I would like to add my feeling of shock and sadness at learning of the death of Mickey O'Neill. I met Mickey when we both turned up to audition for the resident band in the Carousel Club in Manchester. We were both hired and soon after Mickey got me into his digs. We used to go to the movies on our nights off and we often went for a pint afterwards although he never drank himself.
We both joined the Idaho the following year (it was a revisit in my case) and saw a lot of action in Germany and Libya as well as Opportunity Knocks. I will second "woody allen" in confirming that Mickey was one of the funniest people I have ever known, as well as being a supremely talented drummer. I have researched the Showband Scene a lot and I have never seen someone turn up in so many photos of great bands. The Capitol, The Great Eight, The Great Seven-he was in them all.  I only shared a couple of years with him but I have never forgotten him. God Bless-Mickey