It's a well known fact that disco's were responsible for the phasing out of the showband. I used to go regularly to a local dancehall. The bands would pull in a large crowd, the more popular ones would draw in many more. Back in the mid 70's, the owners, who I knew quite well, decided to half the size of the dance area & make a nightclub/disco with the remainder. When asked why, they replied that the profit margin was greater because disco's were cheaper to book than the bands. Yes, disco's did become popular eventually, but it was mainly down to the greed of dancehall owners. Us fans weren't given the choice. That's my view on it anyway. What do other members think?

There's a lot to think about in what Trisha says. I think I'll have to mull it over in my mind ??? and maybe then give a considered view on it :-/

Before saying anything further, I think it is true to say that greed (profit) whatever you call it will always play abig part in societal changes. While basically agreeing with what Trisha says, I think there is part of the transition overlooked. This is possibly due to the fact that whereas Trisha is of the 70s. I am of the 60s. Therefore, I think, and this is only my opinion, that the demise started with the pub becoming popular before the dance and a lot of the dancers arriving later and later to the dances. Then there was the onset of groups playing in pubs, which became very popular, and so onto the the final nail as Trisha has, so eloquently, pointed out.
No doubt there are various different views on this topic, all with an element of fact.
Probably the one thing that unites the holders of these differing views is there common love of the Showband era and there sadness at it's passing 8)

:) :) :) :) :) I think liamo and Trisha it wasabout profit but discos had an alcohol licence,in Dublin the ones I used didn't,I asked Carole out of New Blues about this,she told me that most people had their fill of alcohol in the pub,then about midnight would go into the dance hall.Also many showbands covered british and us pop and country songs,apart from bands like the Swarbriggs  who did write original material.It would be interesting to get Dees views on it asshe was in Starband or even Gerrys.Take care.Best Wishes,Pete :D :D :D

I see what your saying, Celebrity, and where you're coming from. However, I feel it is necessary to have lived through the era and experienced the changes first hand. Yes Dee was in Starband but that was the 70s. gerry was also in the 70s. No offence to either or anyone who played in the 70s. On the other hand, I played in bands from the early 60s and have first hand knowledge of the evolving scene.
While in no way claiming to know it all, I would like to think that my knowledge of the era would be fairly good 8)

To be honest I think everyone has overlooked one critical contributing factor in the ultimate demise of the Irish Showband Era... Progress! With the advent of worldwide media improving to the point that we no longer thought of pop idols ascompletely untouchable and the huge growth in the recording industry two things happened: the showbands no longer held the idolitory status that they used to and people realised that they could listen to perfect recordings of their fave music at a disco (and have alcahol at the same time).
In some ways it was about the atmosphere, it became easier and easier to see international acts live, making our own local talent seem less special.
Generally speaking, even now in the pubs locally, if you had to pay to go in just because they had live music I can't see them being packed out every night . Thhe media has played a huge part in killing local live music and hyping up the international scene, which is available on our own doorsteps.
I could go on and on...and often do! but I'll leave it at that for today.
xx
Dee

:D :D :D :D          Dee you have  summed it up very well,but a few years ago the beeb did a two part documentary about irish music on radio 2,there was only a fleeting mention of the showbands, a short interview with Joe Dolan,yet bands like ash and thin lizzy  had a lot of time devoted to them as did the boybands /girlbands of today who owed a terrific debt to the showbands,but it is true what you say people now want something for nothing,yet in some aspects the showband lives on,people like Gloria and Gina and The Champions are still around,plus newish bands like the showband show. maintain the interest.Take care Dee,Liamo,Trisha etc Best Wishes,pete. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

It is a given that progress is the over-riding factor in all societal change and I doubt if anyone has overlooked that fact Dee. Is progress always good and beneficial? I don't think so. After all, progress has us all neck deep in non bio-degradable litter world wide :(
As Dee said, one could go on ad infinitum about different aspects of this.
To get back to the point I think what Trisha was doing in her item, was analysing the contributing factors that led to progress in this particular change in Ireland. There were a lot.
In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, one end result of this progress was not good or benificial to young people.
In my time (I know it sounds like a seanachai), young people had good live entertainment on their doorsteps. As a result of progress they were denied this unless they traveled to Dublin or somewhere like that. It wasn't always easy in those days to do that :-[. Young people were then left to going to venues to listen to someone playing records!!!! Entertainment? I ask ya!!! ::)
I can do that at home anytime.
Purely an opinion and purely mine. Cheers ;D

