Rockabilly Rebels
Formed in August, 1982 by
Martin Gildea (bass), the band included his sister, Valerie Ward (vocals), Gerry
Gallagher (drums),
Stephen McPhilips (keyboards) and Gerry Quinn (guitar). Based in Ardara, Co.
Donegal, initial reports were that the band was being
managed by Peter Gallagher but shortly thereafter it was reported they were
managed by Gerry Reynolds.
They released a single, "Foolin Around / Queen of the Jive" on February 14th,
1983. The songs were recorded in Mike Kelly's
Ace Studios in Sligo. In June, 1983, the band had its third management change
when Paddy Bradley took over and in August, 1983
they released their second single, "Without You" on the Rainbow Record label. In
November, the band
became the new Glen Curtin backing band. But this didn't last long as in July,
1984, Martin and Valerie formed a duo called
"Together. Martin went to the states for 18 months in 1987 and upon his return
in 1989 formed a duo
called "Daddy and Me" with his daughter, Michelle. The band never played much
outside Donegal and the northwest and never
really reached its full potential before going off the road.
|