Like A Hurricane

ne of Ireland’s first-ever Beat groups, The Cyclones were sending ’em home sweatin’ just as The Beatles were doing pretty much the same thing over in Hamburg. 

Young Whelan 2nd from right

And now, 57 years later, the original members are getting back together for a special fundraising gig this Friday in Greystones.

Having morphed into Spice by 1970 – with new members including saxophonist Jimmy Mullen, uncle to little U2 drummer boy Larry – The Cyclones have managed to get back together twice since those halcyon days – for their 25th anniversary in 1985 and later, for their 40th.

Both of those gigs were for charity, and that tradition continues on Friday, with the money raised going to Greystones Cancer Support. The gig is also in memory of Barry Flynn, the songwriter and close friend to the band who passed away last year.

We caught up with band ringleader Brian Whelan down at a Hot Spot rehearsal this afternoon to find out just why it is that rock’n’roll will never die…

You can find out more about the gig on The Hot Spot website here.