Radiators From Space
Radiators From Space from; Dublin Active; 1976 – August 1977 – 1981
Style; Punk
1st Line up;
Vocals; Steve Rapid
Guitar & Vocals; Phil Chevron (R.I.P.)
Guitar & Vocals; Pete Holidai
Bass; Mark Megaray (R.I.P.)
Drums; Jimmy Crashe
Memories of Jackie Haydon of CBS Records (Ireland)
Jackie Hayden (CBS Records) “My memories of that period was that the international success of The Boomtown Rats, coupled with Geldof’s confrontational arrogance, inspired lots of Irish bands to go for it. When radio 2 (now 2fm), and Hot Press came into play there were more outlets for the bands to get coverage, and it tended to snowball from there on. The Radiators are my favourite band from that period. The album of early Irish rock covers they brought out this year (called Sound City Beat) still shows the defiance and uplifting creativity they had in their early years. It was a tough but exciting time for Irish music”.
Pete Holidai “The Radiators from space were most definitely a garage band. We rehearsed every Sunday in Steve’s garage. When we went off to the UK, some band called ‘The Hype’ moved in to OUR garage….What ever happened to them”
Ghostown the classic Irish album
“No Irish band has ever attempted anything as ambitious as Ghostown, and no one ever will. Why should it? It has been done and, like Pet Sounds, it’s a monument forever.” George Byrne, Sunday Times, 1998
Karl Tsigdinos (Hot Press reporter & DJ) If anyone asked me to describe Dublin in the 1970’s, I would have handed them Ghostown.
1976, The birth
13/06/1976 Belfield, UCD with Eddie & The Hot Rods. The Radiators first gig, supporting high flying English band Eddie & The Hot Rods.
16/01/1977 Asgard House, Howth The entire audience walk out, the band play on regardless and play their entire set twice.
23/01/1977 Baggot Inn, Dublin
20/02/1977 Baggot Inn, Dublin
21/02/1977 El Ruedo, Carlow. The Radiators are the first “Punk” band to play in Carlow, it’s their 1st concert outside of Dublin area.
05/03/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin.
10/03/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin with the Boomtown Rats. This was the Rats farewell Dublin concert, before going of to England. The gig was in aid of of Dublin’s Project Arts Centre.
11/03/1977 University College Dublin with Roogalator. This is Roogalator’s last Irish concert, before returning to England.
24/04/1977 Baggot Inn, Dublin (support is The Undertones, playing their first gig outside Derry).
29/04/1977 Stardust Club, Cork. A crowd of 2,000
Jude Carr On Drums
09/05/1977 Esplanade, Bray, Co Wicklow. The Radiators play 12 songs in a half hour set, they are introduced by Jude Carr. The stage is so small that Phil has to sing in the audience. After their set the Radiators jam with the support band, they play Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B Goode” with Jude Carr on drums. Jude Carr I remember the gig, Pete Sliverton, was over from Sounds, Jimmy left early. No idea who the support was, or who or what convinced me to get behind the traps. still I can add Radiators From Space to my C.V.!
Heat gig review by Pete Price
Similar sentiments come over in his own songs. They might tread the same almost cliched dole queue as the English New Wave but they speak from a specific Irish standpoint and such knowledgeable down homeness is an undeniable strength. Anyway, Phil is on the dole. He gets a tenner in total. So he watches TV becomes obsessed by it’s awesome power over our lives. And writes songs about and for the 625 line generation. Like “Electric Shares” which is about the video totalling of Gary Gilmore. It fades on the déjà vu line “They’re selling postcards of the hanging…..” Jimmy Crashe (drums) and Mark Megaray (bass) lay down a neccary and varied bottom line. Peter Holidai’s simple guitar work is a more than adequate counter point to Phil’s more aggressive more adventurous playing. They carom through a twelve song half hour set just the way it should be done, slinging in enough switches and changes to let you know you’re listening to an alive, kicking and real rock ‘n’ roll band not some lame bunch of art school renegades like the Subway Sect.
Phil Chevron
And it’s as obvious as an elephant in a dog kennel that, even if the Radiators break up tomorrow, you’re gonna hear about Phil Chevron (remember the name and where you read it first) again.
The crowd ain’t so sure though. The general vibe is one of “if this is punk rock, we’d rather dance to what we know”. It beats me how they can resist ace in the hole tight versions of “Teenage Head” and “Psychotic Reaction”? Who doesn’t feel like “Blitzing At The Ritz”?
Johnny B Goode
And the management of the hotel, they don’t care about a band giving all they’ve got in such a short space of time – more in fact than most bands manage in 2 ½ hours. They want the time filled till seven o’clock or no money, see? Enter a ramshackle five guitar ensemble cobbled together from Radiators and the support act. They play a version of “Johnny B. Goode” so funny that I laugh half way to the airport.
The Punters loved it
The punters loved it. They started dancing for real at last, safe in the refuge of the known, proving actively Phil’s observation on the nature of Irish heroism. If he was as dead as Chuck Berry, they’d probably applauded and dance to his tunes just as enthusiastically.
The “Jam”
The “jam” is falling even further apart – Jude Carr joins on drums (he should stick to writing) – as I leave a little stunned, as you should be by a good band, and happy to be free at last from all those incessant queries. If I’m over there again, I’ll just tell anyone who asks about London: “It’s much the same as Dublin. There’s good bad and awful”.
