Harp Bar Reunion
THE STORY CONTINUES....HARP BAR REUNION 8th SEPTEMBER 2012 #1
Johnny Thunders once sang ‘You can’t put your arms around a Memory’ but I LOVE NOSTALGIA and was thrilled that another chapter has been written in the HARP BAR STORY, with a reunion on Saturday 8th September at the Black Box, Hill Street near the old Harp Bar site. The much anticipated evening had been building for months with each band slowly being added to the line up and I was left wondering who of the old crowd would be there, would I recognise anyone and even more would anyone recognise me after 35 years!!
My evening started with some hospitality at the WAR ZONE CENTRE where a few drinks and nibbles had been arranged by Petesy to toast absent friends, always remembered and never to be forgotten!...... Bill Guiney, Chuck, Cowser and Owen Howell.
Then onward to HILL STREET. I’ll never forget walking up the old cobbled stone street to the HARP BAR in 1978, to meet up with like minded people across the city who loved PuNk and to listen to some of the best PuNk bands around, the 8th September was no different. There was a buzz in Hill Street, but this time no bollards, caged entrance or barbed wire!!
I arrived a wee bit late due to drinkies at War Zone but thankfully heard Davy T and SHOCK TREATMENT 21 ranting (his words not mine) the now excellent classic ‘Belfast Telegraph’. After a spectacular performance at the BBA festival in Bangor, ST21 deserve all the applause and attention they are receiving at the minute, a truly experienced reformed PuNk band with a 21st Century attitude and sound!
PROTEX... played nothing short of brilliance with their short snappy power pop PuNk... So I stopped taking photos for a while to listen and was reminded how great our wee punk scene do Pop PuNk so well with songs like ‘Strange Obsessions’ ‘Don’t ring me Up’ and A Place in Your Heart’. A great wee band!
HENRY CLUNEY blasted out all the old SLF classics taking us back to the cries of 78 and an Alternative Ulster. Shame the rest of SLF couldn’t make it though..... but I suppose that’s rock n roll and an imminent world tour, but we won’t forget they were made in Belfast first!
The Harp Bar has been well documented in the past with The Outcasts and Rudi being the most prominent named bands at the time, but tonight was the night for THE ANDROIDS to show those who have only ever read about them how fantastic they really were/are!! After only a couple of rehearsals it felt like Joe, Asa and Billy have never been away. The Androids are back.... with another legendary set and with it all the nostalgia from those first gigs when they packed out the Harp Lounge all dressed in white, Joe wearing a beret and sunglasses standing in front of their backdrop with their name in large letters along with their fans too. No one would ever have guessed how nervous they were, but once they ripped into ‘Lipstick Heroes’ it was business as usual. I just hope this will not be a one off gig, they are too brilliant to go back into hibernation again and without doubt was a real highlight of the night for me!
After seeing THE OUTCASTS play on the main stage at Rebellion in 2011 I was filled with nostalgia and returned home to set up ‘The Harp Bar, Belfast’ Facebook page to document the home of Belfast PuNk. I’ve seen them play a few classic gigs since... but tonight they came home to their crowd and rocked the Black Box just as they did back in the day. There isn’t a lot to add that hasn’t already been said about The Outcasts except they just keep getting better and better... and so does Greg’s ‘Stand up routine’ between songs!! ;-)
I as much as anyone was excited to see Des, Charlie and Fletch performing as STAGE B again with their weird and wonderful set list. Despite technical problems they carried us into their bizarre world in the shape of Lizzi Borden, Recall and Light on the Hillside. The songs are timeless and the nostalgia attached to the band adds to the love of them, Stage B are an exceptional band adding diversity to NI PuNk and that will never change.
The Black Box by this stage had all the tension and excitement of the Harp Bar glory days with the bands taking the stage and MC/DJ TERRI HOOLEY playing some unforgettable sounds from 1978, ....... time stood still for a while and it wasn’t long before old friendships were rekindled and memories shared, making it quite an emotional night. Thank you to those who said hello after 35 years, it really was good to see you again and hope it’s not so long to the next time.
