Toxic Agents
Toxic Agents From; Cork Active; 1980 – 1990
Style; Rock
Line up;
Vocals & Guitar; John Shanahan
Keyboards & Vocals; Liam Shanahan
Drums; Jerry Fehily
Toxic Agents were a garage punk band playing Sex Pistols & Clash covers. They supported bands like Constant Reminders & Nun Attax. Around 1983 they had changed their name to Ground Zero. Both Toxic Agent & Ground Zero were active at the same time.
Ground Zero
As Ground Zero they recorded a 4 track demo tape at Studio Fiona in Fermoy. “Passion Play”/”Coming Home” their debut single was one of the tacks recorded, this got airplay on the Dave Fanning show. At this time the band were a 4 piece outfit, the forth member is not known. John & Liam write the songs, they also have written songs for Barrabas. The brothers still play gigs with this band to bring in a few extra pounds. Jerry also played with The Soulmasters & The Guests. There are also known to have played the Abbey Inn at Tralee as Ground Zero.
The Exiles
John & Liam were a duo called the Exiles, they would use this name when they gigged with out Jerry. Jerry would play with other bands such as Hot House Flowers, The Soulmates & The Guests. Jerry also had a trail with The Water Boys. Longford Leader One of the most entertaining acts in Cork & Kerry.
Another Name Change
Ater hearing that another band were using the name Ground Zero John & Liam changed the name of their band too Shimpu Zig Zag.
Shimpu Zig Zag
Longford Leader “If you like the sounds of Simple Minds, The Boss, U2, Talking Heads, The Waterboys etc you will love Shimpu Zig Zag”
In August 1985 Shimpu took part in the 2nd CND Peace in the park festival in Fitzgerald’s Park. This was the 40th anniversary of the dropping of the nuclear bombs on Nagasaki & Hiroshima. Other bands taking part were Max Von Trap, Soulmasters, The Lee Tremblers, Belson & Freddie White. In September the band take part in a street festival in Cork, Shimpu play the Saturday night on Princes Street. That save month the band take part in the Cork City carnival along with Porcelyn Tears. In December the band won a competition on the Ian Dempsey show to be the support band on Stockton Wings Christmas tour of Ireland.
Battle Of the Bands 1986
Shimpu Zig Zag took part in the Hot Press/Carling Black Label battle of the bands in 1986. They made through the heats to the final were they came in 4th behind The Subterraneans, Azure Days & Burning Emburs. The final was held in Sir Henry’s, Cork in front of 400 fans.
Lark By the Lee Fields 1986
In 1986 the took part in the Lee Fields festival in Cork, by all accounts although they were the opening band, they blew headliners Catus World News off the stage. Also playing well on the day in front of a crowd of nearly 10,000 Aslan & Paul Cleary & the Partisans.
Lark By the Lee Fields & Sir Henry’s
By 1989 the music scene in the Cork area was buzzing with local talent. A Carling backed rock concert took place called Larking by the Lee Fields. This concert featured 4 local bands Burning Embers, The Princes St. Band Shimp Zig Zag & Belsonic Sound plus Christy Dignam (formerly of Aslan. The concert pulled in a massive cord of over 10,000. Along with the festival there 3 nights of concerts at Sir Henry’s featuring 15 bands. Each night had UK A&R men plus Ian Wlison of RTE’s Radio 2 present.