Dublin’s Best
The Radiators have their own category – Dublin’s best.
14/05/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin
24/06/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin with Full Circle, Jimmy Selvin, Revolver, Ditch Cassidy & Roots
Sunday World
“We’re starting the L.P. soon – basically just cutting single tracks like “Sunday World” at the moment and playing around. Chiswick’s always behind us in everything we do, but we really owe a lot to Eamon Carr. He took us up when we were not a viable proposition. He believed in us and still does. When everyone thought we were a joke, he knew we were capable of it”.
The Radiators are five distinct ideas, but on the same level and going in the same direction. Jagger had Richard to bounce ideas off. It has to work like that to have a democratic music levelling. I mean, our music is 90% original.
Where do you place the roots?
“I dunno – ‘60’s? Not really. the music of the ‘80’s will have roots in the ‘70’s. Our new single “Television Screen” is based on R&B, a 12 bar Chuck Berry idiom. It’s taking that theme and making it seem fresh, amphetamine to fit today. That’s Geldof’s idea as well – to take the music of the ‘50’s. ‘60’s, ‘70’s – Bowie, The Dolls, and merge them into late ‘70’s and ‘80’s. It’s an exercise in freshness. I think we’ve succeeded in following a direct line even to the beat boom of the ‘60’s. In Dublin, you had The Creatures, Peter Adler and The Action, The Greenbeats. There hasn’t been anyone since Adler who can walk down the street – he knew he was a local hero. In fact without being big heads, we are the successors to Adler, because we know from reactions from our gigs that there is that sort of thing”.
Belfield’s Burning Punk Festival
25/06/1977 Punk Festival at UCD, Dublin. The Radiators, The Undertones, Revolver, The Gamblers and The Vipers. At this concert Patrick Coultry (18) from Cabra, Dublin, was stabbed to death.
08/07/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin with The Undertones
15/07/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin with Revolver
22/07/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin with DC Nien
29/07/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin with Dick Tracy & The Green Disaster
05/08/1977 Marquee, Kilcullen, Co Kildare with Carnival,
The Best Gig I Ever Pogoed Too
06/08/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin with The Vipers Heat Fanzine Review by Ray Gunne Along with the Rads the Vipers made this the best gig I ever pogoed to. They played good solid Rock ‘n’ Roll for almost three quarters of an hour. They had a good piss up and were well oiled ready to do the needy. Speaking of SEX….
This gig attracted lotza chicks… good cos the Irish punk scene is suffering from a shortage.
Guitar String Broken
Vipers opened the gig with “I Can Tell” but nobody was ready to bop just yet. A couple of hip chicks were headbanging but I think that was from something Smiley played ’bout an hour earlier. A guitar string had broken and it was outta toon…..who cares?
Great Drumming By Dave Moloney
People were really bopping by the time they did “Knock On Wood” it had great drumming from Dave Moloney and great vocals from Paul Boyle. Sometimes Paul aped Bob Geldof a bit too much, but who cares??
Original Material
Originals like “Strut It” and “You Had Your Chance” the latter being Terry Lean’s choice of single of the year (if the Vipers get that together). Were great catchy toons, while Paul Boyle’s claim that “Too Rough” was the best pop song ever written; was not that far wrong. They topped the gig with Rods “Teenage Depression” before playing a well deserved encore. Not bad for gig number 2 huh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hot Press review by Liam Mackey
Hot Press Review Liam Mackey The Radiators/Vipers gig in Moran’s last Saturday week was probably one of the most important Irish gigs of the year so far.
Recording the first album
In recent weeks while the sour taste of Belfield lingered on in the mouths of many people, the Radiators were in the studio recording a album and attempting to pick up the pieces. At the same time I guess they realised that the genuine test would come when they returned to the stage. At this point I can only say that it was a complete triumph on as many levels as you’d care to mention.
Much More Music
Firstly though, full marks to the Much More Music people for not only playing host when so many others would have refused, but also for going out of their way to ensure that the bands could operate in just the right atmosphere. The “M.M.M. Welcome Back The Radiators” banner draped across the back of the stage bore witness to their efforts.
Firstly though, full marks to the Much More Music people for not only playing host when so many others would have refused, but also for going out of their way to ensure that the bands could operate in just the right atmosphere. The “M.M.M. Welcome Back The Radiators” banner draped across the back of the stage bore witness to their efforts
The Most Improved Band
The Vipers who opened the show get my vote as the most improved band I’ve seen all year. Whereas in Belfield they’d been sloppy and seemingly ill-rehearsed, which had made their hard core punk stance all the more ridiculous, at Moran’s they were tight, hard and inventive. “Inventive” may not be a word you’d often associate with the New Wave but no other could describe what these guys did with the curtain raiser “I Can Tell” and the encore “Pool Hall Richard.” In between they rampaged through originals like “You Had Your Chance” and “No Such Thing,” plus “Too Rough” introduced as “the best punk song ever written.” By the end of the set the crowd were going ape and it began to look like the Vipers might damn near steel the show.
Love Detective
When the Radiators took the stage, kicking off with “Love Detective,” it seemed as if those suspicions were about to be confirmed. They sounded very sluggish in the guitars were so submerged in the mix that the great linking riff was virtually inaudible. But their experience (in New Wave terms I guess that constitutes a matter of months) came to their rescue and by “Teenage Head” they were in top gear and from then on they only got better.