Whilst taking some photos I met up with two original punks Alan Revell and Joss Cochrane from the old Viking days and immediately stopped to swap stories. As the style and fashion of PuNk made a clear statement as much as the music, these two 19 year old young punks were way ahead of their time setting fashion trends each week in the Viking Club in Bangor, only to be carried on at the Harp Bar by William McMaster (Curley). William was another character who should never be forgotten, he once said that ‘If it was fashionable to wear a brick on his head he would do it’ He was unique to Belfast and I always thought of him as our very own Boy George or should that be Madame George!! There were other forgotten people from back then with originality who set the trends, they shocked the public wearing the Bin Bags, safety pins and chains when flairs and long hair were the only acceptable dress code of the day, paving the way for others and making it more acceptable to walk through Corn Market with a Mohican in the latter years. But that’s how it was in 1977 and what the reunion meant to me....it wasn’t just about how good the bands are sounding in 2012, but how it brought back a time, a place and a special group of friends who shared memories of teenage angst yelling against the backdrop of one of the most troubled cities in the world with the help of Rudi, The Outcasts, Rufrex, The Androids, Sex Pistols and The Clash !!!
One of the most moving moments of the evening was a clip from Good Vibrations: The Movie, when the Black Box fell silent, no one moved and every one’s eyes fixed on the screen reminding us of the of Terri’s involvement in the punk scene, the young punks, the Bands and the Harp Bar days.
As the night went on I could hear The Defects ‘feels like a Saturday in Hill Street’ resonating in my head all through the night as the punks showed their appreciation for each of the bands who all made a special effort to be there. The crowd consisted of those who where there at the Harp Bar, those who wanted to be there and those who just came along for the ride. It was so good to see everyone alive and well, hopefully wiser but looking brilliant considering 35 years has passed.
Tonight the GIRLS made their presence too, in what I fear is in danger of becoming a bit of a Boys Club these days, but glad they could make the party!! In those grim days they brought colour and character to the Harp Bar expressing themselves as individuals before the uniform took over...so a big shout for all the girls who played their part along the way, Joan, Audrey, Kerry, Liz, Dolly, Jacqui, Mo, Alana, Karen, Heather, Yvonne, Valerie, Elaine, Teresa, Eileen, Mary, Helen, Hilary, Marie, Maggie, Tammy, Mo, Annamarie, Carol, Tina, Anne and many more.
The night could not have ended in a more splendid way than with BRIAN YOUNG (ex Rudi) leading the crowd in a Rudi singalong followed by a stage invasion. Brian, one of the first puNks I ever met practically delivered PuNk rock to my doorstep back in 1976 and tonight he surprised us all with a very special appearance to draw to a close what was a fantastic emotional night and he represents Belfast PuNk for me in every way. Without Rudi my teenage days would have been so boring with ridiculous mind-numbing songs played out in TOTP’s but instead I got to go to the parties at the Glenmachen Stables and Girton Lodge and all the rest.
It WAS a night to remember and a time to be proud but I feel we’ve just got going again!! I personally don’t think we should have full stops and lines drawn under any these fantastic nights. All the bands play better than ever with none of the hunger for PuNk lost over the years. This is still unfinished business and some didn’t get the opportunity to play at the reunion due to prior commitments etc..... so for the 35th Anniversary let’s do it again... calling The Defects, The Ex-Producers, Ruefrex, Detonators, Idiots and Victim to take the stage. Why stop now, let’s keep the momentum going and enjoy the ride? The Rebellion Punk Festival have been churning out the same bands for years because punks want to hear them again and again and we have an amazing array of talent that should be celebrated and not ignored or a line drawn under!! There is room for everyone at the party, old bands, new bands, young bands and as always...the more the merrier.
To keep the momentum going a couple of old PuNks have been negotiating with Belfast City Council over the last year to honour these times and at last permission has been given for a plaque to be erected on Sunday 11th November at 7pm for Terri Hooley, at the site of the old Harp Bar for his contribution to NI music and hopefully the PuNks and Bands of the time will get a mention as well. This will be followed by a gig at the Oh Yeah! Centre with The Outcasts and The Defects. Belfast PuNks at their best! Without Terri and PuNk, each others story would be very different, so at long last this special place, time and people will be recognised and the ongoing story of Belfast PuNk continues.....
So a big thanks to William Maxwell and Time to be Proud for organising the event and giving us another amazing night celebrating Belfast PuNk!! I look forward to hopefully... #2!!
As far as Reunions go, it was a perfect night, just perfect....!!
