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 where they did a six week residency with U2. Many in the crowd left after The Blades set and it was The Blades rather than U2 who were tipped for stardom.

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. The legendary producer John Porter produced their first album Last Man in Europe but due to personnel changes at the record company never got released in England.

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 beat Van Morrison and Bono to the '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 a 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 And Smalltime EP (2013-present)

The Blades reformed in 2013 to play two sold out 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] In November 2014 Paul Cleary released a brand new solo single 'I Still Believe.'[10]

Following their reunion onstage, the band began working on new material in the studio on the strength of new songwriting from Cleary. In November 2015, they released their first new music as The Blades since 1985 with a 4-track EP entitled Smalltime. The first single, "Harder Times" was released on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show on Today FM on October 14, 2015 and the EP has received widespread critical acclaim from the Irish media.[11][12][13]

Discography

Studio Albums

The Last Man In Europe (1985)

Raytown Revisited 1980-85 (1985)

Smalltime EP (2015)

Compilation Albums

Those Were The Days (2000)

Too Late To Stop Now: Reekus Records 30th Anniversary Compilation (2011)

RTÉ Radio 2 Presents In Concert (1985)

7" Singles

Hot For You / The Reunion (1980)

Ghost of a Chance / Real Emotion (1981)

The Bride Wore White / Animation (1982)

Revelations of Heartbreak / Rules of Love (1982)

Downmarket / You Never Ask(1983)

Last Man In Europe / Sadlands (1984)

Those Were The Days / Stand By Me Now (Paul Cleary) (1985)

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 Archived 7 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  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://thelastmixedtape.com/2014/11/26/listen-paul-cleary-of-the-blades-streams-new-solo-track-i-still-believe/
  11. ↑ Hot Press. "Listen: Brand New Blades Track" Oct 13 2015
  12. ↑ The Last Mixed Tape. "Listen | The Blades Return With New Single 'Harder Times'" Oct 15 2015
  13. ↑ Irish Independent. "The Blades Of Glory - Raytowners Back For More" Nov 01 2015
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