I see that my original comment has brought other people's views to the forum. In the 'early' days when bands played in dancehalls, many of these halls were parish council run so the idea of selling alcohol was unheard of.  As a teenage 'culchie', living in the back of beyond, I used to travel to my local dancehall, where we would purchase minerals. As time went on, many of these dancehalls changed with the times & introduced alcohol. Then along came the bigger dancehalls where the 'action' didn't start until 10pm & went on til 2am. Sometimes the bands supplied their own discos to keep the dancers on the floor, while they were getting ready. We usually went to the pub because we knew that the band wouldn't be on until a certain time. We always looked forward to hearing the 'live' bands play. Nowadays, in the town where I live, we do get live groups in the pubs & clubs.  People are prepared to queue & pay to see them.  The discos are placed out of town. You see 'live music' is the best & always will be.  :D  

:) :) :) :) :) :)You  can never replace live music as the  showbands proved,they had good singers and brillant musicians, there was an excitement generatedwhich could not be beaten,what a pity   that most bands and dancehalls are now memories of the past. :o :o :o

well holy god, as miley might say, not sure of bingy,s catch phrase ::) ::)

A very interesting topic and like Liamo etc I have my views on why the Showband went the way of the dionosar, the hula hoop and carraway seed cake. I put it down to a number of things (a) greed by both the bands and ballroom owners (b) lack of respect for the punters by both the bands and the ballroom owners , by respect I mean , short changed by the bands who thought their newly found star status meant they could hire some crappy support/relief band to play for half the night; short changed by the ballroom owners who failed to move with the times and provide the punters with the comforts needed. (c) progress:  , every musical trend has a cycle and the showbands had more of a run than others (d) the launch of the country showbands such as the SMR and CMB which in hindsight were the death knoll of the showband, from that point on it was down hill all the way. The success of the SMR and CMB led to a flood of country (and Irish) bands who were musically inept and turned the teenagers away from live music and into the discos.  The showband era was unique and a wonderful time but we shouldn't be blinded by nostalgia because for every good showband there were a dozen pretty dire ones, but then I guess it didn't really matter because the main reason we attended a dance was to get a woman or a man , the music was a very poor second.

I feel thoroughly depressed by the final comments of TIPTOP's
Makes it sound as though no-one came to see our band, or any other, for any reason other than to 'pull'. I can assure you I remember a huge number of kids who spent the whole night lined up at the front of the stage , not once turning away to seek attention from the opposite gender. There were many many people who went specifically to see us, and many other bands because they wanted to hear their favourite bands...the fact that there were opposite sex type things there as well was a bonus but vertainly not the purpose. Either that Or I have serious amnesia!
Surely the number of people like Trisha and Celebrity are proof enough that the bands were the MAIN reason for people coming to the ballrooms!???
Anyone else feel this way?????
Dee

I must agree with Angelvoice on this. To say that the main reason in going to dances was to get a girl or fella is  totally incorrect. Anyone who remembers that era will know that the Music was THE thing and not a poor second. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The thousands who attended when theirfavourite band was playing and indeed those who attended regardless of band are proof of this. 8)
Granted there were a lot of poor bands who jumped on the bandwagon. This is true of everything in life and is true today of singers and groups ::)
Girls and fellas did get "moves" in dances. So what?? I would have thought that that is the most natural thing in the world ;)

::)  yep i remember throngs of people   ::) includeing myself waiteing for autographs from the band members,  ::)after the  dance ::)  barbara  d  autographed  her picture for me way back in the summer of 72 i think, i usally went to the dances where my fave band were playing

