Toy With Rhythm
Toy With Rhythm from; Dublin Active; 1981 – 1985
Style; Synth pop
Original Line up;
Vocals; Flo McSweeney later with Moving Hearts & Les Enfants
Keyboards & Vocals; Ed Darragh
Guitar; Niall MacSweeney
Bass; Jim Tate
Drums; Brian Despard
Toy With Rhythm Original line up
Toy with Rhythm were formed in 1981 by former Boy Scout Ed Darragh. Brian Despard had previously been with Dave Primm Band, Jimi Slevin Band & The Cheaters. Niall & Flo are no relation to each other. In 1983 the band won Maxwell Tape star award prize (a single recording session), Another Dublin band “Max” were the runners up.
Flo McSweeney
Flo McSweeney left the band in early 1984 to join Moving Hearts. At the time Moving Hearts were one of the Top bands in Ireland. Flo stayed with Moving Hearts for approximately a year before moving on again to join Les Enfants.
Singles recorded
The band recorded 2 singles Jr discovers electricity on Lunar Records & Cartoon Hero recorded on Vixen Records. Vixen Records was Scoff Records smaller brother and set to give up and coming bands a one off record deal. Cartoon Hero was recorded by the 8 piece version of the band.
Second Line Up 1984
Suzie Juke Vocals
Paul Duffy Guitar
Ed Darragh Synths
John McCrae Keyboards
Brian Despard Drums
Helen Walshe Percussion
Willie De Manage Bass
Aileen Moran ??
By January 1984 the band were an eight piece, Ed Darragh & Brian Despard were the only original members, Flo McSweeny left to join up with Moving Hearts replacing Christy Moore. She then moved onto sing with Les Enfants. Flo was replaced in the band by Suzie Juke, Suzie would also later join Les Enfants. She was inturn replaced by Jenny Newman on vocals. During the career the band hand residencies at the Sportsmanns Inn, Belvedere Hotel & Rathfarnham Inn. Ed Darragh keyboard player singer and main song writer for the band had a serious accident in April ’84.
The band are known to have done at least one “Fanning” session in 1983, they also made at least one TV appearance on RTE’s
In 1984 Toy With Rhythm won the “Best visiting rock band” award in the “Munster Express” readers pole.
In November they played a gig at the Danceline Club for various UK A&R men, based on the bands latest demo tape..