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Lions (1968-1970)

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

The Story

Few bands have had the tragic misfortune of the Lions. Danny Pearse had been the guitarist and one of the main vocalists with the Jim Farley Allstars in the mid 1960's. Also in the band in the time was Roly Daniels who would go on to the Nevada. In 1968, shortly after the Jim Farley Band took the residency gig in T.J. Byrne's Top Hat Ballroom and called themselves the Tophatters, Danny Pearse (real name Pierce McCullagh) launched the Lions on July 28th, 1968 to great fanfare. Initial reaction to the band was very good. At the time, the showband scene was undergoing major changes with a plethora of new young bands hitting the scene with younger stars and new pop oriented programmes. The Lions were part of a new influx of bands that included The Dreams, Real McCoy, Trixons, and a host of others.

In the March 8, 1969 issue of Spotlight magazine, the Insight Column reported that Danny was very ill in hospital. Sadly he would pass away a week later. Despite the passing of their young lead singer, the band continued on, pushing rhythm guitarist Tony Hughes to the front and introducing him in a Spotlight ad on April 26th, 1969 as "The New Singing Star of The Lions Showband."  

On a Sunday night in early April, 1969, a plethora of Irish stars, including Sean Dunphy, Dickie Rock, Pat McGeegan, Roly Daniels, Ronnie Drew and Larry Gogan took part in a star-studded cabaret benefit in aid of Danny at Clery's Ballroom in Dublin. 

Following Danny's sad death, Tony Hughes was advertised as the band's new front man, although he had been with them from the beginning. However, this would be short lived as within a few months, Gene Chetty, who had left the Gents and spent a very short time with the new Flames, was announced as the band's new lead singer, along with Tony.

However, things came to an end relatively quickly. After a few short months, a small article in the January 8, 1970 issue of Spotlight announced the band had broken up. Gene returned to England where he still lives today and the rest of the band dispersed with Tony Hughes joining the Cotton Mill Boys.

The sad history of one of the era's most promising bands came to an abrupt end.      

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Lions  - 1968

Lions  - 1969

Lions  - 1968

Danny - 1967

Danny - 1967

Lions (RF) Lions (RF) Lions (RF) Lions (RF) Lions (RF)
     
Lions (RF)

Danny - 1967

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Years Vocals Vocals/Guitar Guitar Bass Drums Keyboards Trumpet Trombone
1968 Danny
Pearse
Tony
Hughes
  Mick
Carass
Pat
Bolton
Ronnie
Kennedy
Gerry
Kelly
Fran
Dennis
1969 Gene
Chetty
Tony
Hughes
Hank
McCormick
Pat
Kelly
Pat
Freeney
Ronnie
Kennedy
John
Reilly
Fran
Dennis
                 
                 

Discography

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M

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Ronnie Kennedy - RIP: Ronnie sadly passed away Sept. 17th, 2021.
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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006