Cracking their way back – Whipping Boy

Posted on 14th Nov 05 by Contributor | 0

Artist: Whipping Boy
Author: Gary

I don"t like reunion tours. Never have" never will. They"re usually coinciding with the release of a greatest hits package. One last final push to make a bit of cash before the group retires to the south of Spain to live the high "or low" life of the post"rock star. When the band does appear on stage" they usually look jaded. Too much cocaine and too many leather trousers on show" plus the lead singer will look like that dodgy middle"aged uncle at your cousin"s wedding that"s trying to impress the bridesmaids with his hair highlights and copper bracelet. As I said" I don"t like reunion tours.

But" and this is a big fucking BUT" there is one tour this Christmas that is an absolute must for anybody who is remotely interested in Irish music. No" actually" anybody who"s even got a set of ears should see this band. Because Whipping Boy have decided to get together to do a couple of shows to remind people of what was essentially the greatest Irish rock album of the nineties" Heartworm.

It"s been over ten years since the band released that album. Featuring the sublime "Twinkle"" the brutal "We Don"t Need Anybody Else" and the anthem "When we were Young"" the album was as huge or as intimate as the listener wanted it to be. The lyrics were as emotional as Joy Division"s and as dark as Nick Cave"s. Lead singer Fergal McKee was every great rock performer rolled into one. He"s cut himself on stage with broken glass and he"s sung balls naked in front of hundreds of people. There live shows at Sir Henry"s are talked about in legendary status.

The album itself was critically acclaimed by the likes of VOX" Melody Maker and Q. A couple of the singles dented the UK charts briefly and the band toured with Lou Reed for a time but it never received the commercial success that it should have been awarded.

However" the band parted ways with their label" Columbia" after the release and then in 1998 decided to call it a day.

Since1998" the various members of the band took up other musical projects" with Fergal actually releasing a solo single online recently. It wasn"t until August of this year though" when drummer" Colm Hassett" returned from the States" that the band decided to reform Whipping Boy. As well as the Christmas shows" the band is looking to enter the studio next year to record some new songs.

Until those new songs do surface" I recommend" you throw Paddy" Damien and Glen into the dustbin "well" temporarily anyways"" pick up a copy of Heartworm" and prepare to get enthralled into arguably the greatest rock masterpiece by any 4 piece from Dublin "yes" that band included".

Whipping Boy play The Olympia on December 18th and The Savoy on December 19th.