Pumping Base Lines
For some of the songs from the new album Steve Rapid took a backseat while Pete Hollidai and Phil Chevron took care of vocals. The album trailers include a slower version of “Television Screen” bearing the indelible stamp of Mark Megaray’s pumping bass runs, two numbers concerning the media “Enemies” and “Press Gang” the latter boasting a brilliant “sing song” chorus of “Press or Herald, Herald or Press Gang”.
Sunday World
“Sunday World,” “Blitzin’ at the Ritz,” “Psychotic Reaction” and the original “Television Screen” had the crowd pogoing, bouncing off the walls, spilling beer and generally having a party. Got that? A Party. In fact it got to a stage where it became a real endurance feat to remain upright on the heaving floor.
The Highlight
The highlight? It just had to be their suitably manic version of “Teenager in Love” replete with a chorus of – wait for it – “Gabba Gabba Hey.” Now how can you fail to love them?
Self Mutilation
Oh, just in case a Sunday World person is reading this, you might like to know that at the end of the night a guy with a hairstyle that wouldn’t have gone amiss in San Francisco ten years ago, poured a half pint of beer over himself. Run along now and write a piece about “Self mutilation.”
Watershed Gig
Right now the Radiators have the energy and class to appeal to all rock fans. It’s your own fault if you miss out. Morans was for me at any rate, a watershed gig, in that the past seems to have been firmly left behind and only way left for the Vipers and The Radiators is marked “up.”
Help keep it that way.
Dalymount Park with Thin Lizzy, Steve’s last gig
21/08/1977 Dalymount Park, Dublin This is Ireland’s first open air rock festival with Thin Lizzy, Graham Parker and The Rumour, The Boomtown Rats, Fairport Convention, Stepaside, The Radiators and Stagalee.
This is Stephen Rapid’s last gig with the band. He chooses to stay behind in Dublin with his family while the band prepares to move to London. He will remain an important guiding light in the Irish music scene
22/08/1977 Jordanstown Poly, Belfast. This is the first gig the Radiators play without Stephen Rapid. Support is local Belfast band Dick Tracy & the Green Disaster
The First Dublin Gig Without Steve
16/09/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin with The Vipers, Revolver, Fabulous Fabrics Heat Review by Pete Nasty Radiators…. first gig as a four piece, since the departure of Stephen Rapid. They got “star” treatment a bouncing ovation as soon as they came on which they always deserved. Played the usual style set but none of the less exciting for that. Still visually very strong. Tho’ Pete missed Steve, Phil Chervon ‘n’ Holidai share centre stage and both look fit to collapse as they come to a close Steve singer joins for an encore of Iggy’s “Feel Alright” and get a very special, warm reception, he urges the kids to form bands, and its announced that hes getting a band together called (Deep Breath). Norman Normal and the circus!!! To sum up the night, brilliant!
Bill Graham Review
Last Saturday night, the Radiators played their Dublin date in the grease and sweat pit of Moran’s.
If it’s a weekend away from a wake for the venue, it’s a coming out party for Dublin’s Punks. Any previous night so far there’s always been a hard core minority of anti punks. Not on this occasion, as punk garb and badges outnumbered the competition and any minority was neutral, not hostile.
But the night was dedicated to the Radiators. Their last gig in Dublin but also a beginning since it was their first set without singer Steve Rapid which explained and excused the tentative start.
Pete & Phil
Now that Peter and Philip share the vocal load, they both must stick close to the microphone so they’ve got less opportunities for guitar duo duelling. And as with The Vipers, sound problems plagued them – the guitars could have been amplified through a pillow. At one point, Peter Holidai stepped back to play a crashing chord and he was inaudible, as if he was miming for Top of the Pops.
Song Writing
But the balance improved and the crowd willed them on to end the early nerves. The Radiators’ strength in song writing means that their instantly recognisable numbers keep them afloat, even if their playing is still a little ragged.
No Fillers
They don’t have any fillers. “Television Screen”, “Press Gang”, “Party Line”, “Sunday World”, “Ripped and Torn” – the band are incapable of writing anything that isn’t distinctively minted by a sensibility that’s punk plus.
Take “Party Line”. No other of their contemporaries would slip in a Horslips derived riff – and it’s that cheeky scavenging that means the Radiators aren’t going to be among the also rans. While Johnny Rotten and Mick Jones complain that the Second Wave can’t go beyond the guidelines set down by the Pistols and the Clash, the Radiators aren’t ever going to be categorised as imitators.
Mark’s Bass
“Party Line” might just be a fluky steal but the Radiators keep coming up with the touches of a similar calibre. The guitars laying out after the chorus on “Ripped and Torn” to let Mark Megarry’s bass turbine through to the next verse shows a rare command of dynamics.
Similarly Philip’s guitar on “Television Screen”, both the “Nut Rocker” intro and the manic solo and the choruses of “Press Gang” and “Sunday World” – all confirm that the Radiators From Space are in another stratosphere.
Encore
At Moran’s, they power through the encore with Steve Rapid leaping on stage for “Psychotic Reaction”. Steve has been scurrying around all evening acting as D.J. and all round stage manager. All his pent up energy explodes into “Psychotic Reaction”. He won’t be the forgotten boy.
