WALSH SLAMS 'JAGGER IMPERSONATOR' GELDOF

musicmania · A Hold of Me

WALSH SLAMS 'JAGGER IMPERSONATOR' GELDOF

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

By 'show' bands are they talking about manufactured crap? If so I couldn't agree with Bob more. Something I've been saying for years.

How can you even compare Bob's talents to that?

Tango · In the Long Grass

Walsh is a spineless bore. I mean, he brought the curse of Westlife on the music world and I will never forgive him for that. I don't blame Sharon Osbourne for covering him in wine!Scrawny-eyed parrot-faced wassock

just a new insult I'm trying out there!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Jules wrote:

By 'show' bands are they talking about manufactured crap? If so I couldn't agree with Bob more. Something I've been saying for years. How can you even compare Bob's talents to that?

No, it's a peculiar Irish phenomena. Essentially these bands toured Ireland (and some London venues, like the National, Galtymore etc.) and played a selection of covers (Irish/Country/Rock 'n' Roll) on a Saturday night when everyone would gather from miles around. Was dragged along to one as a shy 16 year old in county Clare, and it was a bit of an eye opener. Probably responsible for 90% of marriages in rural Ireland. Think Showwaddywaddy as an example, though they wouldn't quite qualify to be one. Boomtown Rats may well have been the first Irish act to never have dabbled in this area (even Thin Lizzy were associated with it in the early days).

http://www.irish-showbands.com/

...music critics haven't been as kind to this period in Irish entertainment. In the 2000 series, From A Whisper To A Scream, Sir Bob Geldof refers to the showband years as a "musical desert," adding that, "the showbands were crap."

kidneybean · House on Fire

Louis Walsh never managed an act that could be remotely termed "original".

Therein lies the difference between Louis and Bob's musical perspective.

Bob's music is all about having something original to say in a song and giving a strong, individual, tightly arranged performance of that song. Louis seems to specialise in creating acts who cover other people's material, in a sort of bland, lift-music style. Can't see the big attraction myself, but millions do........

Showbands were well before my time but from the bits I've seen on telly, it looks like it was other people's stuff that was on the menu.

Generally, it's a good thing that there's something out there for everyone isn't it? People like Louis Walsh just aren't looking for anything original in music, just something marketable.

While Bob would probably agree that he's been influenced by Jagger (and we all know he's a huge fan) I can't see that he's been impersonating Jagger. Any fool can see that Bob's a seriously more political (and personable) animal than Jagger. They're totally different to watch when performing. Maybe Louis Walsh has never seen either perform?!

musicmania · A Hold of Me

ArrGee wrote:

No, it's a peculiar Irish phenomena. Essentially these bands toured Ireland (and some London venues, like the National, Galtymore etc.) and played a selection of covers (Irish/Country/Rock 'n' Roll) on a Saturday night when everyone would gather from miles around. Was dragged along to one as a shy 16 year old in county Clare, and it was a bit of an eye opener. Probably responsible for 90% of marriages in rural Ireland. Think Showwaddywaddy as an example, though they wouldn't quite qualify to be one. Boomtown Rats may well have been the first Irish act to never have dabbled in this area (even Thin Lizzy were associated with it in the early days). http://www.irish-showbands.com/ ...music critics haven't been as kind to this period in Irish entertainment. In the 2000 series, From A Whisper To A Scream, Sir Bob Geldof refers to the showband years as a "musical desert," adding that, "the showbands were crap."

You have it in one Arrgee. It still happens in the west to an extent. My father reakons thats why I never got married yet as its not part of urban social life. Basically the old timers reakoned it was the only way to meet someone & settle down. I wouldn't quiet agree with Bobs stance on this as I think it was an intregral part of my parents & their peers upbringing. I've never been to see a showband myself, give me a rock concert any day, but I've listened to some great stories of people of the older generation who did so I therefore reakon its an important part of Irish music history!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

musicmania wrote:

It still happens in the west to an extent. My father reakons thats why I never got married yet as its not part of urban social life. Basically the old timers reakoned it was the only way to meet someone & settle down.

... but I've listened to some great stories of people of the older generation who did so I therefore reakon its an important part of Irish music history!

My cousins/in-laws all ended up with their hubbys/wives this way (well all bar one!).

A dance, a drink, a knee-trembler, a shotgun wedding.

The trad Irish courtship! Without it, there'd be no Irish at all!

musicmania · A Hold of Me

ArrGee wrote:

My cousins/in-laws all ended up with their hubbys/wives this way (well all bar one!). A dance, a drink, a knee-trembler, a shotgun wedding. The trad Irish courtship! Without it, there'd be no Irish at all!

So how did the other person meet their partner? Maybe I should move out west & head to see a showband so I can meet my match, ha, ha!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

musicmania wrote:

My cousins/in-laws all ended up with their hubbys/wives this way (well all bar one!).

So how did the other person meet their partner? Maybe I should move out west & head to see a showband so I can meet my match, ha, ha!

My cousin met her husband because her brothers brought him around one day, but the important point is she's the only bride who wasn't up the duff (still isn't, after 2 years, how things have changed!).

The number of 'sudden' wedding invitations we used to get was very funny.

Not so sure how it is out west these days. My neice/nephew wouldn't be seen dead going to see a showband, though my cousins would probably still be up for it. Guess you'd have to be prepared to be a farmer's wife.

musicmania · A Hold of Me

ArrGee wrote:

My cousin met her husband because her brothers brought him around one day, but the important point is she's the only bride who wasn't up the duff (still isn't, after 2 years, how things have changed!). The number of 'sudden' wedding invitations we used to get was very funny. Not so sure how it is out west these days. My neice/nephew wouldn't be seen dead going to see a showband, though my cousins would probably still be up for it. Guess you'd have to be prepared to be a farmer's wife.

Not in a million years would I be a farmers wife! I grew up with farming & made a vow NEVER would I live or work on a farm again. I've never got one of those sudden invites but these days its anything goes...

Scottie · Loudmouth

Now Arr Gee, you learn something new every day. I never realised that you were Irish. Did you know any of the Rats personally, or a bit before your time?. How long have you been away?

Mark Boyle · House on Fire

Just to correct you folks, Britain did have show bands as well.

They are a relic from the "variety show" era, & usually had a comedy element in them as well as the music. They were often a mainstay of the entertainments scene in the seaside towns such as Brighton, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Great Yarmouth, etc. & of the holiday camps like Butlins & Pontins.

Probably the best three known British examples were The Barron Knights (who used to regularly trouble the charts at the same time as the Boomtown Rats with a series of medley records spoofing others, long before Weird Al Yankovic got the idea), The Grumbleweeds (who had a Saturday TV show for a time) & the biggest of the lot, The Black Abbots, who were a mainstay for Royal Variety Performances, TV and the like for 15 years, until the comedian/pianist from the act, Russ Abbot left to go solo. They tried continuing without him but failed. They did a cover of Badfinger's "Without You" (in the style of Nielsson) that was quite simply stunning to hear, & Lord knows why no one ever got them to record it as a single.

-- Edited by Mark Boyle at 22:26, 2006-04-14

franna · V Deep

Since it's been mentioned, what IS a "holiday camp"? I've always wondered...

musicmania · A Hold of Me

A holiday camp in a place with holiday homes & amusements to keep people entertained. Its basically everything you need for a holiday in one site. Butlins when we had it in Ireland had lakes, arcades & loads of outdoor pursuits. Unfortunately it closed a few years ago. They are great for family holidays as there is plenty to keep the kids entertained. I hope I've expalined this properly..