Just introducing myself.

Razieluk, live in Sussex, England (not far from Brighton). Love Ireland and traditional Irish music. Listen to RadioCelt when I can at work (no broadband at home).

Have an MP3 player (not iPod) with over 350 Irish trad tracks on.

Am 35 (until Friday), married, no children.

Think that's about all for now.

So hi.  :D

Good to meet you young fellow and welcome. I vaguely remember being your age back in the misty past ;D

Hello,  ;D
I live in Northamptonshire (a bit north from you) & I'd like to say that you will get so much enjoyment from this site. You're never alone here.  ;) I lived in Ireland for a good few years so grew up listening to Irish music. I only joined in January & this site is a wealth of info.
So welcome
Trisha

Hi Trisha, You're right when you say "You're never alone". I know you weren't addressing me when you said that but very regularly, since you joined, I notice you're on the site at the same time as me :o

Hiya Liamo!
Yes, you're right. I am on the site nearly every evening. And no, I wasn't really addressing you but now that you mention it, we must live in the same time zone ( England & Ireland?). I'm forever exploring the many pages in the site & I must say that it is presented very well. So there...that's my bit said for the night (I think!)  :)
Trisha

Good to meet you Trisha. Same time zone. I'm in the Emerald(????) Isle. Right on the east coast, Arklow County Wicklow.
Take Care. Liamo 8)

So what do the rest of us mere mortals have to do to get such a lovely warm welcome from the omnipotent Liamo?
;D
Youre Hopefully

Dee

Well, thank you all for the warm welcome.

Oh Dee of the angelic vocal chords, I've been called many a thing, but Omnipitent!!!!!! :-[. Do accept my humblest apologies and I here and now give you a most hearty welcome to the site ;).

Hiya all!  :)
It's a lovely part of the country that you're from, Liamo. As for being called 'imnipotent', I had to look it up in the dictionary to see what it meant!  :-[ Does someone know you that well? I think it's nice when you're welcomed in by an 'older' member -real neighbourly.
Regards
Trisha

Hahahahah,
I feel soooooo much better now, Many thanks Liam.
You and I are ofeten on at the same time at night actually so if boredom gets the better of you shout me.
The basic intention for the use of the word Omnipotent was to point out that there is no one above Liam, he is a true VIP on here (apologies to the moderator! hope you aren't offended)
I too reside in the UK on the beautiful south coast.

Anyone up for a chat say hi and I'm sure we can chat real time on msn if you have messenger.

Welcome to the other 'Newbies'

Cheers

Dee

Hiya ladies. I don't know how you know my age Trisha (an older Member) >:(. The truth hurts.
Obviously Dee, you don't know me when you say there is no one above. At the moment there's not as I am upstairs.
It's great to meet both you young ladies, and it's lovely to see some extra activity on the forum.
To echo what was said earlier--- a big welcome to all new members. I don't think that can get me in to trouble 8)

I don't know how old you are Liam,
and evidently you don't know how old I am as I haven't been called a young lady for quite a while  :-/
However, it's nice to be thought of that way irrespective of the meaning.
I think The other 'Young Lady' was referring to that fact that you have been a member longer. Note how we newer members are referred to as 'Junior' hah!
That tickled me.
Dee

I was just being smart. I figured that was what was meant by "Older" member. And sure Dee you're as young as you feel. Come to think of it I don't feel very young at the moment ::)

Oh Dear, why not?

Me too come to think of it, but then I've just had an ankle joint replacement thanks to a serious break when I was with Vienna. Makes me feel like an old woman...yyyeeeeuuuuuk

So tell me your Story Laim?
Cheers

Dee

Hi trisha,I am one of the older members on here,I live in Leicestershire not far from you,loved the showbands,they were great times weren't they?Peter Hayden,Nevadas drummer lives in South Northants,near Daventry. Chat to Peter occasionly,nice guy,brillant drummer,fascinated by the showbands though I am English,keep in touch with several people from those days. :D :D

