Photo (c) Sunday Times
George Byrne, Irish Independent (22/11/2013)
Declan Lynch, Sunday Independent (24/11/2013)
RTE.ie (24/11/2013)
Tom Dunne, Newstalk (4/12/2013)
Ray D’Arcy Show, TodayFM (28/11/2013)
John Caddell, ‘Finest Worksongs’ Phantom FM (28/11/2013)
As announced by Ken Sweeney on twitter and then by Ian Dempsey on his TodayFM breakfast this morning The Blades are to play The Olympia Theatre, Dublin on Friday 13th December. Tickets are €26 – €33.50 and on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets from Friday 4th October.
Paul Cleary will be joined by former members drummer Jake Reilly (drums) and Brian Foley (bass) with the original brass section The Blue Brass (Frank Duff and Paul Grimes) [Hot Press]
Ian Dempsey (26th Sep 2013)
Paul Cleary, founder and lead singer of the recently defunct Blades, now with new band The Partisans talking to Pat Kenny in 1986 about school, early careers and what he might have done if music had not intervened. Paul talks about why The Blades called it a day, who The Partisans are and what they’ll be doing. He also explains why he didnt perform at Self Aid. Thanks to Mick for digging this out.
Paul Cleary part 1
Paul Cleary part 2
The 1981 Blades session has already featured but today it is the turn of the first incarnation of that band and their 1980 Fanning session.
The 1980 session features the original three-piece with Paul Cleary and his brother Lar, with Pat Larkin on the drums with some cover versions not available elsewhere. The line-up for the 1981 session featured Brian Foley on bass, and Jake Reilly on drums. RTE 2fm
‘Walk Back Renee’ (1980)
‘Breaking Out Of The Ruts’ (1980)
The last Blades post was very popular so I think it deserves an encore. Many thanks to Niall for digging this one out..
Live at the SFX (9/11/85)
Last Man In Europe
Mayday
Real Emotion
If I Go Away
Revelations of Heartbreak
Boy One
Time Waits For No Man
Too Late
Our Secret Dream
Hot for You
Downmarket
Those were the days
Not So Blue
Young, Gifted and Black
Ghost Of A Chance
Last Man In Europe
Downmarket
Today we have a second track from The Blades 1981 Fanning session. Another track, ‘Downmarket’ from the same session can be found here. By the way, the ‘Blades In Concert‘ post is now officially the most viewed item on this blog, nudging Light A Big Fire into second place.
Me & My Girl (1981)
On Saturday I was enjoying some sunshine listening to Mr Fanning on the tranny talking to Paul Deacy about his trip to the Vespa World Days in Norway. Paul mentioned he was a big fan of The Blades and how he would love to see them perform again. It turns out Paul also runs a well known shop in Galway called ‘Bell Book & Candle‘ which is also home to independent record store Wingnut Records.
Bell Book & Candle is a legend of a shop in Galway. Based in the heart of the city centre next to the Crane bar, this quirky little place specializes in vinyls, comics, records, books and other rarities. A must-see for any Galway visitor, or indeed city-dweller. [super8ireland ]
The interview with Paul is now online and can be heard here:
A day later I received an email from a reader who had just dug out a radio recording of The Blades RTE in concert performance and who kindly offered to digitize and share it. Updating following some comments, the broadcast is from 1985 and is the second of a two part broadcast.
Revelations Of Heartbreak
My Girl
Downmarket
The Time Tunnel
Those Were The Days
I Heard A Cry
Not So Blue (aka Memory Lane)
Same Old Song
Young Gifted And Black
The Blades – In Concert (1985)
In the absence of an official RTE Fanning Session archive consider this blog a humble starting point. Any musical submissions would be gratefully accepted as are any corrections or recollections... click on the pic to send an email or even better comment on the post in question. We are interested in anything recorded from irish radio or TV in the 1980s and 90s.
