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The Undertones

This article is about the punk rock band. For other uses, see Undertones (disambiguation).

The Undertones
The Undertones on stage in 2022
The Undertones on stage in 2022
Background information
OriginDerry, Northern Ireland
Genres
DiscographyThe Undertones discography
Years active
  • 1974–1983
  • 1999–present
Labels
Members
Past members
WebsiteTheUndertones.com

The Undertones are a rock band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. From 1975 to 1983, the Undertones consisted of Feargal Sharkey (vocals), John O'Neill (rhythm guitar, vocals), Damian O'Neill (lead guitar, vocals), Michael Bradley (bass, vocals) and Billy Doherty (drums).[5] Much of the earlier Undertones material drew influence from punk rock and new wave; the Undertones also incorporated elements of rock, glam rock and post-punk into material released after 1979, before citing soul and Motown as the influence for the material released upon their final album.[6] The Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums between 1978 and 1983 before Sharkey announced his intention to leave the band in May 1983,[7] citing musical differences as the reason for the break up.[8]

Despite the backdrop of the Troubles in Derry and across Northern Ireland, the vast majority (though not all) of the material the Undertones released focused not upon the political climate,[9] but upon issues such as adolescence, teenage angst and heartbreak. AllMusic has stated that guitarists John and Damian O'Neill "mated infectious guitar hooks to 1960s garage, 1970s glam rock, and Feargal Sharkey's signature vocal quaver."[8]

In 1999, the Undertones reformed, replacing lead singer Sharkey with Paul McLoone.[10]

The Undertones remain the most successful band to have emerged from Derry,[9] and one of the most successful bands to have emerged from Northern Ireland.[11]

  1. ^ Smyth, Gerry (2005). Noisy Island: A Short History of Irish Popular Music. Cork University Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-85918-387-8.
  2. ^ Heller, Jason (26 February 2018). "How 1978 Kicked Off the Explosion of Pop-Punk". Noisey. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  3. ^ McLoone, Martin (2008). Film, Media and Popular Culture in Ireland: Cityscapes, Landscapes, Soundscapes. Irish Academic Press. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-7165-2935-4.
  4. ^ Allan, Mark. "Feargal Sharkey | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. ^ Teenage Kicks: My Life as an Undertone ISBN 978-1-78558-180-9 p. 55
  6. ^ Teenage Kicks: My Life as an Undertone ISBN 978-1-78558-180-9 pp. 207-208
  7. ^ "Undertones". BBC Radio 1. November 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b Heibutzki, Ralph (24 October 2003). "The Undertones". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Teenage Kicks: The story of The Undertones". BBC News. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  10. ^ Live review: The Undertones, Playhouse, Whitley Bay - The Shields Gazette
  11. ^ "Teenage Kicks: The story of The Undertones". BBC News. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
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