Speaking as a fan of showbands & their music, I can honestly speak from experience. Tell me this. Who, in their right minds would travel (often walk if we couldn't get a lift) to see our favourite bands? We would travel miles to see them. Where I lived, in Co. Westmeath, the nearest decent dance hall was a good 4 miles away. Mullingar was 13 miles. We travelled in all weathers. I often think that many bands didn't think of just how dedicated some of their fans were. Luckily,  my favourite bands did. We would stand & watch 'the show', dance to the music & just had a real good time .We would sometimes dance with guys who were there, like us - Yes, the lads were fans too. If we wanted 'to pull' as Dee mentioned, we could go to the local pub! We appreciated that the bands travelled miles to play & we repaid them by giving our support. As we still do today, here in this forum.  ;)  

Hi Trisha.

Speaking of 'Pulling'. It's worth mentioning that the bands did their fair share of it !!

Ah! Memories !!

Regards

Barry

Aw come on let's get real. Boys went to dances to get a woman and girls went to get a man, that's why dances were held. It was the place to meet members of the opposite sex. The pub scene didn't exist as a boy meets girl venue in the 50's and early 60's.  Anyone who thinks that 2,000 + went to the dancehall just to hear the music is living in cloud cuckoo land. And as Angel voice knows only too well, the girls up at the stage were hoping they'd click with one of the band members and the boys were ogling Angelvoice. A dance was considered a success by the majority of punters if they clicked with a member of the opposite sex, it didn't matter whether it was Larry Cunningham, Brendan Bowyer or Eileen Reid who was on stage. So spare me all this spiel that it was the music that brought the punters to the halls. It was every country girls dream to attended a dance and meet prince charming (a wealthy farmer hopefully) and live happily ever after.

Hey Tiptop, would ya give us a break here ;D Having played in bands in the 60s, I have to admit you're right about one thing. The girls used to be at the stage hoping to get off with me 8) 8) 8)
As for the rest, it is my humble opinion, that perhaps you are in cloud cuckoo land ::)

I wasn't referring to the '50's or '60's but to the '70's. Yes....some girls & boys went with 'one' intention to dances but not ALL. I think there is a lot of resentment & negativity in some of the comments made here. Also, I'm sure it wasn't every 'country girl's dream' to meet a wealthy farmer & live happily ever after. Many had partners but still went to enjoy the music. So why keep going on & on about it? This forum is for those of us who actually 'enjoyed' the 'showband' era & continue to do so.

:) :) I agree with what Trisha says,unfortunately there were those who did try to pull a musician or singer,I wasn't one of those,but my friend Jon who drummed with New Blues was engaged to Carole who fronted the band,he asked me to hang around as I was a friend of the band in case someone tried to pull Carole while he was taking his equipment into  the bandbus, but this site is about the showbands,it's nice to get peoples views on all aspects of them. :) :) :) :)

HI again.

I don't want to get all socialogical but it's worth pointing out that dancing has been part of the courtship or mating rituals in all civilizations and cultures since time began. So whether we like it or not there is an element of possible mate selection every time we go dancing. and that's a fact.

Rgds

Barry

Every individual who went to the dances had their own perspective of why they, and their peers were there. Whether or not one individual on here has a strong memory that pulling was his, and everyone elses motivation is irrelevant. It's one persons perspective, one he is wholly entitled too. The interesting thing is the loyalty and indignation felt by the others reading his comments.....personally I think that speaks for itself.
Having said that I feel duty bound to add two things:
1. as a former showband front person I'm jolly glad there are so many followers here to ensure a balanced arguement and to prove we 'Muso's' aren't just totally up our own derrieres.
and
2. there is some merit in what tiptop says, as is there in Barry's last comments: we did have the world and his wife wanting to be the one person who would get a shot at their fave band member at the end of the night.(and many obliged!!!)  and , Yes! music and dancing has played a huge role in the courtship of the sexes since and ero long forgotten
BUT! let's not forget, this debate is not about whether people ever fancied and ultimately got off with anyone at a dance, that has never been in dispute, what is under question is that the primary and in most cases the only reason people went was to satisfy their hormones.....Think again, I have now spent 1 yaer short of 30 performing in public to audiences all over the world from 5 people to 5000 people strong and I feel confident when I say I think I know when an audience appreciates the music and when they are clearly thier for a wholly different purpose. Perhaps your terminology was too strong tiptop. One other thing....why are you on here?
Great to debate!
Dee

