Legendary Undertones announce gig

Local legends The Undertones have announced a headline Belfast show at Limelight 2 on Saturday December 18, 2021 and tickets are on sale now.

The Undertones emerged from Londonderry in 1976, the result of five friends, John O’Neill, Damian O’Neill, Feargal Sharkey, Billy Doherty and Michael Bradley, learning how to play basic rock and roll.

Practicing in their bedrooms eventually led to the band recording John O’Neill’s ‘Teenage Kicks’ in 1978 on Terri Hooley’s Good Vibrations label in Belfast. The legendary DJ John Peel received a copy and liked it so much he played it twice in a row on his radio show.

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The Undertones signed with Sire Records and ‘Teenage Kicks’ was re-released, resulting in the band’s first appearance on Top Of The Pops. Over the next five years, John O Neill, crafted further pop gems such as `Here Comes The Summer`, ‘Jimmy Jimmy`, `You’ve Got My Number (Why Don’t You Use It)’ and ‘Wednesday Week’ whilst Damian O’Neill and Michael Bradley contributed ‘My Perfect Cousin. They also recorded four highly acclaimed LPs. In 1983 Feargal Sharkey left the band to pursue a solo career and the remaining members decided to call it a day. The Undertones were to remain silent for the next sixteen years.

In 1999 The Undertones reconvened, without Feargal Sharkey, to once again perform their two-minute, three and a half chord songs to a new generation of fans in Derry. Fellow Derryman Paul McLoone replaced Sharkey on vocals and his vocal prowess and electric onstage presence soon convinced any doubters that he was more than capable of doing the job.

2018 marked the 40th Anniversary of the release of their most influential and famous song, ’Teenage Kicks’. 2019 marked the 40th Anniversary of the release of the their most influential and seminal self-titled first album.

Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster outlets and online at Ticketmaster.ie.

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