The Stunning
| The Stunning | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ireland |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 1987 – 1994, 2003, 2006, 2014 |
| Labels | Dirtbird Records, Earshot Records, Solid Records |
| Associated acts | The Walls, The Saw Doctors, Altan, Riverdance |
| Website | The Stunning official website |
| Members |
Joe Wall Steve Wall Derek Murray Jim Higgins Cormac Dunne |
The Stunning are an Irish rock band. They formed in 1987, and first split up in 1994. As well as having reformed twice in the 21st century so far, the complete band reformed for gigs in 2014
Members
- Steve Wall
- Joe Wall
- Derek Murray (guitarist)
- Jim Higgins (percussionist and trumpet player)
- Cormac Dunne (drummer)
- Donal Duggan (saxophonist)
 |
"Brewing Up A Storm" (2006)
 From the 1990 album "Paradise in the Picturehouse". |
| Problems playing this file? See media help. | |
The Stunning gained recognition within Ireland with singles such as "Brewing Up a Storm", "Half Past Two", "Romeo’s on Fire" and "Everything that Rises". Their debut album, Paradise in the Picturehouse, and their second album Once Around The World, both reached the #1 spot in the Irish Albums Chart. They recorded a live album, Tightrope, in the Taibhdhearc Theatre at the Galway Arts Festival in July 1993.
In the seven years the band were together, they toured around Ireland building up a following that would make them a successful act on the live circuit throughout the early nineties. In 1990, their debut album Paradise in the Picturehouse spent a record-breaking 5 weeks at number one. Their second album Once around the World went straight in at Number One in the Irish Music Charts, and went on to be another multi-platinum seller. The Stunning have sold in excess of 100,000 albums in Ireland alone and won numerous awards.
They were together as a group for seven years before splitting up, after a series of business disappointments and a lack of progress internationally. They played a farewell tour in 1994 before going their separate ways.
After The Stunning
The founding members, Joe and Steve Wall, later formed The Walls. Derek Murray joined the Saw Doctors, before leaving again. Jim Higgins spent a number of years playing around the world with Riverdance and since then has played with the Saw Doctors, Altan and numerous other acts. Cormac Dunne has become one of the most in-demand session drummers in Ireland.
Re-releases and reformations
The Walls received regular emails from fans requesting their debut album Paradise in the Picturehouse whose cassette copies had worn out, so they decided to reissue the album on their own label. It was the re-release of the album that inspired the idea of a reunion tour to promote it. The band members had always dismissed the idea before, but this time they all agreed.
In September 2003, 9 years after breaking up, they re-released Paradise in the Picture House. It went straight into the top ten once again, and the accompanying tour was a huge success. They played 14 sold-out shows to over 20,000 people across the country.
For Christmas 2006, The Stunning re-released their acclaimed live album, Tightrope and reformed again for another nationwide tour. The tour began in Galway on 14 December and finished in Killarney on New Year's Eve. In between they visited Cork, Dublin, Waterford, Sligo, Castlebar and Ennis.
They played an open-air concert in Galway for the Volvo Ocean Race Festival on 5 June 2009.
They played a follow-up concert in Galway for the Volvo Ocean Race again on 6 July 2012.[1]
A further selection of dates were performed around Ireland in September 2012.
On 13 February 2013 The Stunning were the headline act for the NUIG Arts Ball, the largest formal dress ball in Ireland, in their 'hometown' of Gaillimh.[2]
On 8 June 2013, The Stunning are also headlining the Helium Charity Festival in Ballymahon, County Longford in aid of Ataxia Ireland. Steve Wall appeared on local radio station Shannonside Fm on 2 May 2013 to promote the festival and talk about the Stunning's career. [3]
Discography
Studio albums
- Paradise in the Picturehouse (1990)
- Once Around The World (1992)
- Milking the Hits (1994)
Live albums
- Tightrope (1993)
Singles
- "Got To Get Away" (1988), Chart placement: Number 17
- "Half Past Two" (1988), Chart Placement: Number 19
- "Romeo's On Fire" (1989), Chart Placement: Number 24
- "Merry Christmas Baby" (1990), Chart Placement: Number 24
- "Heads (Are Gonna Roll)" (1991), Chart Placement: Number 5
- "Everything That Rises" (1992), Chart Placement: Number 6
- "She's On My Mind" (1992), Chart Placement: Number 12
- "Mr. Ginger" (1992), Chart Placement: Number 22
- "Deja Voodoo EP" (1993), Chart Placement: Number 8