John T Davis

33 years after ‘Shellshock Rock‘ was controversially withdrawn from the festival programme at the last minute, John T Davis returned to the Cork Film Festival this year for a showing of his seminal Irish punk document. The movie was eventually shown but only thanks to then UCC Entertainments Officer Elvera Butler.

I had met Terri Hooley some time earlier when we were both were guests on the Dave Fanning Rock Show on RTE, talking about rock music in the north and south of the country respectively, and he got in touch with me to see if I could do anything to help.

The following is an interview John gave on 96FM Irish music show ‘The Green Room’ hosted by Michael Carr.

Green Room Interview (17th Nov 2012)

Vipers (Peel Session)

From Dublin The Vipers were Paul Boyle (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) George Sweeney (lead guitar), Brian Dolan (bass, backing vocals) and Dave Moloney (drums). They recorded a Peel Session on 27th Feb 1979 and this repeat broadcast of the session is from 17th April 1979. The tracks recorded were ‘You’re On Your Own Kid’, ‘Playin’ The Game’, ‘Too Rough’ and ‘You’re So Strange’. We have two tracks from the session with John Peel’s intros and outros. Also getting a mention in these clips are Terri Hooley and The Undertones. Thanks to the Peel Wikia for this recording. While we are on the subject check out Dublin punk bands on facebook courtesy the Come Here To Me blog.

Too Rough (1979)

You’re So Strange (1979)

Nun Attax

Nun Attax were a punk band from Cork featuring Finbarr Donnelly (vocals), Ricky Dineen (guitar), Mick Finnegan (guitar/vocals), Philip O’Connell (bass), Keith ‘Smelly’ O’Connell (drums). Mick Finnegan left in 1979 and was replaced by Giordai O’Laoghaire. In July 1980 Giordai O’Laoghaire left to join The Constant Reminders who became Microdisney. In 1981, Donnelly, Dineen and Smelly formed Five Go Down To The Sea and moved to London. Nun Attax recorded a Fanning Session on 9/2/1981 featuring ‘The Woodcutter Song’ / ‘Looking For Words For My Book’ / ‘Alynut’ / ‘Phantom Gobi’ / ‘Eidelweiss’. Dublin Opinion recently featured an excellent interview with Ricky Dineen about the history and evolution of the three bands he was at the heart of; Nun Attax, Five Go Down To The Sea? and Beethoven. Also worth checking out is ‘Get That Monster Off The Stage‘ a radio documentary on Finbarr Donnelly.

‘Looking For Words For My Book‘ (1981)

Paranoid Visions

Originally formed in 1981 Paranoid Visions are a punk band from Dublin. They were part of the second wave of punk which was heavily influenced by the diy ethic of crass, the original anarcho-punk band. They achieved infamy in the 1980s with their FOAD record label and the U2 parody ‘I Will Wallow’. Following a breakup in 1992 they reformed in 1996 to play support on some dates of the Sex Pistols tour. Recent years have seen a “revitalised attitude” and increased activity with a number of releases from the band which can be purchased here.

“Paranoid Visions are perhaps one of the best punk bands in the world right now and their playing with the form makes them worth investigating by anyone outside the punk genre.” John Robb

This Fanning Session was recorded in 1991 and features Emily (backing vocals), Deko (vocals), Denis Dischord (bass), Hungry Joe Libido (guitar), P.A. System (guitar), Albert Cowen (drums). Engineer on the session was Paddy McBreen and Ian Wilson produced.

Answerable 2 Nun (1991)

Strange Girl (1991)

Feast Of Blood (1991)

War Is Over (1991)