Blood or Whiskey

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Blood or Whiskey
General information
origin Leixlip , Ireland
Genre (s) Folk punk
founding 1993, 2006
resolution 2006
Website www.bloodorwhiskey.ie
Founding members
Barney Murray (until 2003)
Kevin Murray
Colm Gallagher (until 2000)
Current occupation
Dugs Mulhooly
Chris O'Meara (since 1994)
Colly Morrison
Andy Motta
Pete Townsend
guitar
 Kevin Pluck
former members
Pat Gallagher (1994)
guitar
 Dugs Mulhooly (from 1994)
banjo
 Damien Bowden (1994-1996)
bass
 Niall Bowden (1994-1997)
banjo
 Paul Walshe (from 1996)
bass
 Sean O'Neill (1997-1999)
Bass, vocals
 Tom Touhy (from 1999)
flute
 Alan Confrey (until 2006, †)
bass
 Beano Heenan (until 2006)
bass
 Roe (2006-2007)

Blood or Whiskey is a folk punk band from Leixlip , County Kildare , Ireland , formed in 1993 .

history

In September 1993, Barney, Kevin Murray and Colm Gallagher were playing songs together in a bedroom. In December shock with Pat Gallagher, a mandolin player added that successfully suggested the band newly formed Blood or Whiskey to name. The band grew to seven members in March 1994 with Dugs Mulhooly on guitar and Damien Bowden on banjo and in May 1994 with drummer Chris O'Meara . In September 1994 the band made their first appearance in a local pub. There were no amplifiers and only three microphones. In addition, the band could only play ten songs so far, all of which were then played three times. After the performance, Pat Gallagher left the band and Niall Bowden joined as bassist .

From March 1995, Blood or Whiskey played an acoustic concert every Thursday at The White Horse pub in Dublin . In September 1995 they were discovered there by Kim Fowley, previously manager of The Runaways . After his offer to record some demos , the sound records label released in June 1996 the debut album titled Blood or Whiskey , recorded in three days in October 1995 and produced by Kim Fowley and Pat Dunne .

Banjo player Damien Bowden left the band in July 1996, but was replaced by Paul Walshe in August. On their first tour through Germany, Denmark and Sweden in September 1996, the band met with little approval, as the owners of the Irish pubs where Blood or Whiskey played, preferred to hear cover versions of Irish folk classics.

In May 1997, Sean O'Neill joined bassist Niall Bowden, who had left the band in March. Since the label was now increasingly demanding cover versions, Blood or Whiskey canceled their contract with Sound Records in August 1997. Between September 1997 and March 1999, Blood or Whiskey toured Ireland, Scotland and Wales almost continuously. Following the tour, Sean O'Neill left the band and Tom Touhy got on for him.

Blood or Whiskey had their first US appearance in September 1999 in Lowell , Massachusetts and in November they signed a recording deal with Rejected Records . In June 2001 the second album No Time To Explain was released . It was recorded in June 2000 and produced by Dennis Buckley. Founding member Colm Gallagher left the band while they were still recording. In August 2001 Blood or Whiskey toured the United States with great success.

After singer Barney Murray left Blood or Whiskey in 2003, several band members changed. In 2005 the third album Cashed Out on Culture was released . After touring England with Stiff Little Fingers , flautist Alan Confrey died of a heart attack.

In 2009 the band made a fresh start with the EP Live and Learn . In 2010 they toured Europe, Japan and played at the Rebellion, Reading and Leeds Festival in England.

The band's last album, Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil , was released in 2014.

Discography

Albums

  • 1996: Blood or Whiskey (Sound Records)
  • 2001: No Time to Explain (Rejected Records)
  • 2005: Cashed Out on Culture
  • 2014: Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil

EPs

  • 2009: Live and Learn

Singles

  • 2001: Never Be Me (Rejected Records)

Web links