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The Original Rudeboys

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Not to be confused with The Original Rude Girl.
The Original Rudeboys
The Original Rudeboys backstage at a gig
The Original Rudeboys backstage at a gig
Background information
OriginDublin, Ireland
GenresAcoustic, Indie, Hip Hop
Instrument(s)Guitar, Ukulele
Years active2011–Present
LabelsGotta Run Records
MembersSean "Neddy" Arkins
Robert Burch
Sean Walsh
Websitewww.theoriginalrudeboys.com

The Original Rudeboys are an Irish acoustic hip hop band. They are notable for the single "Stars In My Eyes", which hit number 2 on iTunes[1] and has received national airplay. They have played such venues as The Olympia Theatre and have also played at festivals such as Oxegen and the Reading and Leeds Festivals.[2] The band consists of Sean "Neddy" Arkins (Rap Vocals), Robert Burch (Guitar and Vocals), Sean "Walshy" Walsh (Ukulele). The band's genre has been described as a cross between hip hop and indie.[3]

History

Formation

The three band-mates grew up together in the same neighbourhood in the North Inner City of Dublin. They attended the same school and became friends around the ages of 7 or 8.[4][5] They each wrote and performed music individually before coming together as "The Original Rudeboys". A lot of the songs on their debut album were written two to three years before they became a band.[4]

The Original Rudeboys first became a band in March 2011[5] after having met at the home of a mutual friend. They decided to come together and write a song after a couple of drinks. This impromptu session was recorded and uploaded to Youtube where it first gained recognition. This song, "Stars In My Eyes", went on to become the band's first official single. According to the group they had no intention of becoming a band but after seeing the views on their videos rise they decided to take on the music industry.[6] The band's name came about from a t-shirt bearing the words "The Original Rudeboys" that Arkins wore to a band appearance.[7] Jokingly claiming the shirt to be part of the band's merchandise, the band adopted the phrase as their official name.

After one month, the band gained the interest of the Irish Media and were invited onto a chat show on TV3.[8] From this appearance they received invitations from many more media outlets such as national radio stations and also an appearance on RTE's The Saturday Night Show.[9] The band then went on to put on their first headline show in Dublin's Academy 2 where they sold out 3 shows.

Summer 2011

Based on their single Youtube video, the band quickly gained attention, earning festival appearances and gigs in both Ireland and England. They decided to write some more songs and record videos for each. These videos ("Live Your Life", "Sunny Days" and "Bringing Me Down") each went viral in their own right.[citation needed] The video for "Sunny Days" is a dedication to a friend of the group who died due to suicide and features the band having a BBQ with their friends and touches on the issue of suicide awareness.[3]

In Ireland "The Original Rudeboys" joined up with UB40, The Coronas and The Rubberbandits at the inaugural Strawberry Fest in Wexford in June[10] and 50 Cent and Faithless at the first ever Waterford Music Festival in July.[11]

The band also played the Oxegen Festival on the Vodafone stage in July.[12] They played to a crowd of 5,000 where they were spotted by a BBC reporter and were subsequently invited to play the "Introducing Stage" at both Leeds Festival and Reading Festival in August. Among the crowd at the Reading Festival was producer Jake Gosling who approached the band after their set and asked would they like to work with him.[13] After the festival they joined him in his studio and recorded some tracks, including the official version of "Stars In My Eyes", that were collected and release as Travelling Man EP. The band then later returned to Sticky Studios to record their first full album This Life.

Release of This Life

During the winter of 2011 the band returned to the UK to complete their first album This Life, which includes 10 original tracks and re-recordings of the previously self-recorded Youtube tracks. The band returned from the UK to release their first official single "Stars In My Eyes", which was released on 14 October 2011 and peaked at No. 2 in the Irish iTunes charts and No. 18 on the Irish Singles Chart.[1][14] The album was released on 23 March 2012 and debuted at No. 1 on the Irish iTunes charts, No. 1 on The Independent Charts and No. 3 on the Irish Albums Chart.[7] Their second single, "Travelling Man", went straight to No. 1 on the Irish iTunes chart and peaked at No. 23 on the Irish Singles Chart.[13][15] Off the back of this success the band went to travel the country playing gigs in some of Ireland's most prestigious venues. They also supported International artists such as US Rapper The Game and English rapper Professor Green as well as Irish artists Sinéad O'Connor and Damien Dempsey at their headline shows.[7] In December 2012 it was announced The Original Rudeboys will be supporting fellow Irish band The Script on the European dates of their 2013 world tour.[16]

