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Maher Family / Dave Maher & the Rockets / Dave Marr (1973-present)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

The Maher Family:

In the summer of 1973 the Maher Family band hit the road initially gigging only in and around their home town of Drogheda. The leader of the band was Joey Maher, who was already a celebrity across Ireland as a champion handballer. The band included Joey on guitar along with his three sons and daughter. Within a year the band was expanding it reputation and playing gigs further afield, although still mainly near home. The lineup was Joey on guitar with Michael (14-guitar), David (11-bass), Eddie (7-drums) and Linda (13-keyboards).     

By 1975, the band had started travelling up and down the country playing mainly cabaret venues in the growing "singing lounge" circuit which was creating new opportunities for musicians who weren't necessarily of the "showband" genre. In April, 1976 the band released its first single, Five O'clock Friday with vocals by "David" (in later years to be known as "Dave). The B side was Roller Coaster. In May, 1977 the band announced it had "turned professional" a sign that their gigging had become a full time job. At the time, Michael was 18, Linda - 17, David - 15, and Eddie 11 years old, definitely making him the youngest "professional" drummer in the country. In going pro they enlisted Johnny Hynes as their manager (he had previously managed Roly Daniels according to the article).

In late 1977, the band announced their upcoming appearance on Hughie Green's "Opportunity Knocks" TV show. They would appear on January 30th, 1978 when they came second in the studio voting but won the postal vote. They appeared again on the 6th of February, but were knocked out of the line-up after their second appearance. The exposure on the show made them country wide stars and they were doing very well. The band continued to do well on the cabaret circuit. Around this time, the band did start to make inroads on the ballroom scene and were advertised as the Maher Family Showband.

As 1978 started the band was doing well on the dance circuit playing across the country, but still doing a lot of cabaret gigs as well. In August, 1978, they released their second single with Dave once again on vocals. It was the Marmalade song, Radancer with the Searchers song, Walk In The Room on the B side. An interesting side note is that Eamon Campbell, prominent session musician and future member of the Dubliners was brought in on guitar for the session.

For the next few years, the band did a steady business, and they seemed to be playing (based on newspaper adverts)  mostly in the South, and Northwest of the country, as well as Mayo and still playing a mix of dances and cabaret gigs. In 1981 the band had to take a break when guitarist Michael was injured in a fall at his home. By this time the band was being managed by Jim McQuillan. In 1982, we found the last advertisement for the Maher Family playing in the Hunter's Moon in Ashbourne doing cabaret. The next time they were advertised it would be under a new name and direction.

Dave Maher and the Rockets:

Although we are not sure of the details, Dave Maher and the Rockets came onto the scene in July 1982, near the "end" of what we consider the showband era. Still based in Drogheda, the band's lineup featured Dave (vocals and bass) along with brothers Michael (guitar) and Eddie (drums) and adding Stevie McGowan (guitar) and Benny Farrell (keyboards). Stevie would leave the band to join Red Hurley's band in September, 1982 and was replaced by Ally Pentony (bass) with Dave moving "on front." Ally would leave a few months later to join Johnny Logan's touring band. The band was still being managed by Jim McQuillan, who organised the nationwide event, The All-Ireland Rock n' Roll Dance Competition with the Rockets as the featured band for the contest heats around the country (we think Stage 2 was in the same position the previous year).

A report (see below) reported that the three brothers had "quit" the family band to form a rock n' roll outfit. Initially, the band's gigs appeared to be dominated by their selection as the "guest band" for the All Ireland Rock n' Roll Dance competition which was sponsored (at least in part we think) by RTE 2 radio. A later report in the Drogheda Independent on September 3rd, 1982 reported the contest was being run "in conjunction" with the band and Jim McQuillan and "sponsored to the tune of £2,000 by the Sound Shop, Drogheda and Funtrek Holidays."     

In October 1982, it was announced they were to release their first single called "This Time" but we are not sure if it was ever released. In December, Ally left and was replaced by local lad, Niall Lochran on bass. In 1983 the band released the single "Rock n' Roll Eddie." and later that year they were playing all across Initially the country where their nostalgic "rock n' roll" genre of music was gaining in popularity.

In early 1984, bass player Niall was replaced by Maurice Smith who, it was reported, would be playing a double bass to keep with the band's "rockabilly" set list. In June 1984, they released Tore Up with Ready Teddy on the B side on the new Bus record label which was started by Marcus Connaughton, formerly with Hawk and Lunar records. Also at some point in late 1983 or early 84, Les Carter joined on keyboards.

Throughout the 1980's the band would continue to gig around the country and release records. Eventually, around 1990, Dave changed the spelling of his name to Dave Marr and dropped the Rockets moniker to become the Dave Marr Band. However, some adverts would still list the band as Dave Maher and the Rockets for several years. The last listing we could find for Dave Marr and his Band was in 1998, but we know he didn't stop playing as a check of local gig guides w\still shows him playing around Drogheda and Dublin in 2019.   

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

MAHER FAMILY
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Maher Family (DL) The Mahers (PH)

Maher Family - 1978 (RF)

Maher Family (RF)

Maher Family (RF)

Mahers - 1976 Mahers - 1976 Mahers - 1977 Mahers - 1978 Mahers - 1978
       
Mahers - 1981 Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
THE ROCKETS
Rockets - 1982 Rockets (TP) Dave Maher (RF) Rockets (RF) Dave Maher (RF)
Dave "Marr" - 1990 (RF) Dave Maher (RF) Rockets - 1982 Rockets - 1984 Rockets - 1984
       
Mahers - 1990 Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
Years Vocals Guitar Guitar Drums Bass Keyboards Trumpet

MAHER FAMILY

1973   Michael
Maher
Joey
Maher
Eddie
Maher
Dave
Maher
Linda
Maher
 

THE ROCKETS

July
1982
  Michael
Maher
Stevie
McGowan
Eddie
Maher
Dave
Maher
Benny
Farrell
 
Sept
1982
Dave
Maher
Michael
Maher
  Eddie
Maher
Ally
Pentony
Benny
Farrell
 
Dec
1982
Dave
Maher
Michael
Maher
  Eddie
Maher
Niall
Lochran
Benny
Farrell
 
Jan
1984
Dave
Maher
Michael
Maher
  Eddie
Maher
Maurice
Smith
Les
Carter
 
               
               

Discography

Mahers:

Five O'clock Friday / Roller Coaster
Unknown label - Unknown number - April, 1977
Radancer / Walk in the Room
Release Records - RL.938 - August, 1978

Rockets:

Rock n' Roll Eddie / I'm Ready
SRS Records - DSB 001 - 1983
Tore Up / Ready Teddy
Bus Records - BUS 003 - June, 1984
I Stayed At The Heartbreak Hotel / Red Hot
Bus Records - BUS 008 - November, 1984?
All American Girl / Baby
Play Records - PLAY 169 - 1985
Wake Up / Wake Up remix
Play Records - PLAY 174 - 1985

Audio Clips

         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Dave Maher:
Michael Maher:
Eddie Maher:
Ally Pentony:
Benny Green:
Maurice Smith:
Les Carter:

 


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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006