Lir (band)

Last updated

LiR
Origin Dublin, Ireland
Genres Rock, Alternative
Years activeEarly 90s to present
LabelsVelo, W.A.R.?, 1969
Members Ronan Byrne
Dave McGuinness
Colm Quearney
Robert Malone
John Boyle
Past membersCraig Hutchinson
David Hopkins

Lir, stylized on album covers as LiR, are a rock band formed in the late 1980s in Dublin, Ireland.

Contents

History

The band became known during the 1990s through their live performances in Dublin. [1] Attention from major labels in the early portion of their career led some critics to draw comparisons to U2. [2] The band signed with U.S. label What Are Records? in 1993, which pushed for the band's success in the US through an intensive touring schedule that had the band playing in North America nine months out of the year. [3] Lir continued on this schedule from 1993 to 1997, before conflicts with their management led to a long hiatus. [2]

It would be 13 years before the band's next full-length release, Lir Live, under the independent label 1969 Records. [3]

A documentary on the band, directed by Shimmy Marcus and entitled "Good Cake Bad Cake: The Story of LIR" was released in 2011, but was pulled from the Dublin International Film Festival due to a legal dispute between the band and their former management. [2]

The band still reconvenes annually to play shows in and around Dublin. [4] [3] their Art Teacher once said "Good Music in the Luck Business" alas Luck never came along for the ride...

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U2</span> Irish rock band

U2 are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1976. The group comprises Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.. Initially rooted in post-punk, U2's musical style has evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic quality built on Bono's expressive vocals and the Edge's chiming, effects-based guitar sounds. Bono's lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes. Popular for their live performances, the group have staged several elaborate tours over their career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bono</span> Irish musician and activist, lead vocalist of U2 (born 1960)

Paul David Hewson, known by the nickname Bono, is an Irish singer-songwriter and activist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2.

<i>Achtung Baby</i> 1991 studio album by U2

Achtung Baby is the seventh studio album by the Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 18 November 1991 by Island Records. After criticism of their 1988 release Rattle and Hum, U2 shifted their direction to incorporate influences from alternative rock, industrial music, and electronic dance music into their sound. Thematically, Achtung Baby is darker, more introspective, and at times more flippant than their previous work. For his lyrics, lead vocalist Bono was partly inspired by the marital issues of guitarist the Edge.

<i>Zooropa</i> 1993 studio album by U2

Zooropa is the eighth studio album by Irish rock band U2. Produced by Flood, Brian Eno, and the Edge, it was released on 5 July 1993 on Island Records. Inspired by the band's experiences on the Zoo TV Tour, Zooropa expanded on many of the tour's themes of technology and media oversaturation. The record was a continuation of the group's experimentation with alternative rock, electronic dance music, and electronic sound effects that began with their previous album, Achtung Baby, in 1991.

<i>The Complete U2</i> 2004 box set by U2

The Complete U2 is a digital box set by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 23 November 2004 by Apple Inc. on the iTunes Store.

<i>Wide Awake in America</i> 1985 EP by U2

Wide Awake in America is a four-track extended play by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 20 May 1985 through Island Records. It combines two live performances of songs from the group's 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire with two B-sides from the era, which had previously been available only in the United Kingdom. Wide Awake in America was originally released only in North America and Japan but it charted in the UK as an import. It was re-released internationally in 1990.

<i>Three</i> (U2 EP) 1979 EP by U2

Three, also known as U2 3, is the debut release by Irish rock band U2. It was released in Ireland on 26 September 1979 through the CBS Ireland record label.

Aslan are an Irish rock band from Dublin who formed in 1982. Composed originally of Christy Dignam, Joe Jewell, Tony McGuinness, Billy McGuinness and Alan Downey, the band has released six studio albums: Feel No Shame (1988), Goodbye Charlie Moonhead (1994), Here Comes Lucy Jones (1997), Waiting For This Madness To End (2001), For Some Strange Reason (2007) and Nudie Books and Frenchies (2012).

