Sean Gallagher and the Quarrymen/Stampede
(1970-1979)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
In 1970, after several decades as one of the top Ceili bands
in the country, the Fitzgerald Ceili Band called it quits. However,
the story didn't end there as the band remaining members minus the Fitzgeralds) stayed on the road changing their name to the
Quarrymen and featuring Sean Gallagher (also called as
"John" in some early newspaper adverts).
The new band was based in Bundoran and seemed to hit the ground running.
The band already had it's first single as "Signed, Sealed and
Delivered" had been released by Sean as the lead singer with the
Fitzgeralds. It would receive some airplay but was not a huge
seller. Although big in their native Donegal, for the first year the
band played mainly in the northern half of the island, building a
reputation as a solid country band on the circuit.
The original lineup was Sean
Gallagher (guitar and vocals), his brother Jimmy (bass), Gerry McKiernan (lead guitar), John McGarrigle (accordion and organ), and
Noel Meehan (drums). In late 1970, they added ex-Buckaroos sax
player, Gerry Quinn to the lineup making them a six piece.
A small article in the Donegal
News by Donal K. O'Boyle on March 6th, 1971 announced the band's new
manager was Pat McCarthy, but we're not sure if this was true as a
few months later in an article Sean said he was still managing the
band himself. However, we think, in December, 1971 the band brought
on Dublin man, William O'Keefe as their new manager. Sadly, he died in a car accident just
outside Bundoran a year later.
In December, 1972, the band
finally released its first official single, "Anna," which featured
Sean on vocals. Also at some point during 1972, the band had some
lineup changes as Joe O'Donnell joined on guitar, Terry McCorry
(drums) and Peter McCauley (fiddle).
By June, 1974, the band had
changed managers, bringing in Oliver Loughman (Omagh) and John
McGovern of the Aiken Organisation. Along with this came a new name
for the band, Stampede. In conjunction with the move, the band also
released its first single in some time, "Blarney
Rose."
More to come.....
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