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the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world
Twenty years ago after a storming gig in Galway, high on the improbability if it all, or perhaps just high, a colleague wrote that De Dannan were the 'greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world'. This used to be a highly prized accolade, and to give it to a group who played no rock'n'roll at all in the accepted sense, seemed a tad perverse.
But I knew what he meant, and he knew what he meant, in his delirium. We did not realise at the time that Phil Lynott himself once arrived at a Boston pub to see his old house-mate Alec Finn and the boys play, only to be barred because of the colour of his skin. When the boys joined Philo out on the pavement in solidarity, perhaps they debated which of them belonged to the greatest rock'n'roll band in the world, perhaps it went without saying. De Dannan could always play at rock gatherings with no harm done to the vibe and often, a raising of the collective spirits broken down by too-familiar riffs on top of the usual ravages. But it wasn't just their free booting attitude that enabled De Dannan to rise above all musical ghettoes. There was also something magical at the centre of the music, a swagger, a primal energy, some vast intelligence in the playing of Frankie Gavin or Mairtín O'Connor that you find only in powerful and profound music, be it coming out of Memphis or Maam Valley, Yehudi Menuhin or Hudie McMenamin.
And De Dannan could win fans across the spectrum by their acumen alone, their understated charisma devoid of bucklepping, rather than by sitting in the proverbial Amsterdam window giving the glad eye to any passing rock star with a longing on him for a rootsy experience.
You don't get to be "the greatest rock'n'roll band in the world" like that. It was also clear from the outset that De Dannan could do "Honky Tonk Women", but The Stones couldn't necessarily do "The Maids of Mullaghmore", much though they would undoubtedly relish it, try though they might. These things were clear to a few of us anyway, way back, and I suppose we have to be right about something.
Declan Lynch
album note
We have had 'Bringing It All Back Home' and it's claim that American popular music originates from Irish traditional music and song. What is not commonly known is that much of Irish music derives from Rock and Roll.
Many Seanos tunes and songs were composed and sung by the likes of Ruari McOrbigh (alias Roy Orbison). Then there's Micho and Triona Ni Turner. And what about the highly successful 'Banrion' (Queen). The late, great Sean O'Líonnán, late of Liverpool, and let us not forget Pearsaigh O'Sledge and of course the great Ardri himself, Aran O'Prestlaigh.
This album is a tribute to them and many others, too numerous to mention, who are legends of the great pantheon of Rock and Roll originators of Irish Music as we know it today, and hopefully it will revive those old traditional favourites from the Anglo-American Celtic Shmeltic diaspora.
Oh! For the lonesome cry of the Stratacaster wow wow pedal and ancient Celtic fuzz box. The lilting whisper of the Hammond organ, evoking a sweet, Gaelic west wind. The lamenting Banshee wail of an old Hohner harmonica. The tribal thud of the kick drum, snare and high hat on the backbeat. All combined in exquisite harmony through the traditional Irish two thousand watt stack with bass bins.
Oh! Oh!! Columba's sweet music!
Oh! Oh!! Hibernia Sing On!
Oh! Oh!! Oh!!!
OH NO!!!!
Alec Finn and John Faulkner
acknowledgements
De Dannan would like to thank: John Dunford and all at Hummingbird Records, especially Catherine Kirby and Juliet Martin for their support over the last year, Paul Mulligan of Absolute Music, Kinvara, Leonie King for use of the Great Hall, Oranmore Castle, Leon O'Neill, Quentin Guine and Paul Johnson for braving a wet and cold Galway week, and a special thank you to Derek Hickey for his contribution to the arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody. All at Totally Wired especially Ivan O'Shea and Keith McDonnell, Aidan at Windmill Lane, and finally our friends and family for putting up with us for another year and another album.