First UK dates
The Radiators start their first UK tour playing many of the now famous “Punk” venues such as the Roxy, Vortex, Music Machine, Roundhouse, Nashville Rooms and Red Cow. Steve is no longer in the band but he is in London with the band.
27/09/1977 Vortex, London with Dead Fingers Talk, Tanya Hyde & The Tormentors, Wrist Action. This was the Radiators first London gig.
The Vortex was opened in July ’77, by Andy Czezowski a former partner in London’s original & most famous “Punk” venue “The Roxy”. Most of the support bands would play for free, just for the chance to play, this allowed the club to put on 3 or 4 bands each night.
The Vortex was a hard core “Punk” venue, even it’s logo was made up to look like a ransom note. Known for it’s violence, many of the bouncers were ex army, and most of these were mercenaries, fighting in places like Angola.
Hot Press Quote by Phil Chevron
28/09/1977 Music Machine, London (Johnny Thunders guests on guitar) with New Hearts, Crabs Philip Chevron Hot Press 1980 “I wish we hadn’t been so enamoured of him, he just went on for ages and I just wish we’d fucked him off stage – but we were very young and we were very green and we were just pleased to be playing at all”
Heat Franzine review by Robbie Riot
We got there early, about 8.30. The gig wouldn’t be starting till 10.30. The place is huge, stage about 20 feet off the floor. You wanna be good to create an atmosphere in this place. After a few gargles, the first band, The Crabs, come on. They went down OK; they had their own fans they pogoed all over the place. Next New Hearts – real slick, the singer wore a red suit. They looked like a cross over between The Jam and The Rods. The singer never stopped his Barrie Masters routine they do all their own material, but as the sound was so bad, we couldn’t make out much song titles. At the end they storm off very angry the drummer throws his sticks at the lights, and the singer throws the mike stand down into the ground. Their manager later accused the Rads of sabotaging their sound.
Television Screen
Finally, The Radiators hit the stage. Straight into “Television Screen” sounds as good as ever. Next comes “Love Detective” roughly the same set as their last Morans gig “Enemies” “Prison Bars” “Roxy Girl” “Party Line” “Sunday World” etc. At the night’s end Chevron announced that Johnny Thunder was getting up to play with the! This woke up the posers! Thunders came on dressed totally in leathers… really cool lookin’. He plugged into Pete’s amp, Pete taking lead vocals. They went through “Psychotic Reaction” next came “T.V. Screen” much better: Pete rolling all over the stage – great. Thunders was really enjoyin’ it. Kept prowling around and doing his guitar hero pose. The set finished with what sounded like “Johnny B Goode” to me, but I think everybody was playing something different.
Posers
The crowds in these places, are only posers. They come in dressed to kill, but they never dance, maybe it’s all that masochist gear hurting them, their not worth talkin’ about.
The Roxy, London’s original Punk venue
29/09/1977 Roxy, London with The Outsiders. The Roxy was London’s original and best “Punk” venue. In it’s short career (it was only open for about 18 months) all the top names played there including Iggy Pop, The Sex Pistols, The Stranglers, Sham 69, Siouxsie Sue & The Banshees, Ultravox.
30/09/1977 Roxy, London with Sham 69, Crass, Dole Q. Sham 69 are the headline act tonight.
The Red Cow & the Teddy Boys
01/10/1977 Red Cow, London (Holidai gets mugged by Teddy Boys before gig- He plays the gig with rapidly swelling eye).
Stephen White (London) Shot that picture (below) at a small gig in a collage bar or room in central London I vaguely recall, I visited with Pete Silverton. There might be more but I suspect that the one reproduced is the only one worth printing as all those early gigs had crap lighting and I didn’t want to use flash.
04/10/1977 Hope & Anchor, London
05/10/1977 Rock Garden, London
06/10/1977 Naggs Head, High Wyckham
07/10/1977 North London Poly
09/10/1977 (Afternoon) Roundhouse, London with Ultravox
09/10/1977 (Evening) Rochester Castle, London
10/10/1977 Nashville Room, London with Neo. This famous old venue is now known as the Famous 3 Kings.
The Radiators first gig outside greater London
13/10/1977 Rebbacas, Birmingham
14/10/1977 Peterborough Technical College. The Radiators are a late replacement for “Bethnal”.
Larger venues in London
15/10/1977 Marquee, London with Riff Raff
16/10/1977 Roundhouse, London with The Vibrators, 999
17/10/1977 Dingwalls, London
Germany and the rest of the UK
20/10/1977 Frankfurt. The Radiators first concert outside of Ireland & the UK.
21/10/1977 Kasseler Kunsthockschule, Kassel, Germany (Afternoon/Evening)
22/10/1977 Kasseler Kunsthockschule, Kassel, Germany (Afternoon/Evening)
23/10/1977 Berlin
25/10/1977 Edinburgh
26/10/1977 J.B.’s, Dundee
27/10/1977 Falkirk
29/10/1977 Coventry
01/11/1977 Plymouth
02/11/1977 Torquay
03/11/1977 Barnstable
04/11/1977 Marquee, London
09/11/1977 Newport
Bad Reputation UK Tour with Thin Lizzy
11/11/1977 City Hall, Newcastle Pete Holidai After driving from London to Newcastle we (The Radiators FS) waited patiently to do the first sound check of our support slot with Thin Lizzy on the Bad Reputation 1977 UK. While we set up and nervously went through a couple of songs, Philip Lynott stood by our sound guy, Chris Pollard, nodding and giving the thumbs up. He later told his road crew to “Look after these guys” Thanks Philip RIP. “Big” Charlie McClennan was their tour manager at the time. He scared the shit out of us. We could hear his footsteps as he approached our dressing room “Radiators on stage…now!” became the familiar roar. Great guy.. I think he liked us.
