Outfit The

The Outfit From; Limerick Active; 1981 – 198 tbc
Style; Rock/Reggae
may 82 line up
Vocals & Guitar; Ger Costello
Guitar; Mike Ryan
Bass; Brian Healy
Drums; Brendan Wallace
Sax; Dermot Moloney

Ninety percent of The Outfits set is original material, written by Ger Costello. They listed their influences as Linton Kwesi, UB40 Max Romeo & the Doors. Rather than trying to be reggae purists, The Outfit adapt this musical medium to reflect their own circumstances. While they express their views strongly through their music, they make it clear that they are not a political band.
The Outfit recorded a demo tape at the Middle Eight Studios in Limerick with Reforms guitarist Willie Browne at the production desk. They were managed by Hayman Harris, brother of film star Richard.
They played the Baggot Inn, cut a record with CBS in August ’82, and toured Holland in September ’82.
The Outfit released their first single on Scoff Records on 01/10/1982 called El Salvador. Written by Ger Costello.
El Salvador is a slow number in a reggae style, with meaningful & profound lyrics and forms a vinyl protest at the atrocities being committed in that country. The music is positive without being pretentious in thinking that they can change society.
Reaction to the song has been such that The Outfit will perform it on RTE’s Non Stop Pop. By the time of this single release, Mike Ryan has moved to Keyboards and Paul Healy brother of Brian joins the band on lead guitar.