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The Undertones

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The Undertones

The Undertones are a Northern Irish punk/power pop band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1975. All Music Guide has stated that guitarists "John and Damian O'Neill mated infectious guitar hooks to '60s garage, '70s glam rock, and Feargal Sharkey's signature vocal quaver."[1] Salon.com has stated that "When they began, they were a bunch of teenage Ramones-heads, and the only punk band in Ireland."[2] The original band released four studio albums-- The Undertones (1979), Hypnotised (1980), Positive Touch (1981), and The Sin Of Pride (1983)-- before disbanding in 1983.[1] Singer Feargal Sharkey persued a solo career that achieved commerical success in the mid to late 80s[3] while the rest of the band became That Petrol Emotion.[4] The Undertones reformed with Pat McLoone taking over for Sharkey and released the albumn 'Get What You Need' in 2003.[5]

Early career

The Undertones drew inspiration from Buzzcocks, The Sex Pistols, and the Ramones. They began practising and playing cover versions of punk rock songs at schools and scout huts under the name "The Hot Rods", some of the band members were unhappy with the name because there was already a music act with the same name. The Undertones as a name was chosen by one of the band members who discovered the word in a history book. By 1977 the band were performing their own three-chord pop punk material, and in 1978 they released their debut four-song EP Teenage Kicks on Belfast's Good Vibrations record label. The EP became a hit with support from BBC DJ John Peel, who considered the title song his all-time favourite.

Later years

Later in their career the Undertones began to change musical direction, with their later songs being of the Power Pop genre, which was very different to their earlier punk rock offerings. Falling sales and tensions within the band led to their split in 1983.

Reunion

The band reformed in 1999 to play concerts in Derry, replacing singer Feargal Sharkey with Paul McLoone. The band released an album of original material with McLoone in 2003 titled Get What You Need. The band were the subject of a 2004 documentary. The Undertones: Teenage Kicks, which features the band wandering their old haunts with John Peel and charting their history. The band toured North America in 2005. They released their latest studio album, Dig Yourself Deep, on 15 October, 2007.[6].

Members

Former members

Cover versions of Undertones songs

The song "Teenage Kicks" has been covered by many acts, including: Ash, Skunk Anansie, Busted, Groovie Ghoulies, Sahara Hotnights, The Saw Doctors, Nouvelle Vague, Green Day, Franz Ferdinand, The Coral, The Raconteurs, Violent Delight, Snow Patrol, KT Tunstall, Razorlight, Supergrass with Carl Barat of The Libertines the London Punkharmonic Orchestra and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

Singles

  • Teenage Kicks (1978) UK #31
  • Get Over You (1979) UK #57
  • Jimmy Jimmy (1979) UK #16
  • Here Comes The Summer b/w One Way Love & Top Twenty (1979) UK #34
  • You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It?) (1979) UK #32
  • My Perfect Cousin (1980) UK #9
  • Wednesday Week (1980) UK #11
  • It's Going To Happen! (1981) UK #18
  • Julie Ocean (1981) UK #41
  • The Love Parade (1983) UK #97
  • Got To Have You Back (1983) UK #82
  • Teenage Kicks (1983) - re-issue UK #60
  • My Perfect Cousin - re-issue (1983) UK #88
  • Beautiful Friend
  • Chain Of Love
  • Save Me
  • Thrill Me (2003)

Albums

Compilation albums

  • All Wrapped Up (1985)
  • Cher O'Bowlies - The Pick of the Undertones (1988)
  • The Very Best of The Undertones (1994)
  • True Confessions (Singles = A's & B's) (2000)
  • The Best of The Undertones (Teenage Kicks) (2003)

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b http://wm04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifwxqr5ldde~T1
  2. ^ http://wm04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifwxqr5ldde~T1
  3. ^ http://wm04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3pfqxqw5ldte
  4. ^ http://wm04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifwxqr5ldseand
  5. ^ http://wm04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:acfyxqyaldae
  6. ^ New album website; Dig Yourself Deep
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