Incidentally, as for what Trisha said about fans travelling....she has a genuine perspective on that one. They came a whole lot further than 13 miles at times. It got to the point with a couple of Starband fans that we had to pick them up en route on occasion in appreciation for their dedication...after all- they paid our bills!
Cheers to all the paying public from 1976 onwards.....I salute you :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* ;)

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) Dee I take my hat off to you,fans appreciated the hard work that the guys and gals put into the showband scene,entertaining dancers,signing autographs and chatting to fans after the dance,it was a hard slog for you sometimes several hours on the road to a dance then several hours back, you were dedicated.I went to see Vincent,New Blues manager at Melody Promotions one afternoon,when Kieran the bands leader rang the office to say there were bad weather conditions,it was snowing  hard but the band got through to the ballroom which was somewhere in the west of Ireland,the band did not want to let their fans down,who made many sacrifices to see their heros.Best Wishes,Love Pete ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

I worked in Ireland's first 24hour petrol station & I saw firsthand, the problems that the bands had trying to get to their various destinations & then home again. Some used to get as far as our place & sleep in their mini-buses, coaches etc. on their homeward journey. Yes...the bands did their best to get to the gigs so as not to disappoint the fans (& those out for 'a good time'!). Many fans did not realise how far some bands had to travel to get to a gig, only devoted fans did. Dee mentioned something that I'd forgotten & that was giving fans a lift to dances. I remember well, getting lifts to dances, carnivals etc from bands as a way of thanks for supporting them through all weathers - both going to see them perform & supplying them with petrol, diesel, refreshments etc.at all hours of the day & night. And before anyone comments...I wasn't one of those out 'to pull' a musician from a band...I knew many of them too well....Enough said !  ;)

Hi All,

Good thread this. At last a bit of cut and thrust on the forum.

Very refreshing.

rgds

Barry

Hi Folks, I can't see that we'll get agreement on this topic. After all we all went to dances for our own reasons. Tiptop knows why he went, I know why I went 8) I think the most we can achieve here is to agree to differ :)
The fact that Tiptop is wrong and the rest of us right doesn't enter into it ;D

Well said, Liamo!  ;D

Hahahahahahahaaha
Gotta love that man.....!

Saying what we all were thinking...and there was me trying to avoid being too confrontational. Ah sod it, go for broke:
Anyone who can't see why the showbands were so popular, good or bad, shouldn't be in here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fell better now   >:( ;)

I was just thinking that...I'm not very good at 'polite' once I get going.......  >:(. Glad to see that we are unaminous on this subject....well 99% are... ;D

:P :P :) :) :) :) :) :)Trisha my thoughts exactly,but those timeswere magic weren't they?still relive them time and time again,some of the happiest of my life! Dee take a bow you and your fellow peers we owe a lot too.!Best Wishes,Luv Pete :P

yep they were good times, good memories, any one remember that beautifull song  that radio luxi  would close with?
i can still hear paul burnett saying, this is paul burnett  wishing you gods blessings and peace where ever you are,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
and then that beautifull song,                   ::) :o ::)

Yes...vaguely...can't remember exactly what it was
I'm gonna do a search..hah
X

::)it goes something like look well to the future, now im back in the past thinking of song, ::) ::) ::)

I know that this has nothing at all to do with this thread but I remember a song that one of the D.J.'s on Luxy played at the end of his show. I can't remember the artist but the song went...ahem...(just clearing my throat!) ....'At the end of the day just kneel & pray, thank you Lord for my world today, I try to be good for I know that I should. That's my prayer, at the end of the day.' Don't know if this helps eddy? I loved listening to Luxy when I was doing the 'late shift'. Many of the D.J's came from Radio Caroline (pirate station).

hi trisha,
thanks for those few words from song, beautifull, they must be from song im thinking about,
it does in a way for me anyway relate to the showband era,
cause after the dances, radio luxi  would be on the car radio, and would finish with that song

Hi All,

Just in case you haven't found out the identify that lovely song used by Radio Luxembourg as their sign off all those years ago.
It was 'At The End Of The Day' sung by Steve Cochran.
Cochran was a moderately successful singer of the 'Vocalist' genre. He died young ( 31 Ibelieve) and is still remembered fondly for this recording.

