The Stars Of Heaven
I suppose it is fitting that I never actually got to see The Stars Of Heaven live despite being a huge fan. Myself and a friend read in HotPress over Christmas that they were playing Dublin and we decided to hitch to Dublin (a 4 hour drive) to attend the gig as we lived in rural Ireland and nothing was happening. Things started very slowly and next thing we knew the sandwiches were gone and we still hadn’t got our first lift, we were faced with an embarrassing about face. We eventually got that first lift and then hit it lucky and we eventually made it to the venue on time only to find that the gig had been cancelled (or was it just HP that was wrong?). We ended up going to see An Emotional Fish and staying the night in Isaac’s Hostel. A good night was had by all despite the disappointment. As it turns out The Stars Of Heaven had called it a day. Watch the band perform here and if you like what you hear, do yourself a favour and get a copy of the 2006 reissues on Independent Records of Sacred Heart Hotel/Holyhead EP and/or Speak Slowly (HP review). Update: those two albums are now available as a free download over on the Independent Records site. The posthumous ‘Unfinished Dreaming‘ is also well worth checking out.
The first track was a single on Hotwire Records from May 1985. John Peel liked it so much he had the lads over for sessions no less than 4 occasions. Then we have a track from the April 1988 Fanning Session and finally a track from the December 1984 Fanning Session which unusually features Stan Erraught on lead vocals.
Clothes Of Pride (1985)
Smalltown Reel (1988) watch here
Eldorado (1984)
July 2, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I do believe that the gig in question was their final one, which was held in the New Inn – a venue that itself is now gone, having been demolished to make way for the planned (and subsequently canceled) motorway past St. Patrick’s Cathedral. If I remember correctly they finished with an encore of “downmarket” by the Blades.
The songs are great, by the way! Cheers for posting them.
July 18, 2011 at 1:12 pm
How do I download these tracks
December 30, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Lucky to see them a few times which is why i found speak slowly a wee bit disappointing. never matched the vitality of the gigs