The Undertones - 45 Years

UK and European Tour 2023 - celebrating 45 years of Teenage Kicks.
The Undertones Part 1

The Undertones emerged from Derry in 1976, the result of five friends (John ONeill, Damian ONeill, Feargal Sharkey, Billy Doherty and Michael Bradley) learning how to play basic rock and roll.

Even by the standards of that decade Derry was not the rock and roll capital of anywhere. With no live bands worth watching, they learned by listening to mail order records, reading one of the few copies of NME that made it to Derry but most of all from listening to John Peels wonderful show on BBC Radio One. Practicing in their bedrooms eventually led to the band recording John ONeills Teenage Kicks in 1978 on Terri Hooley's Good Vibrations label in Belfast. The legendary DJ John Peel received a copy and liked it so much he played it twice in a row on his radio show.

The Undertones signed with Sire Records and Teenage Kicks was re-released, resulting in the band's first appearance on Top Of The Pops. Over the next five years, John O Neill, crafted further pop gems such as `Here Comes The Summer`, Jimmy Jimmy`, `Youve Got My Number (Why Dont You Use It) and Wednesday Week whilst Damian ONeill and Michael Bradley contributed My Perfect Cousin. They also recorded four highly acclaimed LPs. Indeed, they almost enjoyed the life of professional musicians. In 1983 Feargal Sharkey left the band to pursue a solo career and the remaining members decided to call it a day. The Undertones were to remain silent for the next sixteen years.

THE UNDERTONES Part 2

In 1999 The Undertones reconvened, without Feargal Sharkey, to once again perform their two-minute, three and a half chord songs to a new generation of fans in Derry. Fellow Derryman Paul McLoone replaced Sharkey on vocals and his vocal prowess and electric onstage presence soon convinced any doubters that he was more than capable of doing the job.

After much consideration the band released an LP of new songs called `Get What You Need', which was critically acclaimed by Q magazine, Uncut, Rolling Stone and Hot Press. Songs like Thrill Me, I Need Your Love The Way It Used To Be and Everything But You' showed that the art of writing short, sharp songs had not been lost over the previous two decades.

In 2003 Thrill Me was released as a limited edition 7 vinyl single and found its way to John Peels turntable. He introduced it on his show commenting, And these are words I thought I would never be saying on radio again, a new single from The Undertones. He liked it so much he played it twice, just as he did with Teenage Kicks in 1978.

The band marked Record Store Day 2013 with a 7 vinyl only release, recorded in the famous Toe Rag studio in London. A return to their punk roots, 'Much Too Late' sold out the 1,000 copies before the day was out.

In 2016 the Band released vinyl remasters of theIr first two LPs; The Undertones The Undertones and The Undertones Hypnotised along with a 7 vinyl remix of the 1979 single Get Over You. Remixed by Kevin Shields (My Bloody ValentinePrimal Scream).

Michael Bradley also published his book Teenage Kicks: My Life As An Undertone.

2018 marked the 40th Anniversary of the release of their most inuential and famous song, Teenage Kicks. On 21st April for Record Store Day 2018 the band released a Vinyl Singles Box Set containing the 13 x 7 original Undertones singles from the classic early period: 1978-1983.

Of this release Damian ONeill says:The collective aEtude of The Undertones to the magical power and inuence of the humble 45rpm 7 single was always one of total reverence and respect. It really did matter. Back then in our Undertones world, a great single was even more important than the L.P it helped promote and geEng on Top Of The Pops was the ultimate accolade that we were doing it right. And if you didnt make it on TOTPs, then there was always the next single.

2020 should have seen the band continue to perform widely with tours in the UK,USA and Europe but Covid stopped the world in its tracks so we all hunkered down and tried to make the best of it. The bands recorded legacy was marked with a double vinyl album West Bank Songs with sleeve notes by Mick Houghton and Michael Bradley, see below for more info on this release.

2023 will see The Undertones roaring back with an extensive Uk and European tour to promote the release of Dig What You Need, on Dimple Discs. This sees selected tracks (many remixed) from the post reformation Albums available on vinyl for the rst time. There will be a matching CD and download release. As well as all that, in 2023 the band will be celebrating 45 Years of Teenage Kicksthats hard to beat!

Highlights are almost too numerous to mention. Theres obviously Teenage Kicks (dedicated by Michael Bradley to the bride and groom); Jimmy Jimmy, Get Over You, Here Comes The Summer, True Confessions, More Songs About Chocolate And Girls (with drummer Billy Doherty all over his kit); not forgetting My Perfect Cousin. Quite frankly, The Undertones are probably the most fun you can have at a festival (or probably anywhere else) with your clothes on. If you dont have an Undertones album, well there really is no excuse.BRIGHT AND HOVE NEWS