Hope this helps

rgds

Barry

He Again.

Correction:  The singer of 'At The End Of The Day' was of course Steve Conway not Cochran as previously stated. I think Cochran was  a an American B Movie actor.

rgds

Barry

Aw shucks guys (and gals) why is everybody always pickin' on me. This forum is for people to express their views on all the different aspects of the showband era.  And that's why I'm here. If my views don't coincide with everyone elses, well that what a democracy is all about. Some people tend to wallow in nostalgia which blinds their thinking about the period in question. This topic started off about the demise of the showband. I expressed my views on why I think it happened, but sadly everyone just latched on to my final remarks and ignored and failed to address the other points I made. My heart bleeds for all the showbands who had to spent so much time after a dance signing autographs, handing out band photos and trying to click with the chicks. Every band member I have known has quoted the following reasons for joining a showband (a) the money (b) the chicks. Trisha must think we were all morons back in the 60's and 70's when she wrote and I quote "Many fans did not realize how far some bands had to travel to get to a gig" end of quote. Of course we knew, didn't it state on the posters and in the newspaper adverts, Royal showband (Waterford), The Emperors (Derry), Paragon 7 (Dundalk) etc etc. As for Liamo's comment that he knew why he went to a dance; he went for the money (and maybe the chicks!). As a person who  sampled the showband scene in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's and visited ballrooms in all four provinces, I think I'm entitled to express my views on this forum. There's nothing like a good debate on the merits or otherwise of the showband era whether it be the bands, the dancers, the ballrooms, the managers, the records etc.

Tiptop, You have me stumped on one thing. You say I went to dances for the money!!!!!. I don't follow ???

Hi everyone,

I have to say there is a great deal of truth, however unpalatable it may be, to what Tiptop has to say.
I think this site is essentially a nostalgia site and as such functions very well. In general the people who post here are good hearted men and women who grew up during the hay day of the showbands and remember those days with great fondness and there is no harm in that. This devotion however can lead to a 'Rose Coloured Spectacles' view of things and frankly there's no harm in that either. The reality of the Showband era was not quite so rosy. All the problems that occur in the normal workplace were  there in bucketfulls ie egos, piss artists, cliques, etc. Speaking as someone who played right throughout that time, I can assure you that after doing 20 gigs on the trot the last thing on your mind as you climbed into that bloody wagon again was "Let's go and give the people a great night" It would be more like "If I have to spend another minute with these guys I'm going to shoot someone. At this point let me make it clear that It really was a grand adventure and I wouldn't change a minute of it but it wasn't all Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland "Why don't WE put on a show" stuff. Simply put, the Showbands died because they had had their day no more no less. The question of our prowess or ineptitude as musicians is purely academic.

In closing let me say that I for one feel greatly honoured that so may people still have such a fondness for what we did all those years ago..

Rgds

Barry

I have to agree with alot of what you say Barry. However I think we're straying from the original point a bit. True all what you say went on in the Showband world as in every walk of life. i often felt like strangling the fellow beside me on stage and I'm sure the feeling was mutual ::). There was nothing "Holier Than Thou" about the Showband Era or The Showbands. I don't think, however that that was a contributing factor to their demise.
Just to go back to Tiptop's latest post. Certainly Tiptop I would agree that you are entitled to voicing your opinions on the forum. As you say it should be democratic.
But if you glance back through your earlier posts you weren't inclined to give the rest of us a "democratic" crack of the whip, were you ;D ;D

Tiptop - The posters, newspaper ads etc where you come from may have had where different bands came from but not where I lived (that I can remember anyway). You could usually tell where an individual was from by their dialect. On a closing note.....I don't think ALL fans were morons........!

