Ravens Showband Feature (1964 - 1970)

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

The Story

Editor's note: Every care has been taken to present only factual information in this story based on newspaper articles and photographic archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story, please email us and let us know.

Formed in September, 1964, the first mention of Dublin's Ravens Showband we could find in the newspaper archives was in October of 1964. Researching the band has proven difficult as there was another Ravens Showband based in Limerick in the early 1960's. The band the distinction of appearing on the same bill as Brian Poole and the Tremeloes and several dates with the Bachelors within a couple of weeks of hitting the road. They were also playing gigs from Cork to Strabane as well as their home city which was a little unusual for new bands back then, but no real surprise as they were managed by Tom Costello, who also managed Eileen Reid and the Cadets, one of the era's biggest bands at the time.    

The band was the brainchild of Vic Mellows, who was described in the Evening Herald as "one of Dublin's best known musicians." He had a quartet which had been playing on the local scene and decided to try his luck on the showband circuit which meant expanding to a seven piece line-up. The original line-up was: Vic (sax), Ian Stirrit (vocals), Roco (guitar), Terry Duffy (bass), Sean Leonard (drums), Andy O'Connell (keyboards), and Noel Melia (trumpet). By early 1965, Ian had been replaced by Mike Adams on vocals.

A report in the Evening Echo in September, 1965 reported that the band had played to over 12,000 people in two night while supporting the Rolling Stones in Dublin and Belfast in September. The same article named Michael Nolan as the band's manager. There weren't many adverts for bands gigs we could find, but that doesn't mean they weren't playing. A report in May 1966 said the band had singed a new lead singer named Gary Kane and apparently had a new manager who was named as Donal Hanley. 

In early 1967 the band released its first single, "The Same Old Fool" on the Pye label featuring Gary and was reported to be in the "country and western" vein (although not actually country and western?). Around this time, the band was featured in a safety film which was made by the Irish government to encourage road safety (aimed at motorcyclists) and featured a song by the band, "Life is Too Good to Miss" which would be released as a single eventually. 

In August, 1968, it appears the band changed lead singer again adding Gerry Traynor to the line-up, at least this name wasa advertised several times in different locations, However, a few weeks later adverts once again named Gary Kane as the lead vocalist. .

The final gigs we could find for the band were in May, 1970. Although we can't be sure this is when the band called it quits, we did find adverts for Gary Kane as a "former member" of the Ravens just a few months later, so we assume they broke up. If you have any other information, please let us know.   

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Discography

The Same Old Fool / Juanita Banana
Pye Records - 7N.17260 - February, 1967
Life is Too Good to Miss
Unknown Records - Unknown - August, 1967

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?