Les Enfants
Les Enfants from; Dublin Active; 1982 –
Style; tbc
Line up;
Vocals; Derek Herbert
Guitar; Ronan O’Hanlon
Bass; Derek Ryan
Drums; John Mac Evilly
Keyboards; Mick Cosgrave
Les Enfants were formed late in 1982 by Ronan O’Hanlon and John MacEvilly. They were joined by Derek Herbert who had formerly been in Luminants and Shattered Light. He also sang on the 1982 Paul Angle’s single. The band built up a good reputation playing the Dublin club circuit. By December 1983 the band had brought in Flo McSweeney on vocals from Toy With Rhythm. This improved their live performance.
Flo turned down the opportunity to join the band full time, when the band signed a six album deal with Chrysalis Records. Flo would be replaced by Suzanne Rhatigan, just like Flo, Suzanne had been with Toy With Rhythm & also 5th Avenue.. Flo would go on to join Moving Hearts.
Debut Irish Single
The band released a debut single ‘Take The Girl’ in1984. Shortly after this, the band relocated to London. By this time former front man of Revolver, Teen Commandments, Reasons & Flash Harrys, Phil Byrne becomes the bands manager.
December 1984 Niall Power joins on drums
Arrived in London September 84. Was only there a couple of weeks when Phil Byrne got in touch to ask if I’d be interested in drumming for Les Enfants. I’d heard them rehearsing in Litton Lane and my girlfriend Michelle also did B/V on an Irish tour with them.
I rehearsed with them in late September at Clink studios near London Bridge for a week and did some live gigs during October and an In Concert radio one session at the Paris theatre for BBC.
Touring With Paul Young
In November we went to Rockfield in Wales to record the single Slipaway and did Saturday Starship tv show in Birmingham. We supported REM in Brum University the same weekend before joining the Paul Young British tour on 29/11/84 at the Glasgow Apollo.
Recorded Razamatazz tv show in Newcastle on 17/11/84.
1985 A Busy Year Recording
We started the album Touché in January at Rockfield.
Video for Slipaway was recorded 21/1/85 London Docklands.
Returning to Ireland
In 1986, Les Enfants returned to Ireland to perform at the Self Aid concert. The band contributed the track ‘A Sense Of Freedom’ from their set to the ‘Live For Ireland’ compilation which released in 1987. By this time, however, the group had run its course.