Philosophers Feature (1967-1981)
turned pro in December, 1968
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
The Philosophers started their careers as many showbands did, as a
five piece "pop group" in Galway, playing to local hops
and dances. Initially Donal Lydon (drums) was the group's spokesman,
as they insisted they had no leader. Dermot Ward, on keyboards was originally from
Donegal, but had gone to Galway to study at UCG. Together with
Jarlath Reidy (bass), Chris Donnelly (guitar)
and John Glynn (guitar) the band were doing well locally.
The first mention we found about
the band was in March, 1968 in an article which reported they had
been on the road for the best part of a year at that point. The
members had met as students at University College Galway (UCG) where
all were pursuing degrees of one sort or another. In the summer of 1968 the band was
resident once a week at Sligo's Red Robin Club which took place in
the eats Country Hotel.
In December, 1968, the band became
a 7 member showband.
When they made the decision to turn pro and hit the ballroom
circuit, they added Cyril Fuller on sax and Mike Healy on trumpet
and hit the road. Additionally John Grant joined on keyboards as
Dermot focused on lead vocal duties. John Glynn appeared to have
left the group at that point. An article in the Sligo
Champion's Bandstand column on January 10, 1969 reported that
they had made their debut as a fully fledged 7 piece showband on the
7th of December, 1968. During this time the band was being managed
by Matt Nodwell.
In January, 1969 the band also
released its first single, "Back at the
Lodge," with the B-side, "Don't Hold Me Back," written by band
member Dermot. By May, they had followed this up with another
single, "The Lovedene Girls," a self
proclaimed "rugby song" which had previously been released in
England by the Bedrocks.
In June, 1969, manager Nodwell
told journalist Hugh Hardy their next record would "be an original."
By July, Peter Alto reported in the Tipperary Star that the
band had changed their attire and liked them to :"something out of
the 17th century." The band would appear on the "Late Late Show" as
well as "Like Now" during the year and were playing further afield,
establishing themselves across the country.
By September, they had moved the
the Dixies' Honey record label and released their third single, "Hey
Girl," with the B-side being "Smile." Neither song was written by
the band, though.
In February, 1970, a report in
Hugh Hardy's "Popland" column reported that the band was "changing
their image from pop to become known as the New Philosopher's
Country Rock Band." Dermot Ward (now listed as the band's "leader)
said they would "feature quite a lot of rock n' roll and their new
single would feature an old style rock medley." "Live Rock: was
released around April of 1970. Once again neither song was an
original. The band received an inordinate amount of press regarding
their switch to rock n' roll which helped keep their names in front
of the public for several months.
In September 1970 Pat Egan
reported in Spotlight that Donal (Don) had left the band and it was
now being run by Dermot Ward. In on drums came Gerry Fahy, who had
previously been playing with local group, the "Equals." It would
appear from newspaper adverts that the new name never stuck and they
were always advertised as simply the Philosophers.
A photo of the band in June, 1971
(below) showed they were down to a six piece, but we don't know
which member of the band had left. By this time, they had changed
their appearance yet again favouring waistcoats and oversized
bow-ties.
In 1972 the band boasted a new
member, trumpeter, Garrett O'Dowd. The band was also described as
having "reshuffled" their repertoire and were now presenting a
"solid pop programme."
An article in the Longford Leader
in reported on the boys new single, Sing Fool Sing with Paul
McCartney's Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey track on the B-side. The
article also said the band had been "away" from the showband circuit
for some time having gone "touring in clubs in the UK and Germany
for some time." They were still a six piece. Around this time the
band was being managed by Andy Creighton from Claremorris.
In April, 1974 the band added a
new member, Dave Cazabon on bass who was reported to be from the
West Indies. They also released an original single, Summer Song,
written by Dermot Ward. A few months later in August, an article in
the Evening Echo announced the arrival of "Samba" the band's
coloured singer who, although from Trinidad, had been a long time
resident of Galway and, in fact, spoke fluent Gaelic.
At this point things get a little
confusing as we learned from a 1975 Spotlight interview that
Samba was actually Mike Cazabon, brother of bass player, Dave.
Throughout the mid to late 1970s the band did a good business across
the country. In 1975 they would re-release "Back At The Lodge" but
this time sung by Samba (vs. Dermot).
The last listing we found for the
band with Samba was in November, 1980 so we assume that was when he
left the band. but we also know that in 1979 Dermot would partner
with Des Kelly to buy and open the Marquee Club in Salthill.
We know that by 1982 Dermot had
joined with Marty Walsh (formerly Gary Green of the Glamour band)
and formed the new "Blues Brothers" outfit. "Dermot Ward and the
Philosophers" appeared to have called it quits in September, 1981
when we found their last gig listed.
click on thumbnails for full image
