrion, Dublin).
Core TNA members Pádraig Meehan (guitar), Eddie Lee (bass) and Barry Brennan (vocals and guitar) have steered the band through a number of personnel changes over the years. This trio also contributed the songs that characterised the Animals style. The current band features Susan Rowland on vocals, Ken McDonald on drums and Trevor Knight on keyboards. At various times Flo McSweeney, Maura O’Connell and Helen Walshe performed vocal backing with TNA. The band had strong associations with the legendary Sligo pub, Hennigans of Wine Street, where they played and socialised in the 1980's. One individual who contributed greatly to the fun and the music of Those Nervous Animals was the late Pascale Benajour, percussionist.
[edit] Members
[edit] Original Recording Members
drums – Christy Behan
percussion - Cathal Hayden
bass – Eddie Lee
guitar, keyboards, vocals – Barry Brennan
guitar – Padraig Meehan
guitar – Shamie McGowan
vocals – Susan Rowland
[edit] Toured with the Band
drums – Ken McDonald
drums – John Donnelly
drums – Tom Jamieson
drums - Brian Despard
keyboards - Daragh Connolly
keyboards - Trevor Knight
keyboards - Denis Woods
piano – John Tobin
sax - Carl Geraghty
trumpet - Steve McDonnell
percussion - Pascale Benajour
