A.W.O.L.

AWOL From; Drimnagh Active; 1980 – 1982
Style; New Wave
Vocals; Terry Finnegan
Guitar; Vince Brown
Bass; Paddy Conway
Drums; Jackie Wilton

In contrast to most bands A.W.O.L began playing the youth clubs in Dublin for free, often sharing the bill with Zenith, from Walkinstown. Like most new wave bands in at this time in Dublin faced the double edged sword of trying to get gigs that their audience (15 – 18 year olds) could get into and making any money. In contrast it was play the youth halls to an audience of 200 – 300 fans or a bar were most people just wanted a drink.

Parliament Inn

In May 1980 they had a joint headline slot (Tuesday) at the Parliament Inn with The End. Subsequently from July to August A.W.O.L. would headline (Wednesday) the same venue in their own right. Like The End, A.W.O.L. entered the 1980 Tramore battle of the bands competition which was won by The Fuze.

A.W.O.L. Recordings

A.W.O.L. recorded a 3 track demo tape; Heroes Welcome/Late Night TV Show/No Time (To Do It).
Terry would later be in High Heeled Sneekers and Autobop. He join Autobop in June ’83.
Paddy Conway was replaced by George Byrne for a short period. George is far better know as a journalist first with Hot Press then the Dublin Evening Press

Vince Browne & Dorset St

Vince Bowe ran a rehearsal rooms on Dorset St, thus, vitally giving young bands just starting up somewhere to practice their trade. As a result of which bands such as Chant! Chant! Chant!, The Luminants, Average Contents, Muff Divers & Of Xerrox were able to learn their craft.