Greenbeats Story (1964-1968)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

The Greenbeats started life as a four piece beat group on the Dublin scene called the Caravelles. John Keogh (keyboards and vocals) and Paul Williams (RIP-guitar) came together in 1960. In 1962 they were joined by Brian Lynch (bass) and Mog Aherne (drums) and this would be the lineup which stayed together for several years and changed their name to the Greenbeats in 1964 when they played the Cavern Club in LIverpool.

In 1964 the band released the first of three singles Please Don't Tell on the Pye label. Although it did not make the charts, it did help grow the band's reputation beyond Dublin where they were one of the top beat groups of the early to mid sixties. It also helped that they were the resident band on the RTE series, The Showband Show, providing backing for singers in the studio. As the year came to a close, they released their second single, If This World Were Mine.  

In 1965, Mog Ahern left the band reportedly for health reasons, and was replaced by Paddy Green on drums. They released So Sad in April which did not sell, but the band was growing its reputation. Later in the year, John and the band took the major step of expanding their lineup to become a fully fledged seven piece showband. The new lineup was John Keogh (keyboards), Bobby Kelly (ex-Chosen Few - guitar), Alex Clarke (sax), Liam O'Sullivan (sax), Paddy Green (drums), Paul Williams (RIP-guitar) and Peter Bardon (bass). The band took to the road on September, 11, 1965. Alex Clarke would soon be replaced by Keith Donald.

In 1966 Paddy Green left and was replaced by Dave Pennyfeather on drums. Later in the year Liam O'Sullivan and Bobby Kelly left. Bobby returned to the Chosen Few before being asked in 1967 to join the newly formed Sands Showband and was replaced by Eddie Campbell. 

On November 22nd, 1967, the band was involved in a terrible road accident in which guitarist Paul Williams sadly lost his life and Eddie Campbell and Keith Donald were both seriously injured.

Initially, we thought the Greenbeats never played again. However, we know they released a single in February, 1968. after a few months of recuperation, Eddie, Keith and David Pennyfeather formed a new band, The Real McCoy and bassist Peter Bardon took over management of the new band. In the mean time, Brian Harris took over on guitar.         

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

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Discography

Please Don't Tell / Just You Wait and See
Pye Records - 7N.15648 - June, 1964
If This World Were Mine / You Must Be The One
Pye Records - 7N.15718 - November, 1964
So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) / I'm On Fire
Pye Records - 7N.15843 - April, 1965
Pretty Woman / The Thing
Diamond Records - DMD 001 - July, 1967
A Certain Misunderstanding / Little Egypt
Diamond Records - DMD 003 - July, 1967
La La Song / You Win Again
Pye Records - 7N.17463 - February, 1968

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

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