Hi Liamo,

When I  read Tiptop's first post I thought he was just some guy having a gratuitous pop at the Showbands, I found his form of language provokative to say the least and as expected he was given short shrift by the regular contributors to this forum. However, having read his last post I have to admit the guy has a fair idea of what he was talking about and I totally respect his right to express his opinions.

Didn't Voltaire say, and I'm paraphrasing here " I do not agree with what you say but I will defend with my life your right to say it"


That'll do for me.

Barry

Hi all,

Just remembered some of the lyrics to Steve Conway's 'At The End Of The Day' perhaps someone might want them.

At the end of the day just kneel and say, Thank you Lord for my work and play, i've tried to be good for I know that I should, That's my prayer for the end of the day.

And when a new dawn begins to break, Just lift up your eyes let your heart awake. Be ready to meet what the day may send and be ready to greet every man as a friend.

That's all I can remember apart from a line later in the tune,

Carry them high when they seem to be low as on your way you go,

Maybe this will jog someone's memory and we can can come up with the rest of it.

rgds

Barry

Barry...That's nearly the same as I wrote earliar on...but I couldn't remember who it was sung by.

Folks, If ya'll really want the lyrics of that song, why didn't someone say so? 8) I can listen to them and type them out and put them on the forum ;D

Hi Trisha,

Go to www.208.justsayweb.de/208/208o/audio/208o_down_tunes.htm and you can have a listen to some of it.

Enjoy

Barry

I remember the song so well. I could also go into a search engine. Or when Liam gets the words, we can all share them. Thanks to both.... :)

::) hi barry thanks for info on song

 :) :) :) :) :)Hi everyone,someone mentionedabout Paul Burnett on radio luxembourg he mentioned that when he started out his  sig tune was the Hucklebuck by the Royal..I  emailed him about it,had a lovely one back,which I sent on to Aisling Bowyer daughter of Brendan Bowyer who fronted the Royal and Big 8,wondered what other discjockeys or showbands used to start their gig,New Blues for some reason used the muppet song.!Cheers everyone.Best Wishes,Pete :D :D :D :D :D:)

The Indians used to play 'One song away (from being home)' as their last song. Quite appropriate really..

God Yis are all great ;D Donie Collins used Fats Domino's "Be My Guest"

We sang the national anthem
for whatever country we were in at the time! hah
Incidentally, I'm listening to that MariAAAAAN mongomery version right now.
the large a is to denote the fact that I searched and searched for marion montgomery and couldn't find it lol
no wonder its a not o

Its definitely not the sunny leslie version ...noweher near as soulful
XX

oops
nope other way around...its the sunny leslie one I remember
xx

While there were many reasons for the demise of the showbands (many sensible ones suggested on this discussion thread), few contributors seem to mention the word "talent". There were many very talented musicians but there were a large number of chancers and third-rate musicians in the showband scene.  
Playing live is all very well and you'll get away with a lot, but most of the showbands used session musicians on their recordings.  Those that didn't often wasted many a studio hour struggling to get a song finished with any semblance of quality.  
On more than one occasion, a player was told that the dodgy notes would be fixed on the mix, and as soon as he was out the door, the phone would be lifted and some session player would be in within the hour!
There were, of course,  bands who were superb - Ray Lynam's band is one, and in fact they went on to become session players in their own right.
The Irish audiences are primarily to blame: they haven't got a note in their heads!  Look at the various talent shows  - "Your a Star" for example - and see the way the votes go: if a singer choses a big ballad and screams his or her head off, the fact that s/he hits 6 different notes (none of them in tune) where one is required, will attract a bucketful of votes.  And the UK ones are nearly as bad...
I also note some begrudgrery towards a certain Sir Bob - yeah. he's a bit pompous, but he did write some classic songs; he also hit the nail on the head about this "banana republic" - and when you read the Moriarty Report, wasn't he absolutely right?