Touring Issues

On 7 July 2012 they supported Swedish House Mafia, in their final Irish date before they disbanded, in Phoenix Park, Dublin, with Calvin Harris, Snoop Dogg and Tinie Tempah.[17] During the concert two people died from drug overdoses and nine people were stabbed, while thirty people were arrested for assault, drugs and public order offences.[18] This brought up the question of whether the music played attracted violence. Singer Arkins claimed "I don't think it's the music itself, the music doesn't tell these people to do things like that." And Walsh added that he thought the trouble was overdone and he didn't notice anything.[19]

In November 2012, The Original Rudeboys turned down an opportunity to open for Chris Brown on 3 December 2012 in Dublins O2 Arena. They have stated it is due to his attack on former girlfriend, Rihanna, in 2009.[20] Walsh gave an interview with RTE saying they are "completely against Chris Brown's assault on Rihanna" and supporting him "would send out the wrong message to our fans."[21]

Second Album

On October 7, 2013, the band posted a clip of a new song titled "Never Gonna Walk Away" on their Facebook page.[22] The song was released on November 22, 2013.

Band Members

Official members

Discography

Albums

Album Title Album details Chart positions Certifications
IRE
This Life 3

Extended plays

Title Album details
Travelling Man EP[24]
  • Released: March 12, 2012
  • Label: Gotta Run Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
Written Songs (Feeling Good) EP[25]
  • Released: July 20, 2012
  • Label: Gotta Run Records
  • Format: CD, digital download

Singles

Year Title Peak chart position Album
IRL
[26]
2011 "Stars in My Eyes" 18 This Life
2012
"Travelling Man" —
"Written Songs" —
"Blue Eyes" 67
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.

References

  1. ^ a b "Whelan's Blog Archive - The Original Rudeboys". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  2. ^ "BBC Reading and Leeds 2011 - The Original Rudeboys". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Review: The Original Rudeboys – This Life". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Interview: The Original Rudeboys Discuss New Single 'Written Songs (Feeling Good)', The Beatles And Their Biggest Flaw". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Festival.ie - The Original Rudeboys". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  6. ^ "The Original Rudeboys Interview: "Crowds of all sizes keep you grounded"". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  7. ^ a b c "10 things you (probably) didn't know about The Original Rudeboys". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Irish Hip Hop Unplugged - Craic Music". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  9. ^ "RTE Television - The Saturday Night Show". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Original Rudeboys announce slot at Strawberry Fest". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  11. ^ "A Rude Awakening". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  12. ^ "The Original Rudeboys added to Oxegen lineup". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  13. ^ a b "The Original Rudeboys Announce Two Christmas Shows At The Academy". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Original Rudeboys - Stars In My Eyes - Music Charts". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  15. ^ "Original Rudeboys - Travelling Man - Music Charts". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  16. ^ "The Script announce Original Rudeboys as support act for European Tour Dates in 2013". Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  17. ^ "Stage times revealed for Swedish House Mafia at Phoenix Park Dublin on Saturaday 7th July 2012!". Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  18. ^ "Man charged over stabbings at Phoenix Park concert". BBC News. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  19. ^ "The Sun - Irish Home - Irish News". Retrieved 2012-11-14.[dead link]
  20. ^ "Original Rudeboys reject Chris Brown support slot over Rihanna assault". Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  21. ^ "Irish act snubs Brown over Rihanna attack". Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  22. ^ "Never Gonna Walk Away Facebook video". Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  23. ^ "The Original Rudeboys add second Olympia Theatre date due to demand". Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  24. ^ "iTunes - Music - Travelling Man - EP by The Original Rudeboys". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  25. ^ "iTunes - Music - Written Songs (Feeling Good) - EP by The Original Rudeboys". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  26. ^ http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Original+Rudeboys
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