The Harp Bar, Belfast (Home of Belfast PuNk)
find us on Face Book
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Harp-Bar-Belfast/212494905465994?ref=hl
Johnny Thunders once sang ‘You can’t put your arms around a Memory’ but I LOVE NOSTALGIA and was thrilled that another chapter has been written in the HARP BAR STORY, with a reunion on Saturday 8th September at the Black Box, Hill Street near the old Harp Bar site. The much anticipated evening had been building for months with each band slowly being added to the line up and I was left wondering who of the old crowd would be there, would I recognise anyone and even more would anyone recognise me after 35 years!!
My evening started with some hospitality at the WAR ZONE CENTRE where a few drinks and nibbles had been arranged by Petesy to toast absent friends, always remembered and never to be forgotten!...... Bill Guiney, Chuck, Cowser and Owen Howell.
Then onward to HILL STREET. I’ll never forget walking up the old cobbled stone street to the HARP BAR in 1978, to meet up with like minded people across the city who loved PuNk and to listen to some of the best PuNk bands around, the 8th September was no different. There was a buzz in Hill Street, but this time no bollards, caged entrance or barbed wire!!
I arrived a wee bit late due to drinkies at War Zone but thankfully heard Davy T and SHOCK TREATMENT 21 ranting (his words not mine) the now excellent classic ‘Belfast Telegraph’. After a spectacular performance at the BBA festival in Bangor, ST21 deserve all the applause and attention they are receiving at the minute, a truly experienced reformed PuNk band with a 21st Century attitude and sound!
PROTEX... played nothing short of brilliance with their short snappy power pop PuNk... So I stopped taking photos for a while to listen and was reminded how great our wee punk scene do Pop PuNk so well with songs like ‘Strange Obsessions’ ‘Don’t ring me Up’ and A Place in Your Heart’. A great wee band!
HENRY CLUNEY blasted out all the old SLF classics taking us back to the cries of 78 and an Alternative Ulster. Shame the rest of SLF couldn’t make it though..... but I suppose that’s rock n roll and an imminent world tour, but we won’t forget they were made in Belfast first!
The Harp Bar has been well documented in the past with The Outcasts and Rudi being the most prominent named bands at the time, but tonight was the night for THE ANDROIDS to show those who have only ever read about them how fantastic they really were/are!! After only a couple of rehearsals it felt like Joe, Asa and Billy have never been away. The Androids are back.... with another legendary set and with it all the nostalgia from those first gigs when they packed out the Harp Lounge all dressed in white, Joe wearing a beret and sunglasses standing in front of their backdrop with their name in large letters along with their fans too. No one would ever have guessed how nervous they were, but once they ripped into ‘Lipstick Heroes’ it was business as usual. I just hope this will not be a one off gig, they are too brilliant to go back into hibernation again and without doubt was a real highlight of the night for me!
After seeing THE OUTCASTS play on the main stage at Rebellion in 2011 I was filled with nostalgia and returned home to set up ‘The Harp Bar, Belfast’ Facebook page to document the home of Belfast PuNk. I’ve seen them play a few classic gigs since... but tonight they came home to their crowd and rocked the Black Box just as they did back in the day. There isn’t a lot to add that hasn’t already been said about The Outcasts except they just keep getting better and better... and so does Greg’s ‘Stand up routine’ between songs!! ;-)
I as much as anyone was excited to see Des, Charlie and Fletch performing as STAGE B again with their weird and wonderful set list. Despite technical problems they carried us into their bizarre world in the shape of Lizzi Borden, Recall and Light on the Hillside. The songs are timeless and the nostalgia attached to the band adds to the love of them, Stage B are an exceptional band adding diversity to NI PuNk and that will never change.
The Black Box by this stage had all the tension and excitement of the Harp Bar glory days with the bands taking the stage and MC/DJ TERRI HOOLEY playing some unforgettable sounds from 1978, ....... time stood still for a while and it wasn’t long before old friendships were rekindled and memories shared, making it quite an emotional night. Thank you to those who said hello after 35 years, it really was good to see you again and hope it’s not so long to the next time.