06/12/1977 Nashville Room, London. This is an extra gig, not part of the Thin Lizzy tour.
10-11/12/1977 Hammersmith Odeon, London Mention must be made too of the Radiators who supported. No encores but their negotiation of the potentially unnerving hurdle of their first major London performance must aid their confidence when they return to the clubs, although they will have to beef up what is too often a thin guitar sound.
Nevertheless, their return to Ireland will see a much tighter outfit now they’ve been though the regimen of more regular work than they ever got at home. For the Radiators, the experience of the tour has been a blooding that will stand to them for the future. Bill Graham review Hot Press.
17/12/1977 Kursaal Ballroom, Southend This was the last concert to be held at the Kursaal Ballroom. The Radiators set was recorded and released on yellow vinyl LP in 2005. Live at the Southend Kursaal ’77, Rejected Records. Tracks are Sunday World, Roxy Girl, Press Gang, Prison Bars, Electric Shares, T.V. Screen, Party Line, Psychotic Reaction, Enemies.
Image supplied by Pete Holidai
23/12/1977 Downtown Kampus, Cork with Sacre Bleu
24/12/1977 Moran’s Hotel, Dublin The Radiators, Rats & Horslips jam
Trinity College, Dublin
11-12/01/1978 Trinity College, Dublin with The Vipers. If an alien happened upon a punk gig as his first experience of the human species, he might be temped to jump back in his interplanetary craft and F.O. in his U.F.O.
On the other hand, the alien might see spitting as an involuntary spasm of the salivary function, have a hearing facility to unscramble the muddy sound and best of all a decoding device to understand the lyrics in a welter of noice.
At The Radiators From Space gig in the JCR of Trinity College last week. I felt like an alien without those vital extra senses. Mind you, it’s not the Radiators fault. I’m too old for punk, because I can’t relate emotionally or even instinctively. I honestly believe the Radiators write good lyrics, but what is the point in writing an angry song, if no one can hear the words to know what you are angry about.
I told you I was too old.
Crystal Ball
Anyway, I went to see the Radiators because in my crystal ball gazing for 1978, I queried the staying power of the Radiators and their lack of a definite charismatic image. An angry Philip Chevron demanded that I go to the gig. I did.
Musically, the Radiators were tight. The sound was muddy, especially in the bass department, but I could hear strong hooks, catchy riffs and genuine inventiveness in the melodies. I liked the fiant impression of the songs that penetrated the wall of noise.
I still don’t known if the Radiators are going to be big
The set wasn’t long. The safety of knowing the words of “Sunday World” helped me get through several less familiar songs. “Press Gang” also got to me. The tempo never let up. “Roxy Girl” gave way to a new song, which according to Chevron, may be the next single. Called “Walking Home Alone Again”, it has the hooks and the bass to succeed. Another new song “Billy’s No Hero” came later and it too had the basic ingredients. The set finished with “Enemies” and I left before the encores, because I still don’t know if the Radiators are going to be big.
I can’t knock the music
I can’t knock the music. It is melodic and I heard it all in my time at a slightly slower pace. A random selection of four veterans would produce a tighter sound than the Radiators, but no amount of persuasion would induce the kids to like them. Punk is obviously not about being angry at all. It’s about being young
Chevron & Holidai
The Radiators are relying on Chevron and Pete Holidai to transcend the footlights and evoke the reaction from the crowd. Holidai is smugly menacing and Chevron is almost endearing. Maybe if he wore a leprechaun suit, he could capitalise on an impish presence. In the role of heretic and rabble rouser, he lacks the brash arrogance of Geldof. I don’t doubt for a moment that Philip is as arrogant as Geldof, but that pose is now imitative and dull. So is looking menacing.
The Kids seem to like the Radiators
How the hell would I know anyway? The kids seem to like the Radiators. I want to listen to their records and secipher the messages. If they find their own special wrinkle which will distinguish them from the rest, they have the songs and the music. I love the punk movement for inspiring kids to form bands. The Radiators are an example of the good by product.
Future
As an alien, I can’t see any Nicaraguan beauties and Rolls Royces in the Radiators future yet. I hope I’m blind as a bat .Shay Healy Starlight Magazine
Cork with the Vipers
14/01/1978 Downtown Kampus, Cork with The Vipers. This is the last time these two stallwaults of the Dublin “Punk Scene” will play together.
Returning to the UK
20-21/01/1978 Barbarella’s, Birmingham with Neon Hearts Andrew Semple To my shame, the only time I saw you. Will always remember what a great night, from memory you must have sound checked late because I could hear you outside, but my shouts of “It’s the radiators!!! where met with bemused looks. Great times x
Pete Holidai I remember those Barbarellas gigs as well….our car broke down at Northampton and we had to get a taxi to Birmingham. The driver was so starstruck he missed the turn off and didn’t realise it till we were heading for Leicester…so BIG u turn..still made it on time!
