The Blades (band)

For the hip hop group, see Blades (hip hop group).
The Blades
Origin Ringsend, Dublin, Ireland
Genres New wave, power pop
Years active 1977–1981, 1982–1986, 2013-current
Labels Energy Records, Reekus Records
Members Paul Cleary
Brian Foley
Jake Reilly
Conor Brady
Pat Fitzpatrick
Frank Duff
Paul Grimes
Past members Pat Larkin
Lawrence Cleary
Simon Crowe

The Blades are an Irish new wave band who formed in the late 1970s in the South Dublin neighbourhood of Ringsend, with Paul Cleary on bass and vocals, his brother Lar on guitar and mutual friend Pat Larkin on drums.

As uncompromising as they were gifted as pop songwriters, the original line-up released two seven inch singles: Hot For You and Ghost of a Chance, the latter of which they performed on The Late Late Show in 1981.

History

Origins (1977-81)

The Blades began in the summer of 1977 when five friends got together to play a gig in the Catholic Young Mens Society hall in Ringsend.[1] The band was thrown out for playing the Sex Pistols single God Save the Queen; the organisers thought it was the British National Anthem.[2]

The line up was whittled down to three - Paul Cleary (b. 9 September 1959) on bass and vocals, his brother Lar (b. 2 June 1957) on guitar and friend Pat Larkin (b. 25 November 1956) on drums.[3]

Even from that early stage, the band's unashamed working-class origins and integrity marked them out from the more elliptical art rock being pioneered by U2 and The Atrix.[4]

The band regularly played in Dublin's infamous venues like The Magnet on Pearse Street, McGonagle's on South Anne Street and The Baggott Inn on Lower Baggot Street which they did a six week residency with U2.

Their first single Hot For You was released on Energy Records in 1980, followed by Ghost Of A Chance in 1981 which they played on The Late Late Show.

Reshuffle and continued success (1981-1986)

Pat left the band in March 1981, to be replaced by Jake Reilly on drums, the new line up of Paul, Larry and Jake Played first gig in The Magnet on Pearse Street on 18 July 1981, later that summer Paul switched to guitar bringing in bassist Brian Foley (ex. The Vipers) and added a brass section including Frank Duff( ex.<The Mod-ls>. Larry left in 1982.

The band signed to Irish label Reekus, and a double A-sided single, 'The Bride Wore White'/'Animation' was released in March 1982. In the Hotpress National Poll, 'The Bride Wore White' was voted best single while The Blades were voted 'the most promising act in Ireland' and Paul Cleary 'best Irish songwriter'.

In 1985, Reekus released the album 'The Last Man In Europe'.

One of their last gestures was to shun Self Aid, a 'backslapping' concert "to highlight the chronic unemployment problem in Ireland at the time" and instead played the socialist 'Rock the System' Concert in Liberty Hall in 1986.

In 2001, Reekus records released a Double CD Boxset "Those were the Day", which includes both Albums: "The Last Man in Europe" and "Raytown Revisited".

Post break-up

Paul Cleary continued with backing band The Partisans and later led an eight-piece pub rock band called The Cajun Kings. He also released solo material. In 2001, Paul released his first new material in 15 years, the 11 track album 'Crooked Town.[5]

Pat Larkin was later with The Peridots, and Brian Foley with The Mountain Climbers.

Reunion

The Blades reformed in 2013 to play two reunion gigs in Dublin's Olympia Theatre on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December.[6] Leading up to their reunion gigs they performed on The Late Late Show in November 2013.[7]

In addition to their reunion gigs in 2013, The Blades performed at The Electric Picnic in 2014 [8] and at The Olympia Theatre on 5 December 2014.[9] Paul Cleary has been working on new material,[10] and has released a new single.[11]

Discography

• various artists - RTÉ Radio 2 Presents In Concert

References

  1. ↑ http://cdbaby.com/cd/blades
  2. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl7Ku7AW9RA
  3. ↑ http://www.nme.com/artists/blades
  4. ↑ http://punkmodpop.free.fr/Blades_pic.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.rte.ie/arts/2001/1129/clearyp.html
  6. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=669421773071062&set=a.139325296080715.24663.139311026082142&type=1&theater
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw1in4epyvQ
  8. ↑ http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/festivals/revealed-first-lineup-for-electric-picnic-2014-30107097.html
  9. ↑ http://www.dublinconcerts.ie/concert/the-blades-the-olympia-theatre-december-5th-2014/
  10. ↑ http://www.newstalk.ie/player/shows/The_Tom_Dunne_Show/70251/paul_cleary_of_the_blades_in_session
  11. ↑ http://thelastmixedtape.com/2014/11/26/listen-paul-cleary-of-the-blades-streams-new-solo-track-i-still-believe/