American Express Feature
(1979-1985)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Editor's note:
This feature has been compiled directly from newspaper archives and
although every care
has been taken to present only factual information about the band if you can add anything or correct info in this story,
please email us and let us know.
An article in early 1980 stated that the band was founded in March,
1979, however, the first mention of American Express we can find is
in October, 1979 when they were advertised playing a dance. They
released their first single a few months later in December which was
called "The Union Mare and the Confederate Gray" (written by
Waylon Jennings and featured on the album White Mansions).
The band was being managed by Cecil Thompson and they soon appeared
on the BBC TV show "Make Mine Country."
Based out of Belfast, the original lineup included: Chris Beckett
(vocals), Brian Croker (guitar and vocals), Jim Doherty
(guitar/steel), Peter McAuley (fiddle), Billy McClean (drums) and
Chris Blair (bass). Early reports said the band was a five piece,
but we think this was an error. Peter, Brian and Chris Becket were
previously with the California Brakemen while Jim had been with Leo
McCaffrey's Glensmen.
Early on, the band was pictured
wearing cowboy attire, but in June, 1980, they changed to include an
American Indian, Confederate and Union soldier, a cowboy and what
looked like a riverboat gambler. On June 14, 1980 Paschal Mooney
reported that the band had placed second in the Marlboro nationwide
talent contest and had been booked to take part in the Wembley
Country Festival in 1981.
The band seemed to go well for much of
the next year, and they did indeed appear at Mervyn Conn's Wembley
Country Festival on in 1981. However, a blurb in the Donegal
Democrat in December, 1981 reported that the band had broken up with
lead singer Chris Beckett and bass player Chris Blair forming a new
band called American Expressions and moving to Oxford in England
where they achieved moderate success.
It appears the band went on as
American Express as well as they were appearing in venues across the
north later in the year. In June, 1983 it was reported in the Ulster
Herald that the original line-up had reformed (see below). Their
history gets a little confusing as a report in the Drogheda
Independent in November, 1983 that the band had gone to England for
three years, as opposed to just Chris Beckett and Chris Blair.
In November 1985 it was reported
that ex-members of the band had teamed up with Roly Daniels and the
remaining Express members were changing their name to the New
Express. Researching the band has been hindered because of their
name and the "New Express" did not appear in our search so we are not
sure whether the band lasted past 1985.
More to come?
click on thumbnails for full image
