Freedom Story (1970-71)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
John Farrell started his musical career with
The Movement, one of
the most popular groups on the Dublin beat group scene for several
years. As was the custom at the time, any beat group musician or
singer with talent and a following was soon drafted into the world
of the showbands. Tony Kenny, Bobby Kelly and Fran Byrne (of the
Sands), Fran O'Toole and Paul Ashford (of the Miami), Mick Roche (of
the Arrows) and John, along with many many more all came from the
same small group of musicians in Dublin. In 1968, John joined The
Dreams
The original Dreams lineup
included two members of the Debonaires - bandleader Shay O'Donoghue
(keyboards) and Joe Geoghegan (sax) along with group players: Eric
Bell (previously with Van Morrison's Them and Shades of
Blue and soon to be Thin Lizzy
guitarist), Mark McCormack (Duffy's Circus trumpeter), Jim Hudson
(formerly bass player with King Bees), and Dougie McIlwaine (drummer formerly with the
Mad Lads).
In August 1970, the band underwent
a major upheaval when John Farrell and a the rest of the band broke
away to form a new band called "Freedom." The reason for the
new band was explained by John in a 1970 Spotlight article, "we'll
be much more progressive, now than we were in the Dreams. We'll be
doing stuff by Chicago and The Band and a lot of stuff by Van
Morrison."
The new band's lineup included
John Farrell (vocals), Mark McCormack (trumpet), Pat McCarthy
(trombone), Dougie McIlwaine (drums), Jim Hudson (bass), Joe
Geoghegan (sax), and Damien McKerr (guitar). Leaving ace manager Jim
Hand, a powerhouse on the Irish entertainment scene, they went with
George O'Reilly as their new manager.
Freedom brought out a single,
I've Been Hurt, on the Release label which made no impact on the
charts. In fact, despite high promise, Freedom started off slowly and then
fizzled out altogether. The band was off the road by June, 1971. At
that time, Mark McCormack found worked with Frankie
Carroll's Ranchers. John Farrell would end up with a large band
called the Groundhogs.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
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John Farrell: Unknown,
if you know more,
please let us know. |
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Damien McKerr: Unknown,
if you know more,
please let us know. |
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Jim Hudson: Unknown,
if you know more,
please let us know. |
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Dougie McIlwaine: Unknown,
if you know more,
please let us know. |
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Pat McCarthy: Unknown,
if you know more,
please let us know. |
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Joe Geoghegan: Unknown,
if you know more,
please let us know. |
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Mark McCormack: Unknown,
if you know more,
please let us know. |