Dale Michelsohn I had a mate that went to see you guys there. I remember him raving about the gig.
23/01/1978 Music Machine, London
27/01/1978 Lafeyette, Wolverhampton
28/01/1978 Eric’s Liverpool
02/02/1978 Mr George’s, Coventry
03/02/1978 Rock Garden, Middlesbrough
04/02/1978 P. G.’s, Harrowgate
07/02/1978 Nikker’s, Keighley
09/02/1978 Outlook, Doncaster
11/02/1978 J. B’s, Dudley
13/02/1978 Top Of The World, Stafford
15/02/1978 Polytechnic, Sheffield
17/02/1978 Bedford College, London
19/02/1978 Roundhouse, London with Deaf School, The Doctors, Johnny Moped
23/02/1978 Mr Digby’s, Birkenhead
24/02/1978 New Regent, Brighton
25/02/1978 City Hall, St Albans
26/02/1978 Chancellor Hall, Chelmsford see the “Newspaper Cuttings” page for a review of this concert.
28/02/1978 Nikker’s, Keighley
07/03/1978 Marquee, London
10/03/1978 Lyceum Ballroom, London with Buzzocks, The Slits
11/03/1978 Maxwell Hall, Friars, Aylesbury with Motorhead Pete Holidai Motorhead were louder in their dressing room than we were on stage! plus we played to about 1950 bikers and 50 very pale looking punks. The bikers didn’t kill us so that was a triumph
16/03/1978 Dingwalls, London
07/04/1978 Marquee, London
31/10/1978 Electric Ballroom, London with Stiff Little Fingers
Photo’s taken @ McGonagle’s by Patrick Brocklebank. Supplied by Pete Holidai
Billy Rejoins The Radiators
Mark Megaray (bass) & Billy Morley (guitar) leave the band in January 1979. Mark joined the Eric Bell band, while Billy, unhappy living in London, returned home to Ireland.
Tour De Force 1980
Poster supplied by Pete Holidai
The Radiators had by this time dropped the “From Space” from their name, they also had a line up change for this tour. Nick Hurt on keyboards & Neil Whiffen on bass guitar joining Chevron, Holidai & Crashe.
22/10/1980 RTC, Carlow
23/10/1980 Bulgaden Castle Lounge, Kilmallock with The Experts James Dundon Tonight I just tripped across the poster of the Radiators 1980 tour of Ireland , a little punk band from Limerick called The Experts did the support in Kilmallock , Nenagh and Limerick , I was their “manager” and think I applied to the band to get the support for my buddies , I kept a lot of posters of the time but not this one and have not seen it in 35 years
The Radiators were perfect gents and gave us marvellous support on the nights , I became a life long fan of the band and we got to Phil’s last stand in the Olympia which was a very special evening
The gigs were not well attended at the time which was unfortunately very common down the country with punk or even rock being a bit hit and miss but if you look at the list of dates that they tried they were really trail blazing , no band or artist would even attempt it nowadays
24/10/1980 Joey Mahers, Drogheda
25/10/1980 Old Crescent, Limerick with The Experts
26/10/1980 Savoy Cinema, Cork
28/10/1980 Imperial Hotel, Dundalk
29/10/1980 Showboat, Waterford
30/10/1980 Sportsmans Inn, Dublin with The End
31/10/1980 Queen’s University, Belfast
01/11/1980 Project Arts Centre, Dublin with Chant! Chant! Chant! These were the first two Dublin dates for The Radiators in almost two years. In the intervening period we’ve had the album “Ghostown” and the singles from it and two singles recorded since then to keep us going, but no activity on the live front. Add the lack of live activity to the various line up changes in the past couple of years and the uncertainty hanging over the future of the unit – near mind the hassles they’ve had in recording and releasing material – and one could have been forgiven for looking at the prospect of this current tour with some trepidation a couple of weeks ago.
Any fears or doubt were banished by the Project gig – a couple of the weaknesses uncovered in the Sportsman’s were still present, but overall strength of last Saturday night’s gig establishes The Radiators as a real force in live terms.
The set was almost identical on both nights – most of “Ghostown” with “Stranger Than Fiction” and “Dancing Years” thrown in, then a sprint for home with “Electric Chairs”, Enemies” and “Sunday World” and “Dancing Years” again. The core of Chevron, Holidai and Crash has been augmented by Nick Hurt on keyboards and Neil Whiffen of guitar.
Hurt’s contributions were strong but never overstated, although his scope would obviously broadened were he to add a synthesiser to his armoury. Whiffen’s bass playing is first class tto, tight when it should be, yet with a distinctive style which is shown to best effect on the band’s more adventurous numbers. Crash’s drumming is, as always, precise and economical yet far from rudimentary.
And Chevron and Holidai? If blame had to be attributed for the flawed Sportsmans gig, much of it would be theirs. Despite committed performances by both, some of the vocals were more than shaky, occasionally straining to hit notes, sometimes going badly off key. But as with all aspects of life you take the rough with the smooth.
