Post by goldenhordeman on Sept 8, 2008 9:35:11 GMT
from Irish Evening Hearld - thanks Dinny
www.herald.ie/entertainment/hq/golden-generation-1430767.html
By George Byrne
Thursday July 10 2008
IT WAS IN A HOTEL BAR IN DETROIT in 1990 when Billy Joel spotted that I was wearing a Golden Horde T-shirt and said: "The Golden Horde? That was Genghis Khan’s army that pillaged its way across Europe, right? So what do the band sound like?" Er, pretty much as you’ve just described, Billy.
Mind you, it took a while for the Horde to hone their pure rock 'n' roll instincts into the machine they'd developed into by the release of their eponymous album, on U2's Mother Records label, in 1991. Having first appeared as a ramshackle 13-piece in 1982, the core of the band gradually formed around singer Simon Carmody and guitarist Des O'Byrne.
The Horde's sound developed out of a love of classic US garage punk. Their recording debut came with the Dig That Crazy Grave! EP on Eamon Carr's Hotwire label, and they released a single -- the official theme song for the 1985 World Surfing Championships, held in Sligo.
The Horde's eclectic and eccentric side came in 1985 when they released the rather bonkers mini-album The Chocolate Biscuit Conspiracy, which, apart from their own ramshackle racket, featured a concept of sorts and included readings from Illuminati trilogy author Robert Anton Wilson. Acting the maggot of the highest order.
Carmody was heavily involved with Aidan Walsh's Master of the Universe project and teaming up with former Swell Maps member, the late Nikki Sudden, for the Last Bandits in the World outing.
However, under their own banner, the Horde progressed during this period, distilling their love of Ramones-based pop into an improving set of songs, while their live shows were less scrappy.
When the full album finally arrived, produced by Daniel Rey (who'd worked with The Ramones) and Andy Shernoff (formerly of The Dictators), it was a revelation. Alongside the superb ramalama of 100 Boys, there sat the lovely Friends in Time -- a ballad featuring Carmody and Maria McKee, which is now an Irish rock classic.
So where are they now? Simon Carmody is now a member of Bono's inner circle, an aspiring scriptwriter, and recently co-wrote and co-ordinated the tribute single to Ronnie Drew. Guitarist Des O'Byrne was most recently seen DJing in New York, which is where bassist John Connor relocated to, where he's continued in music as part of Messyheads. Meanwhile, drummer Peter O'Kennedy has been making a name for himself in sculpture and design, while bassist/guitarist Sammy Steiger went on to join the Sultans of Ping FC, a band influenced by the Golden Horde if ever there was one. -GB
- George Byrne
www.herald.ie/entertainment/hq/golden-generation-1430767.html
By George Byrne
Thursday July 10 2008
IT WAS IN A HOTEL BAR IN DETROIT in 1990 when Billy Joel spotted that I was wearing a Golden Horde T-shirt and said: "The Golden Horde? That was Genghis Khan’s army that pillaged its way across Europe, right? So what do the band sound like?" Er, pretty much as you’ve just described, Billy.
Mind you, it took a while for the Horde to hone their pure rock 'n' roll instincts into the machine they'd developed into by the release of their eponymous album, on U2's Mother Records label, in 1991. Having first appeared as a ramshackle 13-piece in 1982, the core of the band gradually formed around singer Simon Carmody and guitarist Des O'Byrne.
The Horde's sound developed out of a love of classic US garage punk. Their recording debut came with the Dig That Crazy Grave! EP on Eamon Carr's Hotwire label, and they released a single -- the official theme song for the 1985 World Surfing Championships, held in Sligo.
The Horde's eclectic and eccentric side came in 1985 when they released the rather bonkers mini-album The Chocolate Biscuit Conspiracy, which, apart from their own ramshackle racket, featured a concept of sorts and included readings from Illuminati trilogy author Robert Anton Wilson. Acting the maggot of the highest order.
Carmody was heavily involved with Aidan Walsh's Master of the Universe project and teaming up with former Swell Maps member, the late Nikki Sudden, for the Last Bandits in the World outing.
However, under their own banner, the Horde progressed during this period, distilling their love of Ramones-based pop into an improving set of songs, while their live shows were less scrappy.
When the full album finally arrived, produced by Daniel Rey (who'd worked with The Ramones) and Andy Shernoff (formerly of The Dictators), it was a revelation. Alongside the superb ramalama of 100 Boys, there sat the lovely Friends in Time -- a ballad featuring Carmody and Maria McKee, which is now an Irish rock classic.
So where are they now? Simon Carmody is now a member of Bono's inner circle, an aspiring scriptwriter, and recently co-wrote and co-ordinated the tribute single to Ronnie Drew. Guitarist Des O'Byrne was most recently seen DJing in New York, which is where bassist John Connor relocated to, where he's continued in music as part of Messyheads. Meanwhile, drummer Peter O'Kennedy has been making a name for himself in sculpture and design, while bassist/guitarist Sammy Steiger went on to join the Sultans of Ping FC, a band influenced by the Golden Horde if ever there was one. -GB
- George Byrne