Quarterdeck

Quarterdeck From; Strabane Active; 1981 – 1987
Style; Jazz/ Rhythm & Blues
Line up; 1981
Vocals & Drums; Lawrence Doherty ex Pyrotechicos & Rule The Roost
Bass; Billy Robinson ex Pyrotechicos & Rule The Roost, Fiveskin
Keyboards; Paul Millar
Sax; Sean McCarron

Originally more of a R&B band than the later Jazz/Funk line up. Lawrence & Billy had formerly in in Rule The Roost & Pyrotechicos. Pyrotechicos would later reform too play the occasional gig with Lawrence & Billy, when they were not active with Quarterdeck. After Quarterdeck folded all but Lorraine would go on under the name of The Trade.

By March 1983 the line up had changed to the one below
Jazz/Funk
Guitar; Jimmy Simmons
Vocals; Dave Harvey

Bass; Billy Robinson
Drums; Lawrence Doherty
Keyboards; Paul Millar
Sax; Sean McCarron

feb 84 they recorded a demo tape at Windmill Studio in Dublin
14th Feb 84 support Darts at The Belfast Poly
Jan 84 40 mini tour of France campus universities
March 84 Jimmy is replaced Mick
June 84 British tour
August 84 Ballyshannon Folk Festival with Blitzkrieg
Around this time Dave is replaced by Lorraine Walsh formerly with Kubla Khan. Dave fromed a new band Cast Of Thousands
Oct 84 play some london dates over halloween

85 Feb Quarterdeck played to a crowd of 30 at the Swan Drogheda, on their last appearance at the Sawn it was a crowd of 60.
Loriane Walsh appeared on the Irish band aid video “Show Some Concern”.
May 85 UK tour
Jan – june 85 residency at the Baggot Inn
June relase second single Strange town the single recived rave reviews in Sounds & David Jenson’s Daily Mirror colum.
24 Oct live in concert on the radio
Nov 85 Lorriane sings backing vocals on Those Nervous Animals Album

Jan 86 New single The Last War
Jan 86 residency at Baggot Inn
March 86 residency at Baggot Inn
December 86 released debut LP
December 86 Irish tour
Tour Holland sometime in 86

Jan 87 You’re Not Around Eurovision song for Ireland
Feb 87 out of eurovision
July 87 disbanded
The Trade former members of Quarterdeck

They entered the Benson & Hedges “Entertainer Of The Year” compition in 1983, it was on TV in UTV but never won the £3,000 top prise. Also entered were Taxi & Slipstream. They also won SBB talent spot on the Late Late show. The band were originaly a Jazz/Rhythm band and their name was two seperate words Quarter Deck. Played Sir Henry’s, Baggot Inn

In March 1984 Jimmy Simmons is replaced by Mick Mccarney on guitar.
evening herald Quarterdeck – A band that mixes rock and jazz and survives is a rare animal. Quarterdeck is just such a band. Although thw emphasis is possibly more on rock, it remains a band with disticnt edge as shown by their recent debut single.
Quarterdeck had a budget of £20,000 for the making of their video for their single “In for The Kill” from RTE. The video took 4 weeks to make and was produced by Paul Cusak of RTE.
After the release of their first single the band went on tour in France. In 1984 they also played the Guinness Jazz festival in Cork, made an appearance on the BBC’s “Round Midnight” with a estimated audience of 2 million and followed that up with an appearance on the Late Late show. There are reports in the Munster Express that one of the bands tracks “Cash In Hand” was being looked at for the Radio 1 play list. Their set is split roughly 50/50 between instrumentals and vocal tracks, with all songs being written by the band.

Vocals; Lorraine Walls (Lorraine often did backing vocals with Those Nervous Animals)
Guitar; Mick McCarney
Bass; Billy Robinson
Drums; Laurence Doherty
Keyboards; Paul Miller
Sax; Shaun McCarron

7″ In For The Kill/ Rhythm Toby Records GM 002 March 84 vocalist for this single was Dave Harvey Track was recorded at Given Studio Omagh.
7″ Strange Town/ Missed That Chance Bus Records BUS 13 1985 Produced by Bill Whelan, written by Lorraine & Bill may 85
7″ Nada/ Current Affair Bus Records BUS 19 1985 August has contemporary, but conventional sound that should suit the radio stations.
7″ The Last War/ Hold On Bus Records 25 1986 Jan written by Billy Dave Harvey & Lorraine
12″ Jealous child Bus Records 7 track mini album Dec 86 gets included on rte2 play list Jan 87