Dead Centre-Purple Pussycat-Alyce-Brogue (1967-1975)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Editor's note: Every care
has been taken to present only factual information in our stories
based on first person reports, newspaper articles and photographic
archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story,
please email us and let us know. This article remains incomplete
and our research continues....
The story of Alyce (aka Alice) starts
in early 1967 (we think) with the formation of the band, The Dead
Centre by Gerry O'Donovan (aka Donovan). Originally a four
piece, the band would soon add Eamon Gibney to the line-up and
become a five piece. The young band did relatively well in
local Dublin gigs and were featured in Pat Egan's beat group column
in Spotlight magazine a few times. In September of 1967, Pat
asked when the group was going to change it's name (not sure why).
At the same time, Pat rated the band "just
outside" his top twenty rankings of beat groups in the city. By
early 1968, they were being managed by Pete Selwood and according to
Pat Egan, they were all the rage with the girls, but still possibly
a bit too young.
In May, 1968, the band finally
changed its name to Purple Pussycat. In July, 1968, Pat
reported that the band lost keyboard player Dave Murphy to
"Mike O'Brien's new showband," but he
reported two weeks later that David had "changed his mind."
In August, 1968
there was some confusion about changes in the band's line-up. Pat
Egan reported Eamon had left the band and was replaced by Maurice
Walsh, who had just left top Dublin beat group, The Bye Laws.
At the same time is was reported Tommy Moore had joined the group
leaving the Vampires, but this was corrected a week later. The week
after that, Maurice left the band to join Joe Dolan's Drifters
Showband. To tell the truth this was one of the issues with many of
Dublin's beat groups, members came and went on a regular basis. Pat
would report a short time later that the band was
"back to normal" and we
assume that meant Eamon had rejoined the line-up, but not for long.
In November 1968, Paddy Reynolds
left the Casino to join
Pacific Showband and Dave Murphy finally
did leave the group to
replace Paul Keogh as the keyboard player in the revamped Pacific
shortly after Sonny Knowles was replaced by Peter Law as lead singer
just a few months earlier.
Pat Egan first announced the formation of the Arrows
"Showband" in his Beat
column in Spotlight on February 15th, 1969 when he said that Eamon
Gibney had left Purple Pussycat to join a showband to be
managed by the Tom Doherty Organisation, which would be called the
Arrows. An article a month later described the band as
"protégés" of the Miami and that they would be managed by former
Miami leader Joe Tyrell, who was a Director of Miami Ltd. As was the
rage in the late sixties, the beat scene in Dublin was being
decimated by the defection of its stars to the showband scene.
We cannot surmise
what happened to the band next through our research, although we
know they stayed on the road. In May, 1969, Pat Byrne had joined the
band as its new drummer amid promises in Pat Egan's column that the
"new Purple Pussycat" would be making the rounds
soon. A report in July talked about the band's "great brass sound"
(see below) so we assume they had expanded their line-up. In June,
Paul Duffy (keyboards) left the band to join the
Cotton Mill Boys.
By
August, 1969, Eamon's time with the Arrows had come to an end and by
November, 1969, Ollie Byrne was managing the group. Around this
time, the band also contributed 2 tracks to Pye's album,
"Paddy is Dead and the
Kids Know
It."
In February, 1970,
Eamon formed Fagin with Pat Fortune and Paul Duffy, but by
June they had
lost two brass players and Eamon was back with Purple Pussycat. At this
point they were managed by Paul Cash and they changed their name to Alyce. On July 23rd Pat
Egan reported Ollie back managing Alyce
10-2-70, reelae
of Break Bread Together. (two weeks from 10-16 release).
1971 After
reporting Eamon lieaving to join Crypt, Pat said it would be
seveal mnths before he left. In May 1971, Eamon was in hosrpital and
cacxcprdting to pAt would be for some time.@
In NOvember
1971 Pat reported lineup changes specifying a new drummer being
signed. Late 1971 being touted as one of tolpm three Irish based
bands along with Horslips.
3-25-72 band
goes to 2 drum kits, Gerry on bass and Jimmy Slevin on guitar.
May 1, 1972 left to play gig in
Marquee Dublin and then on to America for extended tour.
June 1969 Paul Duffy keyboards
leaves Purple to join Cotton Mill Boys
After breakup, Jimi formed Peggy's
Leg.
Around APril, Brodgue reformed
without Eamon.
In May, 1973 Skid Row reforemed
with Brush, Noel and Kevin McAlea (keys) from 8/2/73
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
