All About Stage 2 (1972-1979)

Unlike most showbands of the era, Stage 2 traveled in two Ford Transit vans (most bands had only one); one for the gear and the roadies and the other for the band members driven by Eamon Travis. The band's road manager at the time was Ronnie McGinn from Cork who looked after the setup, sound and lighting. Originally managed by Cork dentist Robin Power, the band found success where the Dixies had left off. As an aside, when Robin moved on, Ronnie (who had always had an interest in the business side of the band) took over managing the boys. Although they first tried a heavily brass sound (i.e., Blood, Sweat, and Tears), the band soon found that a mix of pop and comedy material kept the punters on the floor and they drew good crowds from one end of the country to the other.

A blurb in Spotlight on June 14, 1973 reported that Danny Ellis had left the band to "devote his time to the Guru Maharaji Ji and the Divine Light Mission." At the same time, Danny produced a single for Luke Kelly of the Dubliners as he was recognised as one of the country's best musicians and songwriters.

In 1973 the band recorded and released the song "Beautiful Sunday," which went to the top to the Irish charts. It had been a hit the previous year in the U.S. and Britain for Daniel Boone. Over the next few years, Stage 2 got lots of air play on the radio and even did a couple of TV shows until Joe Mac happened to use an inappropriate word during a live TV broadcast, and he was banned from the live airways. "Sky Diver" was the band's next single, released in late 1973.

A note in Julie Boyd's Social Scene column in October, 1973 reported that Paul Duffy (keyboards) was leaving the band and he was being replaced by Mick Dunne, who had left the band a year earlier to go to Canada and had returned as he was "tired of the Canadian scene." There is some confusion here as it was also reported that Mick was the only original member to stay with the band after their shake up in early 1973. Paul was reported to be going off to the States, but ended up (we think) in the Cotton Mill Boys a few years later.  

Unfortunately for the band, tragedy would strike when Brendan O'Brien was electrocuted on stage at a charity gig in the Stardust Ballroom in Cork, which knocked him out of commission for many years. We understand that this very unfortunate accident actually affected Brendan until his death in 2008.

It was late 1974 and Brendan was a guest at a charity function in Cork when he grabbed a "live" microphone while holding a guitar and was thrown ten feet across the stage. He suffered a severe electric shock and was lucky to survive. After the incident, Brendan was taken to the local hospital, examined and released. He even went back to play with the band for about a month or so. However, one night in Monaghan after a gig, he was having problems walking, so the band took him back to the hospital the next morning. Doctors discovered blood clots that had been missed the night of the accident. The clots were cutting off the blood supply to his legs, and Brendan was unable to play again for years. The legal case surrounding the accident went on for many years.

Following Brendan's accident, Alan Carr was asked to step out front as lead vocalist and fortunately, the band was able to continue without really missing a beat. Within weeks, the band "introduced" Alan on their new single You've Grown Up, which was a successful enough to help the band regain precious ground they may have lost with Brendan's departure.

However, without Brendan, who had been one the the biggest stars of the 60's showband era, the band found it difficult to pack them in as they had done before. In late 1975,  Mick Dunne left again for Toronto and was replaced by Ray Clifford on keyboards. The band continued to tour using the slogan, "All the World's a Stage 2," which may not have been very original, but it looked good on the bumper/window stickers.

In late 1976, Alan Carr decided it was time to quit the scene and he also emigrated to Canada, where he still lives today. Stage 2's next single was done with Ray Clifford assuming the name "Rudy Jordan," but within a year, without a true "front man," the band needed a boost to help rejuvenate it's sagging appeal. They found one in long time friend, Art Supple, whose band, The Victors was also undergoing changes. In 1978, the two bands joined forces and the band continued to tour as Joe Mac and Stage 2 featuring Art Supple.