The Radiators from Space, also known as The Radiators, The Rads, Radiators (from Space), and The Radiators Plan 9, were an Irish punk rock band. They have been described as Ireland's first punk band. Initially active 1976–1981, the band had a brief reunion in 1987–1988, and reformed in 2003 until the death of founding member Philip Chevron in 2013, with remaining members continuing as Trouble Pilgrims.

A House were an Irish rock band that had been a bank band that was active in Dublin from 1985 to 1997, and recognized for the clever, "often bitter or irony laden lyrics of frontman Dave Couse ... bolstered by the [band's] seemingly effortless musicality". The single "Endless Art" is one of their best known charting successes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staring at the Sun (U2 song)</span> 1997 single by U2

"Staring at the Sun" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fifth track on their 1997 album, Pop, and was released by Island Records as the album's second single on 14 April 1997. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, number one in Canada and Iceland and number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the US, it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and Adult Alternative Songs charts. It also reached the top 10 in Finland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and Norway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Day (U2 song)</span> 1980 single by U2

"Another Day" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was commercially released as a single on 26 February 1980 by CBS Ireland as a follow-up to the band's first release, the EP U2-3.

"Bad" is a song by Irish rock band U2 and the seventh track on their 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire. Thematically, the song is about heroin addiction, though lead vocalist Bono has given varying accounts of who was the inspiration behind his lyrics. "Bad" is considered a fan favourite and is one of U2's most frequently performed songs in concert. The band's 12-minute performance of the song at the Live Aid charity concert in 1985 was a breakthrough moment for them.

The 4 of Us are a rock band from Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland. Of the four founding members, only brothers Brendan and Declan Murphy have remained continuously part of the group; the occupants of the other positions have varied.

The Pale are an Irish band of varying genres including rock, and indie. They have recorded twelve albums and have toured extensively in Ireland and abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negativland</span> American experimental music group

Negativland is an American experimental music band that originated in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1970s. The core of the band consists of Mark Hosler, David Wills, Peter Conheim and Jon Leidecker. Negativland has released a number of albums ranging from pure sound collage to more musical expositions. These have mostly been released on their own label, Seeland Records. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, they produced several recordings for SST Records, most notably Escape from Noise, Helter Stupid and U2. Negativland were sued by the band U2's record label, Island Records, and by SST Records, which brought them widespread publicity and notoriety. The band is also part of the Church of the SubGenius parody religion. Negativland coined the term culture jamming in 1984. Don Joyce added it to the album JamCon '84 in the form of "culture jammer". The band took their name from a Neu! track, with their record label Seeland Records also being named after another Neu! track.

This is a timeline of the history of rock band U2:

<i>Wide Awake in Europe</i> 2010 EP by U2

Wide Awake in Europe is a live EP by rock band U2. The release was created by the organizers of Record Store Day to bring customers into independent record shops for holiday shopping. A limited number of 5,000 EPs were produced, and were released on Black Friday in 2010, mostly to record shops in North America. The EP features three live tracks on a 12-inch vinyl record, taken from three different concerts during the U2 360° Tour in 2009 and 2010. The EP comprises the songs "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight", "Moment of Surrender", and "Mercy", the latter a previously unreleased track that was debuted on tour.

Shimmy Marcus is an Irish filmmaker.

Engine Alley are a rock band from Kilkenny, Ireland, active since the 1990s. Their biggest success came in the early 90s, with many television appearances and successful singles. They have toured the UK, United States and Europe and continue to play live shows every year.

References

  1. "Lir make a welcome return with Dublin gig this week". Dublin People. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Brady, Tara (15 March 2013). "Good Cake, Bad Cake: The downfall of the Dublin band once hailed as the next U2". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "No swansong planned for the boys of Lir". The Irish Times. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  4. "Lir return to play Dublin concert". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.