Sorry to hear about your ankle Dee. You must be joking!! Tell you my story on a public forum :o. Anyway there wouldn't be enough room ;)

hahahahahahh
Ok, abbreviate!  Just tell me the basics...who, when, what. why, and IF!
You can see where I've been(musically speaking that is!)
X

Dee, You can see onthe site where I've been musically too.
I notice from another post that you don't seem to be overly enamoured with Mr O'Dowd :o

Hi all!
My comment was meant to be complimentary Liamo (although it sounded rather cheeky).  I wouldn't have a clue about your age but judging by your 'vast knowledge' of the Irish music scene. One can only assume you're senior in age than Dee & myself...(no offence  ;D) Who started this topic anyway?
Keep happy...
Trisha

I knew what you meant Trisha but your assumtion was correct anyway. I know there was no offence intended and none was taken. Can't remember who started the topic but who cares. It's a bit of craic ;D
Stay Hppy Yourself.
Again I think it's great to have a bit of activity on the forum.
One thing I'm not sure of is my having a vast knowledge of the scene :-/

Llamo it's great talking about the showbands isn't it?Remember seeing Shaun O'Dowd with Tommy Drennan at the National,first showband I saw in 1975,I have a couple of Starband tracks on an album at home,Dee has a great voice,there were some great bands around and fantastic singers,so grateful for Gerry for setting this site up! Love talking about those days ,they were the best :D :D :D

Hi Celebrity, Unfortunately for me or fortunatly for you, my old days are older than yours, the 60s. I'm getting surrounded by youngsters like yourself, Trisha and Dee. I'm not complaining as it's making me feel young :o
True what you say that it's great talking about the old days and the showbands. People say you can't live in the past and on Nostalgia but its certainly worth a try ;D

Hi all,
Oh! how lovely it is to be referred to as a 'youngster'. I haven't been called that in a long time! Liamo, I remember the '60's (vaguely). The business that my family had in Ireland, meant that I got to meet most of the bands. I may even have met you at some time. I don't know your 'proper' name or what you did, so I can't say. Isn't it nice that so many fans of Irish music can converse through this forum?
Trisha

I doubt if you met me Trisha. I kinda finished around '66 but continued onaround my own locality for a long time after that.
I'll say this much. You few latest members have really livened up the forum and it's great to meet people with a common interest.
I have made a few very good friends through this and another forum. I've never met them but they are now good friends 8)

:-* :-* ;)when I first came across this site by accident I was so emotional, I cried for 2 hours whilst I looked through and saw all those names I remembered. I noted all the wonderful performers who had died and wished I could turn the clock back.
It was extraordinary finding a site that had members who remembered the showband era so well and surthmore to discover people who remember me and even have some of my recordings is truly an amazing experience.
Wow, I owe  huge thank you to Gerry, and to all of you who have put me in touch with old friends and introduced me to some new.
I would love to sit in a pub, in the back of beyond, with all of you and chew the cud for hours over the old times, the old heads, the old gigs....but most of all the old magic- the one thing that seems to tie us all together. The old, the new and those who never were involved but feel it anyway:
Thanks to all of you for cheering up a 40 something womans existance.
YEEEEHAAAAA!
Anyone with their finger down their throat yet?

I meant every word. :-*   :-*

:) :)Hi everyone,Thanks llamo for being called a youngster,Dee you have summed up the way I feel about the showbands,when I talk to people on the phone oremail either fans or performers there is so much passion,the showbands will never die,it broke my heart when  the National was pulled down,I could sit in a pub and talk about it for hours on end,I wasn't a performer but on the fringe,so still get emotional about those golden days,it is thanks to all of you and Gerry,keeping everything going.Keep the faith!Pete aka celebrity.P.s Dee hope the ankle gets better soon! :)

You See????

That's what it's all about!

That's what pulls us all together, camaraderie!!!!!