I don't agree that Irish audiences haven't a note in their heads.
You're comparing two completely different things when you compare audiences who listened to showbands with audiences who vote in these stupid "Talent Shows" on TV nowadays.
By the way, Sir Bob is more than a little conceited. Fair enough he wrote a couple of good songs but that hardly qualifies him to be an expert on everything including things he knows absolutely nothing about 8)

I disagree with the comment: 'Irish audiences are primarily to blame: they haven't got a note in their heads'. We are not talking about talent shows, we are making comments on Irish Showbands & their demise. Do you honestly think that the paying public would go out in all weathers, travel any amount of miles, to hear & dance to  'a large number of chancers and third-rate musicians'? I for one certainly wouldn't. Do we particularly care if they used session musicians on their recordings? We went to dances to listen to 'live' music...to be entertained & have a good time. Fair enough to say that maybe some of the 'warm-up' bands were a bit rough round the edges, but even some of those went on to be the 'main attraction'. Bands like Tweed, the Memories & Chips were brilliant to see perform. I suppose I could add some C&W bands in there too. But at the end of the day, it was the good old paying public that judged whether these bands were booked again at a venue. If the crowds didn't turn out, then the bands weren't asked back.
Isn't it good to see so many members give their opinions on this topic?  ;)

8) 8) i think it was just down to money, goups were3/6 people, no brass .fue guitars an drums .some eletronics.showbands mostly a big staff.also discos very cheap for venues.  tweed top shelf.they used 2 play a song called :tokoloshe man by john kongos:i have just got original song after al these years. happy new year to all. ??? 8) 8) 8)

Some of the later bands were definitely very talented, that cannot be denied. But ask yourself why? In the early showband days, there was no almost no music on Radio Eireann apart from the sponsored programmes.  TV was in it's infancy in Ireland, Telefis Eireann did  not cater for young people at all and it was very difficult to get BBC or UTV.  All that was available was the local ballroom and whatever band turned up, good, bad or indifferent,  got the local crowd regardless.  In Dublin there was more choice, so more competition between bands.  
As things improved for the audiences and music was available from more sources, interest in the showbands declined: because the music from those other sources was better!
To say that bands didn't get booked again if they were no good was not strictly true: remember a small number of managers handled the major bands, and they used the successful bands to leverage their bookings for their new proteges.  Ballroom managers were told: "You can have band ABC next month if you take band XYZ the following week."
Much is made in other discussions on this site of the highly talented and successful musicians who cut their teeth in showbands (Rory Gallagher and Van The Man, for example), as if this is proof that showbands were good; however, the converse is true - they could not get away quick enough from the showband scene and play real music with real musicians.
I stand over my premise that a serious lack of talent did contribute to the demise of the showband scene.

Carry on Luap and make your points. But you're wrong. D'ya know why??? Because I'm right and the two of us can't be ;D ;D ;D

[quote author=liamo /Carry on Luap and make your points. But you're wrong. D'ya know why??? Because I'm right and the two of us can't be /quote]

Liamo, I've seem your comments on the Bob Geldof thread (the administrator should merge these two threads) and this is typical of how you respond to people who make sensible points.  Luap has made some important points and all you can do is sneer.

Earlier, another contributor wrote:
"we shouldn't be blinded by nostalgia because for every good showband there were a dozen pretty dire ones, but then I guess it didn't really matter because the main reason we attended a dance was to get a woman or a man , the music was a very poor second.  "
Another goes  "It was every country girls dream to attended a dance and meet prince charming (a wealthy farmer hopefully) and live happily ever after."

Makes sense to me...I remember the inside of a few dance halls but I wasn't there for the ceili or bad elvis impersonators or country&sh1t3 that was rolling from the bandstand...

Dear God Whistle, I'm delighted you arrived along to teach me.
May I respectfully suggest that before you start sounding off at people (like myself in this case), that you do a bit of revision on grammer.
There is a vast difference between SNEERING and HAVING A JOKE.
Then of course, perhaps you don't have a sense of humour.
Read my comments again. The majority of them make good points as well!!!!
A few are of the JOVIAL nature, not SNEERS.

