Flint Photo Gallery (1976-1982)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
The first mention of a band called Flint, we can find is in March
1974, when fans of the group wrote to the Drogheda Independent
newspaper asking why they never talked about the band from Dundalk.
They named several members of the band, but this seemed to be a
local pub group.
It is difficult to know whether this in any way related to the same band as the next
mention we have found was in March, 1976 when they were described as Joe
O'Toole's (ex-Dixies) new band. They were described as a six piece
band that was managed by Release Records. Joe had previously spent a
short time with Pat Ely's Storytellers as well. It was said that Joe
wanted to release some of his own material.
The original lineup of the band was reported in the Evening
Herald to be: Joe (vocals, ex-Dixies), Bryan Tyrrell (guitar,
ex-Duffie), Eamon Byrne (drums), Mike Dean (bass), Stephen Feeley
(unknown) and Stuart Bradley (keyboards). In that article it was
reported that the band was part of the Connie Lynch stable which
also included Buckshot and Harvest.
Within a short time, the band
seemed to be playing all across the country from Dublin to Cork and
beyond. Dublin based Joe had already made name as the lead singer
with the Cork-based Dixies and was well known of the circuit.
Although they were playing the ballroom circuits, Joe's stint in
cabaret meant that band also played smaller cabaret venues as well.
In June, 1976 the band released
it's first single, Jonathan King's, "Hooked On A Feeling"
which had been a hit in 1971.At the same time, the band was booked
to back Marianne Faithful on her cabaret "tour"
of Ireland after her hit "Dreaming my Dreams." A report in the
Donegal News in June also described the band as the "former
Snakehips" group and previous reports had said they were
"ex-Duffie." The band was reasonably busy (based on dancing adverts)
but there seemed to be some confusion about what they played as we
say write-ups in local papers which described them as a "rock
group," " pop band," "showband" and even "Marianne Faithful's
Backing Band" at various times.
Ijn September, 1976 they released
their second single, "Rock n Roll Heaven" which was a remake of an
old Righteous Brothers' hit. "Lonely Days" was the B side.
Charlie Chapman left in 1977 to
join the reformed Miami after the departure of Des Lee to form
Starband. Domo Greene would leave to join the Memories in late 1977
as well. In late 1979 or early 1980, Mick O'Hagan left the band and
they reduced tom a five piece with Stewart Bradley taking on the
role of lead singer and calling himself (we think) Rasputin.
Band went to South Africa in 1982
and was advertised for one gig in 1983 in the North, but never
appeared again.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
