Las Vegas Feature (1975-1978)

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

The Story

(With thanks to Niall Power for additional info and photos)

One of the "superbands" (of which there were several) formed in the mid-seventies, Las Vegas boasted a top musical pedigree with Ray Doherty, former guitarist with Brendan Bowyer's Big 8, teaming up with long time Plattermen vocalist and bass player Rob Strong. The band was advertised as making its debut on November 9th, 1975, in support of the Stylistics concert in the RDS in Dublin. Niall Power tells us they actually played a "warm-up" gig the night before on November 8th in the Aisling Ballroom in Clogherhead. The rest of the line-up included Kevin O'Brien of Dickie Rock's band on baritone sax, James Delaney (keyboards-ex-Duffie), and newcomers, John Murphy (vocals), Brendan Brannigan (tenor sax) and Niall Power (drums).

Initial reports of the band's formation said it was being formed by Ray and they planned "to spend six months in Las Vegas yearly from mid-1976," (Donegal News, Nov. 15, 1975). Niall Power told us the band never managed to get to the States during its short two plus year history.   

Within a month, another former member of the Big 8, singer Eileen Kelly (aka Kelley), had joined the band which was being managed by Jack Finlay of Startime Promotions. She left the Big 8 on November 15th, 1975. In a strange twist of fate, when she left the Big Eight, the headlines read, "Kelley Was Bored With Las Vegas." She went to great lengths to explain she was bored by the monotony of the Vegas scene. However, less than a month after leaving the Big 8, the front page headlines were: "Kelly: From One Vegas to Another." It seemed she had a joined a band for which going to Las Vegas was one of their prime reasons for being on the road. Kelley made her debut with the band on St. Stephen's night, December 26th, 1975 in the GAA Centre in Tullamore (hometown of singer John). Helen Jordan would take over her spot in the Big 8.

Interestingly, for a band at the time, adverts for their gigs usually listed Kelley and Rob Strong as the stars with Ray Doherty occasionally being mentioned, but never lead singer, John Murphy. In January, 1976 they released their first single which featured Rob and Kelley singing a Swarbrigg Brothers-penned song, "All the Loving People" on the EMI label. Unlike most other bands of the era the band started to do cabaret gigs almost immediately, the first one we found advertised for the Noggin Inn in Dublin in March, 1976.

The band was doing good business on the circuit, but in September, 1976, Kelley and Ray left the band to form a new group which would focus on the lucrative cabaret scene called Kelley and Klass. When Ray left, he was replaced by Mark Costigan on guitar and at some point in 1976, Anto Long replaced James Delaney on keyboards, who left to join the Swarbriggs Band. Kevin O'Brien had also left the band and it was now a six piece.

At some point around this time, the band changed management to George Hilliard and also changed record labels from EMI to Release Records. They released the Dr. Hook song "More Like The Movies" with the B-side "My Name Is Joe," written by Derry songwriter, Ray Doherty.  

With the new line-up and no girl singer, Rob and John shared the vocals between them and the band started to gravitate towards a more rock sound and Niall tells us they eventually ended up playing mid week rock gigs in Moran's Hotel, returning to the ballrooms at the weekends.

1977 would bring more changes to the line-up as John Murphy left the band and wasn't replaced. This left the majority of vocals chores to Rob with assistance from Mark Costigan. Brendan would also leave and was replaced by Carl Geraghty on sax. Eventually Anto also left and James Delaney returned to the line-up. The band's last gig was in the Castle Ballroom, Macroom on January 1st, 1978.

At this point the band was really just backing Rob Strong on vocals and they decided to form a rock outfit called Rob Strong and the Rockets. Niall tells us Rob, Mark Costigan, James Delaney and Carl Geraghty formed the Rockets bringing Fran Breen in on drums. In actual fact, the new line-up was basically still Las Vegas with a new drummer, however, the band was no longer considered in any way a showband.       

We found an advert for Las Vegas on June 11th, 1978 when the band was advertised to be playing in The Country Club (Fethard, Co. Tipperary). Further research shows both names being used in the early part of 1978, so it is probable that this was done in order not to lose any bookings. Additionally in May, Niall Power was a member of a newly reconstituted band with Gibney and Donovan then called the Gibney and Donovan Band. They had been signed to Hawk Records by Brian Molloy and the new band was designed to play the ballroom circuit. In this band were Eamon Gibney, Gerry Donovan, Niall Power, Dennis Woods (ex-Teddie Palmer band), Shaun Magee (ex-Chips) and Jim Sullivan (who would soon leave we think). In 1979, they would change their name to Alyce and become a rock band with Brian Harris on guitar. 

Just a side note, in 1985, Domenic Kirwan fronted a band also called Las Vegas, but this had nothing to do with the Rob Strong band of the same name.   

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Discography

All The Loving People
EMI Records, IEMI 5307, January, 1976
More Like The Movies / My Name is Joe (Ray Doherty)
Release Records, RL.841, October, 1976

Audio Clips

Where Are They Now?