For example, twenty minutes into the set they destroyed “Dead The Beast, Dead The Poison”, then played a brilliantly reworked version of “Song Of The Faithful Departed”. Yet, to be fair, they were working against a very dodgy sound mix which threw the vocals out much louder than the instruments, distorted the guitars and often left the drums almost inaudible. They also, rather dubiously to me, left the “oldies” till last, then whipped through them in a fashion which only served to highlight the inadequacies of the ’77 songs when compared with the brilliant “Ghostown” material.
So I was glad to get a chance to see the band again at The Project, looking forward to better sound and vision and, indeed, atmosphere.
Gone were the sound gremlins, the occasional vocal and instrumental fox passes and in their place were confident, almost exuberant performances well matched by an enthusiastic crowd response. The sound was clear (most of the time) and there were few, if any, mistakes. This time “Dead The Beast” was one of the highlights while the power of “Faithful Departed” sent shivers up my spine and convinced me of what I’ve long thought about the song – a better Irish rock lyric has yet to be written.
The Radiators are among the best – not your best, my best or our best, the best – and if they make another album as good as “Ghostown” and tie its release in with a tour or two where gigs are of the standard of their Project set, it won’t be long before places like the Project won’t be able to hold more than a fraction of their audience. Ross Fitzsimonds Hot Press Review
‘Before a packed audience in the Project, they played a fine set that made a mockery of their fruitless search for gold across the water.’ (Joe Breen Irish Times Nov 4)
02/11/1980 Town Hall, Nenagh with The Experts
03/11/1980 Blue Lagoon, Sligo “In the Blue Lagoon in Sligo, The Radiators were somewhat taken aback when a note was handed to them on stage, requesting they perform their hit single “Working For The Yankee”. We’re also informed that the San Bernidino showband, repeatedly asked the Rads for Tony Visconti’s phone number, in the interest of procuring the producer for their next vinyl outing…..” Hot Press
04/11/1980 Downtown, Letterkenny
05/11/1980 Trinity College, Dublin
06/11/1980 Tavern Sounds, Tralee Hot Press review by Liam Mackey A late substitution in the 1980 Radiators of Ireland, the Tavern Sounds in Tralee represented something of a blood test for the band who’d last visited this country, with a different line up, two years ago. Despite their assuring me that they’d some odd gigs prior to hitting the Kingdom capital, it became increasingly obvious, in the minutes running up to their stage call, that the night would hold out a formidable challenge.
For one thing, it was only upon arriving at the venue, that the Radiators learned they were prime participants in a rock ‘ n roll baptism – the toothy Paddy Reilly posters splashed around the walls earmarked the Tavern Sound’s primary stock trade. A Thursday night too, and the modest audience comprised of the proverbial mixed bag: elderly socialisers, mid week regulars, entertainment seeking couples and, wonderfully conspicuous, a handful of late arriving leather jacketed souls, who definitely hadn’t come for the cabaret ol’ son.
Earlier, the Radiators’ soundcheck had been uncomfortable to watch, essentially owing to the fact that Philip Chevron’s recurring laryngitis was causing him strain agonizingly for the upper register. Visibly shaken, he departed, coughing, for the dressing room, before the support act, obviously a familiar local brew, strode on to a generous reception. A trio of electric and acoustic guitars and saxophone/flute, they traded a neat line in country harmonies, while also managing a strumalonga Brucie version of “Racing In The Streets” and a strictly un-roots reading of Peter Tosh’s “Keep On Walkin’, Don’t Look Back”. More generous applause and away they went.
A thumbnail survey of the clientèle revealed the expected paucity of knowledge about the evening’s star attractions. “I haven’t an iota”, was the fairly representative comment offered by a guy seated on my left. A glance upwards at the big-top styled ceiling and around at the saloon bar tables and chairs, then back to the stage where the Radiators had quietly materialised. I hurriedly noted down “Stranger Than Fiction” as my catch-all phrase for the evening’s proceedings, before calling, please, for a pint.
Peter Holdai’s ringing guitar sounded the entry of “Million Dollar Heroes” followed quickly by the current (and thoroughly excellent) single “The Dancing Tears”. Let’s Talk About The Weather” completed a trio of, commercially speaking, misses that should have hit, in the process erasing all my doubts and preconceptions while eliciting a surprised and appreciative audience enthusiasm for the later show stoppers of “Faithful Departed” and “Kitty Ricketts”.
I contrast to the uninspiring Sportsman’s Inn gig of a few days before, the Tavern Sounds caught the Radiators on one of those memorable nights when the sound was crystal clear, the audience unprejudiced, and in a position when earlier, their backs had seemed hopelessly pinned to the wall, the Radiators exhibited a previously unattained professionalism, establishing the current line up as a special force, some light years removed from all previous incarnations.
The combined, extensive experience of new recruits Nick Hurt (keyboards) and Neil Whiffen (Bass) was/is undoubtedly a mayor stabilising factor, but crucially, despite or perhaps because of the repeated buffeting by hostile winds in the last couple of years, the original trio odd Philip Chevron, Pete Holidai and Jimmy Crashe have emerged as a fist tight nucleus growing in strength and stature almost in inverse proportion to their bad business luck. Professionalism is the keyword, but it’s a professionalism which isn’t merely content with giving the public what the public wants, but rather of a kind which acts as a solid foundation, allowing the band as group and individuals, a freedom to improvise and indeed re-structure, on a level they’d scarcely have considered feasible a year ago.
