Bananas Story (1973-1976)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
The story of Bananas is short and sweet and probably only
noteworthy because is was started by Robin Irvine, a founder and leader of the
pop band Chips for many years. Not long after Chips "reformed" in October 1973,
founding member Robin Irvine left the band to form Bananas (June, 1974), a rock group that
played the Dublin and Belfast club scenes. Robin was joined by Ken Wilson, the
guitar player with Chips during Paul Lyttle's absence in Lyttle People. Also in the band were
Mick O'Hagan (brother of Johnny Logan-vocals), Jodi Pollard (guitar) and John
Donnelly (drums).
It appears Mick O'Hagan didn't stay that long
as he was soon replaced by Carl Geraghty. The band did quite well,
especially given the connection to Chips and in 1974 they were the
support band for Gary Glitter's short Irish tour which took in
Dublin, Cork and Belfast. Like Chips, they were one of a handful of
"groups" who would also get to play some of the bigger ballrooms in
the country. In November 1974, it was reported that the band was
looking for a keyboard player but we think was was at this time that
Carl Geraghty joined.
In 1975, Robin and several members of
the band emigrated to New York where Bananas played for about a year,
only to go their separate ways by 1976. Robin Lavery had left Chips
and along with Robin Irvine, Craig Mathieson and Ken Wilson they
formed what Robin Irvine would call, Bananas Mark II.
There is little
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
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| Bananas - 1974 |
Bananas - 1974
(RI) |
Bananas - 1974
(RI) |
Bananas - 1974
(RI) |
Bananas - 1975 |
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| Bananas - 1974 |
Bananas
Article |
Bananas
Article II |
Bananas - 1975 |
Bananas - 1975 |
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| Coming Soon |
Coming Soon |
Coming Soon |
Coming Soon |
Coming Soon |
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Years |
Vocals/Sax |
Guitar |
Bass |
Drums |
Guiitar |
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1973 |
Mick O'Hagan |
Ken Wilson |
Robin Irvine |
John Donnelly |
Jody Pollard |
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1974 |
Carl Geraghty |
Ken Wilson |
Robin Irvine |
John Donnelly |
Jody Pollard |
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1974 |
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Ken Wilson |
Robin Irvine |
John Donnelly |
Jody Pollard |
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1975 |
Craig Mathieson |
Ken Wilson |
Robin Irvine |
John Donnelly |
Jody Pollard |
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1975 |
Craig Mathieson |
Ken Wilson |
Robin Irvine |
Robin Lavery |
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Discography
We don't think the band ever released a record.
Audio Clips
We don't think the band ever released a record.
Where Are They Now?
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Robin
Irvine-RIP: Robin, of course, left Chips and formed
Bananas which played the Dublin and Belfast club scenes in
1974. In 1975, he emigrated
to the States to play with a couple of members of Bananas
and was joined by Robin Lavery when he left Chips. We received an
email from Robin and he tells us that over the years he has
worked as
a musician, a roadie, a sound
man, a tour manager and since 2001, a boat salesman. Today
he is married with 3 girls and live in Westchester County,
New York
about 20 miles north of Manhattan, but, in his own words,
"sadly I do not play any more." On August 21st,
2022 Robin sadly passed away after a long battle with kidney
failure. |
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Robin Lavery: The
last report of Robin is that he was working in Crymbals
Music Store in Belfast, but that was some years ago. As far
as we know, he is living in Bangor and still gives regularly
with several of the musicians who were part of Dunno and the
John Smith Band in the 1960's. Our thanks to Robin Irvine
for the update. |
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Ken Wilson: |
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Jody Pollard: |
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John Donnelly: |
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Craig Mathieson:
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Carl Geraghty: |
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