Whilst taking some photos I met up with two original punks Alan Revell and Joss Cochrane from the old Viking days and immediately stopped to swap stories. As the style and fashion of PuNk made a clear statement as much as the music, these two 19 year old young punks were way ahead of their time setting fashion trends each week in the Viking Club in Bangor, only to be carried on at the Harp Bar by William McMaster (Curley). William was another character who should never be forgotten, he once said that ‘If it was fashionable to wear a brick on his head he would do it’ He was unique to Belfast and I always thought of him as our very own Boy George or should that be Madame George!! There were other forgotten people from back then with originality who set the trends, they shocked the public wearing the Bin Bags, safety pins and chains when flairs and long hair were the only acceptable dress code of the day, paving the way for others and making it more acceptable to walk through Corn Market with a Mohican in the latter years. But that’s how it was in 1977 and what the reunion meant to me....it wasn’t just about how good the bands are sounding in 2012, but how it brought back a time, a place and a special group of friends who shared memories of teenage angst yelling against the backdrop of one of the most troubled cities in the world with the help of Rudi, The Outcasts, Rufrex, The Androids, Sex Pistols and The Clash !!!
One of the most moving moments of the evening was a clip from Good Vibrations: The Movie, when the Black Box fell silent, no one moved and every one’s eyes fixed on the screen reminding us of the of Terri’s involvement in the punk scene, the young punks, the Bands and the Harp Bar days.
As the night went on I could hear The Defects ‘feels like a Saturday in Hill Street’ resonating in my head all through the night as the punks showed their appreciation for each of the bands who all made a special effort to be there. The crowd consisted of those who where there at the Harp Bar, those who wanted to be there and those who just came along for the ride. It was so good to see everyone alive and well, hopefully wiser but looking brilliant considering 35 years has passed.
Tonight the GIRLS made their presence too, in what I fear is in danger of becoming a bit of a Boys Club these days, but glad they could make the party!! In those grim days they brought colour and character to the Harp Bar expressing themselves as individuals before the uniform took over...so a big shout for all the girls who played their part along the way, Joan, Audrey, Kerry, Liz, Dolly, Jacqui, Mo, Alana, Karen, Heather, Yvonne, Valerie, Elaine, Teresa, Eileen, Mary, Helen, Hilary, Marie, Maggie, Tammy, Mo, Annamarie, Carol, Tina, Anne and many more.
The night could not have ended in a more splendid way than with BRIAN YOUNG (ex Rudi) leading the crowd in a Rudi singalong followed by a stage invasion. Brian, one of the first puNks I ever met practically delivered PuNk rock to my doorstep back in 1976 and tonight he surprised us all with a very special appearance to draw to a close what was a fantastic emotional night and he represents Belfast PuNk for me in every way. Without Rudi my teenage days would have been so boring with ridiculous mind-numbing songs played out in TOTP’s but instead I got to go to the parties at the Glenmachen Stables and Girton Lodge and all the rest.
It WAS a night to remember and a time to be proud but I feel we’ve just got going again!! I personally don’t think we should have full stops and lines drawn under any these fantastic nights. All the bands play better than ever with none of the hunger for PuNk lost over the years. This is still unfinished business and some didn’t get the opportunity to play at the reunion due to prior commitments etc..... so for the 35th Anniversary let’s do it again... calling The Defects, The Ex-Producers, Ruefrex, Detonators, Idiots and Victim to take the stage. Why stop now, let’s keep the momentum going and enjoy the ride? The Rebellion Punk Festival have been churning out the same bands for years because punks want to hear them again and again and we have an amazing array of talent that should be celebrated and not ignored or a line drawn under!! There is room for everyone at the party, old bands, new bands, young bands and as always...the more the merrier.
To keep the momentum going a couple of old PuNks have been negotiating with Belfast City Council over the last year to honour these times and at last permission has been given for a plaque to be erected on Sunday 11th November at 7pm for Terri Hooley, at the site of the old Harp Bar for his contribution to NI music and hopefully the PuNks and Bands of the time will get a mention as well. This will be followed by a gig at the Oh Yeah! Centre with The Outcasts and The Defects. Belfast PuNks at their best! Without Terri and PuNk, each others story would be very different, so at long last this special place, time and people will be recognised and the ongoing story of Belfast PuNk continues.....
So a big thanks to William Maxwell and Time to be Proud for organising the event and giving us another amazing night celebrating Belfast PuNk!! I look forward to hopefully... #2!!
As far as Reunions go, it was a perfect night, just perfect....!!
The Harp Bar, Belfast (Home of Belfast PuNk)
find us on Face Book
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Harp-Bar-Belfast/212494905465994?ref=hl