“Faithful Departed”, overhauled for the fourth time, was a case in point, Whiffen’s elastic, fretless playing and Holidai’s sparse, incisive guitar, lending new, sharp definition to the epic “Ghostown” track which Chevron, with theatricality that didn’t sacrifice passion for effect, declaimed fiercely. The international buoyancy of “Kitty Ricket” converted the most hardened sceptics, aided in its task by “Looting In The Town Tonight” (bodhran replacing tympani in an oddly human touch) and the pop(s) tones of Holidai’s “Confidential”. The Closing gallop of “Prison Bars” (superbly refurbished with a Stax-derived bass/piano line) “Sunday World”, “Enemies” and “TV Screen” endeared them to the hearts of the faithful existing, but created a slightly disconcerting imbalance in an otherwise superlative set.
Finally “Dancing Years” made its necessary promotional re-appearance (no complaints) and five Radiators left the stage in celebratory mood. “Very loud, very good and different to the usual thing” was the representative apres gig comment. Nodding in agreement, I noted down two other points, which read as follows; “(1) The Tavern Sounds is a potentially major Southern venue; (2) The Radiators; The Best Kept Secret In The West”. And that’s all I wrote.
07/11/1980 Aula Maxima, University College, Galway with Blaze X
08/11/1980 Crofton Airport Hotel, Dublin with Teen Commandments Liam Mackey Hot Press “Proberly the best gig of 1980”
<h3>Your Help is needed!</h3>
<p>If you can help with any information, demo tapes or memorabilia on this band please get in touch, using the above form.</p>
1001977
“Sounds” single of the week, May 1977.
Television Screen
Irish Punks?
Will it start “One, tree, faw, two?”
Sorry ’bout that; actually it starts like B Bumble Ant The Stingers, blitzes on like “Get Out Of Denver Baby” and finishes with the great line; “I got the ticket and the bus stops here”. Pretty neat, in fact. But you know who it reminds me of most of all: Status Quo (gasp)!
Pete Silverton Sounds Oct ’77 TV Tube Heart But the best song is the new single “Enemies”, written as a response to the “NME'” (geddit?) senseless sensation mongering over the kid getting stabbed at a Radiators gig in Dublin. Some of Phil’s earlier songs like “Blitzing At The Ritz” are sometimes embarrassing in their naivete, but on “Enemies” there’s a clear realisation that the answers aren’t always so easy.
“Sunday World” is the sort of bitingly humorous survey of the sabbath that Ray Davies could have written once upon a time.
And while it’s got energy aplenty, the Radiators haven’t fallen into the trap of just making another production line punk album. Mark Megaray’s warm, rounded bass lines and clever arrangements make sure this could never be anybody’s clone.
Your Help is needed!
If you can help with any information, demo tapes or memorabilia on this band please get in touch, using the above form.
Phil Chevron
Phil Chevron 14/10/2013
Ed Darragh Nice one here from catherine owens on my page ….. says it all really… I think we may have been the only two girls at those early gigs back in 76/77… and that’s my fav pic of phil of all time. if I was a bloke I’d have married him.
The way we were… and the way he might look at you…. through the ‘television screen’…. nite mate x
Catherine Owens Ed a flood of memories of you and I standing in the front row at Morans, stage right week in week out in our little home made punk outfits pogoing to the Rads and the Rats etc…… gosh we so loved them – Thank you Phil, Dublins REAL and ONLY punk rock band – them’s were the days alright, how lucky were we and how free to enjoy all the amazing music.
Jackie Hayden
I interviewed Philip last year for Hot Press when the Radiators’ album Sound City Beat came out. Despite his health problems he was as good-humoured and as articulate as ever. While he was with the Pogues on their 2012 tour of Australia we exchanged e-mails regarding my review of the album which he liked a lot. I’d known Philip since I co-produced the Radiators’ first demo in Trend Studios back in 1977. It included tracks like ‘Beat On The Brat’ and a rattling version of ‘The Hucklebuck’. He and Eamon Carr and I worked on an album with Agnes Bernelle, of whom Philip was a big fan, around that time too. I remember receiving a handwritten letter from Philip, which I foolishly failed to keep, in which he marvelled at the very idea of any artist making a record of any kind, irrespective of the music. He had an almost childlike enthusiasm for the very act of making records as if he saw the whole process as a modern miracle. It didn’t matter if it was by a naff country-and-Irish outfit or The Pink Fairies, it was all a matter of wonder to Philip. Thankfully, he never lost that sense of awe about music making, and my thoughts today are with Pete and Steve, his family, close friends and fans.
Jude Carr
I remember Philip telling us for Heat #1 that he had turned down Geldofs request to join the Rats, seemingly to replace Cott. Also remember he helped stick T.V. Tube Heart stickers in Heat #4.
Jackie Hayden
As a suitably irreverent marketing ploy for the release of TV Tube Heart, Philip and I discussed acquiring some Sacred Heart statues, the ones with the red light in front of a painting of Christ, and substituting shots of the band for JC. Looks like the stickers in Heat won out!
Jude Carr
the sacred heart statues would have been cool, tho the cbs budget may not have stretched? mind you a job lot from Hector Gray, …we had fun putting the mag together, drink was taken, some issues had pages put in upside down ,we coloured in the Hulks eyes with yellow markers!