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Time Machine (1969-1979)

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

The Story

Mark I

The "Time Machine" was possibly one of the most unusual groups that played the circuit during the showband era. The band started as a five piece and there seemed to be some confusion about where they were based. Usually they were listed as a Mayo band (based in Claremorris) but they were also occasionally advertised as a Galway band. As far as we can tell, the original lineup was: Gabriel Henaghan (vocals),  Sean Holleran (guitar), John Higgins (bass), Paddy Glynn (drums) and John Walsh (guitar). They were managed by 16-year-old Kiltimagh lad, Louis Walsh (yes, the same one from the X Factor, Boyzone and Westlife.)

The first gig we could find for them was April 29th, 1969 in Claremorris. In fact most of their early gigs were centered in Mayo for the first year and usually in ballrooms where they were described as a pop band. They also did quite a lot of "relief" work in places like the Royal Ballroom in Castlebar. By early 1970, they were making a name for themselves regionally and started to garner some attention. As with many groups back then, it wasn't long before some of their members abandoned the group scene to join a showband. Drummer Paddy Glynn was the first to leave when he joined the Ballyhaunis-based Niagra Showband we think in late 1969. He would late joined the New Blues.

Early 1970 would be a difficult time for the band as in May bass player John Higgins left the band to join Paddy in the Niagra. At the same time lead singer Gabriel left the band to "concentrate on his day job." Although the newspaper headline said the band was "in trouble," Louis assured everyone that the band was "moving forward." An article in July would report that the band was back on the road after a short break during which they looked for a new bass player. We assume guitarist John Walsh did not return to the lineup as they were now a three piece and would stay that way for the next few years.

The new lineup was Sean Holleran (guitar), Joe Joyce (drums) and Kiltimagh lad Gerard McLoughlin (bass). In August, Louis would take out an advert in the Irish Independent "Dance Band" classifieds, a move normally made by larger showbands at the time. The next few years would see the band moving from pop to a more rock-based sound, which also created some interesting gigs such as a two band session with country queen Margo and her Country Folk.

By late 1970 / early 1971 the band was expanding its reputation and geographic reach now playing gigs in Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo with one of their most impressive gigs (I was there that night, a student at Summerhill College) playing support (i.e., relief) to Status Quo. Within a matter of months the band was playing much further afield with gigs as far away as Bantry in County Cork. At that time the only other band that was playing "ballroom" gigs was Limerick's Reform who had hit the road as a four piece in 1968 and by 1970 were also a three piece band.

In early 1972, the band started to catch the attention of Pat Egan, Spotlight magazine's "rock guru" when they played support to Rory Gallagher's gig in Dublin's National Stadium (at that time the only major venue for music gigs in the country). They also were now playing gigs on the Dublin club scene including Sergeant Pepper's among others. In one sense the little country trio from Claremorris had "arrived" on the national scene. Despite the recognition the band were still considered a long way from the other three piece groups making names for themselves on the Dublin scene like Thin Lizzy, Skid Row, and Rory Gallagher's band.

By late 1972, it seemed the band was facing a dilemma as they continued to grow their reputation and had played support to several major bands (including Thin Lizzy) but they needed to take the "next step" which was for most bands, a single. At the same time, they had been accepted as one of the top "local" band in the country as many of the other major bands had left for England by this time. Pat Egan rated them as the third best in the country. This was a strange time for the band as one night they would be rubbing shoulders with Ireland rock elite in the Stadium and a few nights later playing a "pop night out" in Ballyhaunis or the Ballyjamesduff Dancing Festival.  

Finally in October, 1972 they released their first single, "Railroad"  a cover of Status Quo's early hit with "Going Down Down Down" on the B-side on the Play label, (which also featured artists like Brendan Shine and the Swallows). The single was well received, but did not make the charts (few records did at the time). The band would play on for a few months and suddenly in early 1973, two of the three members decided to call it quits.

Mark II

There was a report in the Connaught Telegraph on March 2, 1973 that said Sean and Gerard had decided to quit the band to go back to their studies and Louis found replacements in Galway band The Wild Breed's Eamon Cummins (guitar) and Frank O'Connor (bass) to replace the lads. However there were problems which led to the whole thing being scrapped and the Wild Breed remaining together.

In February, 1973 Louis Walsh found himself without a band when the original Time Machine called it quits. However, there were still gigs on the books so he did what any good manager would do: he found another band (called Freeway) changed their name and put them on the road as the "new look" Time Machine. What was somewhat strange was that the new band was based in Dublin. The lineup of this band was Austin Smith (vocals), Pat Savage (guitar), Sean Creighton (bass) and Derrick Teeling (drums). Perhaps the strangest thing about the change was that nobody seemed to notice. Despite the fact that it was a totally different band, adverts and reports kept talking about how well the previous incarnation had done even though this lineup had nothing to do with the previous one...strange!

Not only could the new band not be called "a rock group from the West," but their influences were now quoted in reports (see below) as being influenced "Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young as well as the Moody Blues." Interestingly, in April the band would once again support Status Quo (although this time in the National Stadium) so Louis was still working his magic. As the year progressed, the "new look" band filled their new shoes perfectly and never missed a beat. They continued to enjoy the same success as the previous lineup.   

However, everything was no going well for the new look band. By June of 1973 (about four months after assuming the new name) Austin Smith and Sean Creighton had left the band and bass player Kevin Jennings was added to make the band a three piece once again. 

Meanwhile, in early 1974 Sean and Joe formed a new band called Bratt which also included Tom Mylett on bass. The band was being managed by Paul Claffey.

   

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Time Machine (RF) Time Machine (RF) Time Machine (RF) Time Machine (RF)

Time Machine - 1973

Time Machine (RF) Time Machine (RF) Time Machine - 1969 Time Machine - 1970 Time Machine - 1970
Time Machine - 1970 Time Machine - 1970 Time Machine - 1970 Time Machine - 1970 Time Machine - 1971
Time Machine - 1972 Time Machine - 1972 Time Machine - 1972 Time Machine - 1972 Time Machine - 1973
 
Time Machine - 1973 Time Machine - 1973 Time Machine - 1973 Bratt - 1974 Coming Soon
         
Time Machine - 1973 Time Machine - 1973 Time Machine - 1973 Time Machine - 1972 Coming Soon
Years Vocals Guitar Bass Drums Gtr / Keyboards
April
1969
Gabriel "Gabe"
Henaghan
Sean
Holleran
John
Higgins
Paddy
Glynn
John
Walsh
Dec
1969
Gabriel "Gabe"
Henaghan
Sean
Holleran
John
Higgins
Joe "Joey"
Joyce
John
Walsh
July
1970
  Sean
Holleran
Gerard "Gerry"
McLoughlin
Joe "Joey"
Joyce
 
March
1973
Austin
Smith
Pat
Savage
Sean
Creighton
Derrick
Teeling
 
June
1973
  Pat
Savage
Kevin
Jennings
Derrick
Teeling
 
March
1978
Annie
More
Chris
Hand
Tommy
Smith
Derrick
Teeling
David
Jameson

Discography

Railroad / Going Down Down Down
Play Records - PLAY 41 - 1972

Audio Clips

         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Gabriel Henaghan:
Sean Holleran:
John Higgins:
Paddy Glynn:
Band Member:
Band Member:

 


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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006