Cathal Was A Punk Rocker!

V for vacant…

he victory sign was out in force 38 years ago, when Greystones punk rockers Strange Movements joined The Virgin Prunes and others for what all those present agreed was a chaotic gig.

In a series of recently unearthed shots, our local heroes can be seen being rebels without a stage as they prepare for their big Dublin night out.

The date was November 22nd, 1978, and one year and one month after the release of the era’s blueprint album, Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols, Greystones had its very own band of musical anarchists.

Pretty much the brainchild of lead singer and songwriter Turlough Kelleher (aka Turlough Hill), brother Cathal was the Bez of the operation, supplying inspiration, cheerleading and the odd kettle lead for powerless amps.

The rest of Strange Movements was made up of Lar Rogan on guitar, Tony Leonard (aka Lenny Lunge) on guitar, Ken Doyne on bass, and Denis McGrane (aka Dense Migraine) on drums. Joining them occasionally was keyboards wiz Sammy Richards and bass player Pete Clements. Oh, and when it came to their gig at The Magnet, The Edge. Just for one night.

At the time of the above gig, the band were still in the process of putting their world domination plans together.

A single, Dancing In The Ghetto, would follow in May 1979, after much delay for a remix, but its release was marred by the fact that the band’s lead guitarist ended up in hospital as it debuted, thus pulling the plug on promotional appearances.

What’s particularly impressive about this Greystones band is that they made a bid for the big time at a time when it such a daring move was a pipe dream for 99.999% of the Irish population. That they got to release a single – complete with promotional footprints stencil being employed all over Greystones – is one hell of an achievement.

Especially when you consider the fact that Dancing In The Ghetto is one mighty fine single. In a Geldof-channels-Jagger kind of way.

Today, Greystones is riddled with great bands, from the Japan-conquering Enemies to the ambience-chasing Solar Bears. Back in the 1970s, bands rarely made it beyond their bedroom mirrors.

With soundman Cathal always in tow, Strange Movements managed to grab support slots with the likes of The Blades and The Alternatives before taking their chances with the big boys in London. When they returned, they disintegrated, with two new bands, Neon Heart and The Bats (the latter basically The Kelleher Brothers, as Cormac joined on guitar, and Paddy added tambourine and aloofness), neither of which reached anything approaching dizzying heights. Just some drunken nights.

One such night saw The Bats blowing all the fuses in The Woodlands Hotel. That was a pretty rockin’ night.

Sadly, Cathal Kelleher passed away in December 2007, alone, after a night out partying in Bray. It’s the kind of rock’n’roll end that suited a guy who believed in music above just about all else.

A memorial gig was held the following December, Blues For Cathal pulling together family and friends to blast out everything from Be-Bop-A-Lula to Teenage Kicks. All the rockin’ party music that Cathal loved. In truth, we should have finished the night with Dancing In The Ghetto.

So, instead, to remember the town’s first truly indie band, and in honour of the man who sparked them, and many a great party, here’s Greystones’ unofficial punk anthem…

Now, go check out The Baskerville Sisters at The Stables back in 1989, and our nightclub years right about here.