Blaze X
Encyclopedia
Blaze X were an Irish
punk
band. The band was formed in Tuam
, Co. Galway. They released a successful single in 1980, Some Hope which became Larry Gogan
's Hit song of the week on 2FM. It's b-side, Rippy, about serial killer The Yorkshire Ripper was banned by the RTE
. Their finest moment came when they supported U2
in front of a packed Leisureland in Galway
. Many fans insist that Blaze X outshone U2
that night, where they received an encore, a rare occurrence for a support band. Frontman Paul Cunniffe
went on to have a solo career in London
, but died in 2001. Guitarist Davy Carton
went on to form famous Irish band, The Saw Doctors
.
Following the death of Paul Cunniffe, a CD of their songs was released in 2003. It features various live tracks recorded from a gig in the Scout Hall in Tuam, and tracks recorded in the RCF studio in Ballybane in Galway City. The CD is now available from the Saw Doctors Official website.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band. The band was formed in Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, Co. Galway. They released a successful single in 1980, Some Hope which became Larry Gogan
Larry Gogan
Laurence 'Larry' Gogan is an Irish broadcaster working for Raidió Teilifís Éireann . He is a disc jockey on RTÉ 2fm. His show is The Golden Hour, during which Larry plays old favourites and classic songs from yesteryear. Gogan spun the first disc on Radio 2, Like Clockwork by The Boomtown Rats...
's Hit song of the week on 2FM. It's b-side, Rippy, about serial killer The Yorkshire Ripper was banned by the RTE
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
. Their finest moment came when they supported U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
in front of a packed Leisureland in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
. Many fans insist that Blaze X outshone U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
that night, where they received an encore, a rare occurrence for a support band. Frontman Paul Cunniffe
Paul Cunniffe
Paul Cunniffe was a British-born Irish singer-songwriter. He fronted the 1980s punk band Blaze X.-Early life and career:...
went on to have a solo career in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, but died in 2001. Guitarist Davy Carton
Davy Carton
Davy Carton is a singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist from Tuam, County Galway, in the Republic of Ireland. He is best known as a core member of the Saw Doctors, the folk-rock band he co-founded with Leo Moran and others in 1987....
went on to form famous Irish band, The Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors are an Irish rock band. Formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, they have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in Ireland, including three number ones. Their first number one, "I Useta Lover," topped the Irish charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1990, and still holds the record for the...
.
Following the death of Paul Cunniffe, a CD of their songs was released in 2003. It features various live tracks recorded from a gig in the Scout Hall in Tuam, and tracks recorded in the RCF studio in Ballybane in Galway City. The CD is now available from the Saw Doctors Official website.
External links
- http://www.heymartina.com/shams/blazex3.html
- http://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/blazex.html
- http://www.sawdoctors.com
- http://www.myspace.com/paulcunniffe
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzmoR58E0M0 - Only footage that exists of the band.