[quote author=liamo[27]Dear God Whistle, I'm delig....[/quote]

recognition finally for my deity status....!

No intention to offend liamo, and I haven't had time to read all of your many posts. I'll be more careful in future (new year's resolution, perhaps)

There y'are Whistle. Just like Sir Bob in the other tread, you make comments without knowing the facts ::)

Happy 2007 to ya ;)

true to form, attack the man not the topic

Whistle. At least be consistent.

In an earlier post you say you've seen my comments and all I can do is sneer.
When I correct you on that you say, no intention to offend and you haven't read all my comments.

When I bring that to your notice you revert to type and say I'm being true to form.

Make up your mind!!!
Either you've read my comments or you haven't.
Either you intend to offend or you don't.

Or would it have something to do with my comments not agreeing with yours???

A small addition to the above post.

Whistle, I don't know how you construe that I "attacked the man". No way, I attacked what the man said!!!!!

As regards "Typical" and "True to Form"++++

There's a difference between us. Unlike you I wouldn't even try to hazard a guess as to what's "Typical" or "True to Form" for you. I don't know you , have never met you  and wouldn.t assume to have the knowledge to judge you or anyone else, on the basis of a few forum posts.
I definitely wouldn't be offensive or insulting to anyone on such flimsy knowledge.

Hi Whistle - I suggest that you don't dignify this diatribe with a reply.  Your magnanimity places you on the higher ground.  It's such a pity people have  to take things so personally and its unfair to other visitors to have to scroll through such petulance.  That said, you got the guy to write more words than he has ever done in a single post!

How fortunate we are to be honoured by yet another expert visiting.

there's a famous story about CBS A&R man Jackie Hayden going to his head office in London in the early 70s with demos of a young band he wanted to sign.  The band was U2, and he was told that long hair and guitars was a 60s thing, and that CBS had no intention of signing them internationally (he could waste his paltry Irish budget on them if he so wished). They signed up with Island Records, and the rest is history.  
So saying that the showbands are a thing of the past may be wrong; if a good showband came together (and I don't mean all the - with respect - old veterans reforming) with talented musicians who could write their own material AND do good covers, who knows, the punters may go for it!
Anyone see Jools Holland on New Years Eve? It struck me that they were just like a showband minus the uniforms - great rythm section, incredible brass and strong backing vocals behind a number of different guest artists.
Remember, live music is not dead, there's a lot of great musos out there and a lot of punters are still willing to shell out good money to hear them.

"How fortunate we are to be honoured by yet another expert visiting" posted by liamo
Visiting? sorry, mate, I'm a member just like you - or is this your exclusive club?

Hiya lads... How about we start a new thread possibly titled: 'We can't agree to disagree' or better still: 'You're picking on me, so I'll have a go at you'.... :P. Honestly! Are we not all civilised adults here? Unlike the Sex Pistols who were tone deaf eejits who had the weirdest looking fans that I've ever seen (Oh! dear..Have I started something else off now? ;D)

have to agree with Luap about Jools Holland, fantastic musician, fantastic band. And how  do they get such a tremenduous sound with so many acts all on a live show?  RTE can't even get one band playing on the Late Late to sound good!
Not a bad idea about getting a bunch of young whipper-snappers together to form a new showband, maybe the time is ripe again?  Good music will always find an audience.
I too heard that story about U2 and CBS, and was it CBS who also turned down the Beatles all those years before that?

"Visiting?" posted by Luap. You were visiting at that particular time just as I am now.

[quote author=Trisha]Hiya lads... How about we start a new thread possibly titled: 'We can't agree to disagree' or better still: 'You're picking on me, so I'll have a go at you'.... :P. Honestly! Are we not all civilised adults here?[/quote]

Ah, Trisha, we're only havin a laff!  it's not going to come to blows -  unless luap insults me ONE MORE TIME!  Then me and liamo will kick his ass to bits, won't we liamo?

anyaway, I think this thread has reached its demise just like the showbands, we've said all there is to say and all that's left is to insult each other coz we'll never 100% agree!  But it was fun while it lasted (and you started it Trisha, well done!)