Thank you for all the well wishing comments about the ankle, it's lovely to get so many comments.
Ironic to think it all happened when I was in the showband circuit!
Ok , quick story:
I had done a couple of V.O.'s for demo's for the Irish song contest in the studio. We finished late, very late. Went for the last drink of the night at Barbarella's ( Who remembers that one?) We had to leave at closing time about half an hour later and as we walked out the door the song writer of the tracks I had recorded that night said these infamous words 'BREAK A LEG'  So, ever obliging as I was...I did!...I walked a further few steps and he and another friend were ahead of me , I felt something snap and in the almost pitch black on that street outside the club, I looked down and saw my foot at 90 degrees to my leg!!!!!!!!! eeeeyyyuuuuuu!
I sat down and straightened it out...later I was convinced I would win thye Eurovision as both Dana and Johnny Logan had won sat on stools. I most definitely would spend a while singing on stools!
Not to be though, the song I recorded that night came 10th and 8 were showcased.
That break required a screw fixation, which went on to cause acute arthritis after about 10/15 years.
So...now I have a new ankle and fond memories of singing and touring Denmark (as per thye pics on the site) on crutches and Jiving on them on a very unsteady boat over there.

Oops, sorry...got a bit carried away there. I'll hush up now and let someone else have the mic   ;D ;D ;D

Sorry for this Dee, but I can't help myself saying; "That's a cracking Story". Seriously I know it's anything but funny but I had to say.
There's a new friend lost :-[

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

I've heard a few quips about my ankle but that a first..lol
The Irish have always been good at laughing at themselves...and what a good thing that is too....!

But Seriously, it's the last time I'll go pot-holing!
X
Nite all
Dee

Dee, Ithought you were asleep but I see you're still on. You won't be dug out of it in the morning ::) Of Course I fogot, you're a youngster.
Glad to see you have a good sense of humour

I have 2 great senses of humour...one for each face.... >:(


lolol

Only joshing wit ya!
X
til tomoz
X

Hi guys  ;D
Thought I'd wish one of the 'newbies' Razieluk a Happy Birthday for Friday (that is if I read the message right). This site is getting cracking (sorry Dee). I haven't laughed so much in ages. The goings on (message-wise) are hilarious. Keep it up...
Trisha

Hi everyone! ;D ;D ;D ;D It's lovely being able to chat to you and chew the cud about the showbands,they were the best times of my life,so lovely to chat with you Llamo,Trisha and not forgetting Dee,also many thanks  to Gerry for organising it.Dee know what you mean about having two heads,well I was born and bred in England but feel irish,sometimes I am not sure which nationality I am,would loved to have been in a showband instead of on the fringe! Best Wishes,Pete. :D :D :D

Hi to Trisha Liamo and Celebrity,
Sorry I haven't been around for a couple of nights....I notice it goes quiet in here when I'm not winding you nice people up!

Tell about your connection to tyhe showband thing Celebrity.
Also you Trisha, what's your connection?

Cheers

Dee

Hi Dee,
The main connection that I have is that we (my family) had a 24hr station in the Midlands (from '64 - '78 ) & nearly all the bands called in on their way to & from gigs. So many of those guys n gals became good friends. So when I came across this site, like you, I was quite emotional to see so many familar faces. Also, it's lovely to 'meet' people who share the same interest.  :)
Trisha

Hi Dee,You enquired about my connection to the showbands,I had a small semi pro entertainment agency in England,a friend who wasa singer recommended going to Ireland on holiday in 1975,I followed her advice and fell in love with the showbands.A couple of people in them became close friends,also gave me a lot of encouragement,I didn't actually represent any showbands but used to take showband records in to my local radio station and also guested on there talking about the showbands.I love chatting to people about the showbands,one former showband singer is a n email penpal .still keep in touch with fans/showband people.Hi to Llamo and Trisha.Best Wishes,Pete. :D :D :D :D :D

Hiya Pete 8)

Hiya Pete,
Good to hear from ya!

;DGreat, now I feel like I've know y'all for years
XXX ;D

Thanks for the info
:o

:D Hiya Pete. How's things in Leicestershire today. Grey & boring in Northants... :'(

Hi trisha,NIice to hear from you in Northants,it is about the same here grey and boring,there is very little showband music here now in Leicester,there used to be a great club in the city which had showbands from time to time, there usewd to be the paddock in Harpole which had showbands, my friends band New Blues played there in your county.Take care.Best Wishes,Pete. :D